In case
you somehow didn't already know, The Hobbit was released last night
at midnight. Unfortunately, only one member of our class had his
priorities straight enough to skip sleep and school to watch this incredible
masterpiece unfold before his eyes. After I have the opportunity to witness
this spectacle, I will write a review and post it as a comment on this blog
post. Anyone else who has experienced the journey of these hobbits, particularly anybody who chose to do so earlier than the rest of us (Brendan Barth) while we wait another day in sheer agony, should also
feel free to write his/her opinion. Anyways, below is the essay that everybody
kept bugging me about.
The pungent scent of evil hangs comfortably in the smoky air.
Despite the volcano continuing to spew lava across what is left of the pathway,
the two little adventurers push on. One of them falls to the ground, his body
weak from exhaustion and lack of food. Ordinary beings would have given up, but
these are no typical travelers. The other picks up the fallen one and exclaims,
“I can’t carry it for you, but I can carry you!” Working together, the two
hobbits complete their journey to the top of Mount Mordor.
What if instead of two hobbits, Harry Potter faced this task?
Harry would have no trouble finding his way up Mount Mordor because he
possesses magical powers. With the wave of a wand Harry would find himself at
the top of this burning mass of rock, and Lord of the Rings, the greatest saga
known to mankind, would end in an awfully big hurry. Or what about Luke
Skywalker? Using his unusual ability to manipulate the force, he could cast
aside boulders and any other obstacles that would otherwise prevent him from
reaching the top of the mountain. With the help of this mysterious ally, Luke could
have strolled up the mountain with almost as little trouble as I have walking
to my neighbor’s doorstep.
A hobbit may lack Harry Potter’s magical might and Luke
Skywalker’s ability to manipulate the force, but Sam and Frodo, two simple
hobbits, still make it to the top of Mount Mordor. These plain and unskilled
voyagers appear to lack supernatural talent, but this is only half true.
Hobbits aren’t supernatural, but they are talented; hobbits have an aptitude
for never surrendering to failure. For example, when climbing up this perilous
mountain, Frodo falls and is unable to continue, so Sam picks him up and
carries him. At another point, Frodo tells Sam to stay behind, but Sam doesn’t
give in so easily. He secretly follows Frodo until Frodo requires his
help. Time and time again, the hobbits consider submitting to their fear, but
each time they push on, knowing they can not pursue success while following
fright.
I have grown to admire hobbits, and not merely because they make
even me appear tall by comparison. I think highly of hobbits because despite
possessing no extraordinary power, they do demonstrate an incredible talent:
determination. This quality is greater than any superpower because it allows
them to succeed by being too persistent to fail. Much like my short and chubby
counterparts, when I find myself sweating
from stress while struggling to complete a threatening math test or shaking
from the New Hampshire cold during a late night soccer practice, I remind
myself that big people overcome small obstacles with perseverance. My heroes
have revealed to me that incredible success isn’t always produced by incredible
people. Instead, success can be achieved by individuals whose determination
drives them to accept no other fate.
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