The Ego and the Shadow: A Psychoanalytic Study of Frodo Baggins in J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring

Abstract

This research paper explores The Fellowship of the Ring from a psychological point of view. It focuses on Frodo Baggins and the psychological weight he bears from the beginning of the novel. Though absent in body Gollum emerges through Gandalf’s words. Gollum is less a person and more of a reflection shaped by past decay. Taken from the concept of Freud of repression and unconscious desire along with Jung’s idea of the shadow. All these are tied to the One Ring, which is interpreted as an unconscious threat that disrupts the identity and morality of Frodo. The moment the Ring is placed in Frodo’s hand, it brings unrest and fear even before he can fully understand the danger he carries. Smeagol’s transformation from a normal Hobbit to Gollum through the corruption of the Ring shows Frodo to the possibility of psychological collapse caused by being exposed to power and desire for a long time. This knowledge shapes Frodo’s unconscious fear of becoming a corrupted creature like Gollum. This makes Gollum a symbolic mirror rather than a physical companion. Focusing only on the events and the words found in The Fellowship of the Ring, this study shows Tolkien’s exploration of trauma, repression and inner conflict revealing that Frodo’s true journey begins within the mind long before it takes physical form.