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Apart from the destruction of the ring, do you think some characters have additional agendas? Do the different races have group agendas? What do you think these might be and why?
Hmmm, it's hard to talk about this one using just the movie, so I'm going to refer to the books too. If we are to believe in Tolkien's world and his characters, we need to believe that they have an existence beyond that which is required of them by the story he is telling. If the characters, people, and places exist simply to destroy (or save, if you happen to be on the other side) the Ring, there isn't much of a story.
In fact, there aren't any characters whose sole focus is the destruction of the Ring. Like the Ents, some are simply caught up in the story of the Fellowship. Their concerns are focused on the lost Entwives...well, and Sauruman.
The Hobbits:
Except for Frodo, I don't think that the main agenda of any of the hobbits is the destruction of the Ring. Sam is on the quest to look after Frodo. Merry and Pippin have similar motives (though more of a desire to see the world) in the beginning.
However, after the Fellowship dissolves, Merry becomes entangled in the defense of Rohan and Gondor with Theoden, Eowyn, and Eomer. Pippin goes with Gandalf to Minas Tirith and becomes involved with Denethor and Faramir. In essence, the defense of the kings they become attached to becomes their primary agenda in RotK.
Even Frodo isn't focused on the destruction of the Ring. He wants to get it out of the Shire. In the film, it isn't until Rivendell that he takes it up with the intention of destroying it, and that isn't even a burden he fully owns until the end of the film when he leaves the Fellowship.
Boromir and Aragorn:
Boromir makes it clear that his primary concern is for Gondor. He is along on the quest, but intends to return to his city rather than take the Ring into Mordor. Of course, part of him would prefer the Ring not go into Mordor either. His other agenda is what contributes to his succumbing to the Ring.
Similar to Sam, Aragorn is along to protect the Ringbearer (as opposed to destroying the Ring). After he lets Frodo go and Boromir dies, his agenda shifts first to the recovery of Merry and Pippin and then to the defense of the world of Men.
Gimli and Legolas:
They are in much the same position as Boromir and Aragorn. They are the representatives of their races in the Fellowship, but as warriors, they are with the Ringbearer in order to protect and defend him.
The Elves:
While the Elves do not want the world to fall to Shadow, they are in the process of disengaging themselves from Middle Earth. Their concerns as they still relate to the world are holding their own. In the Council of Elrond (book version) I believe Boromir challenges Elrond about the Elves, especially the Ringbearers, not doing anything about the world's current troubles. Elrond tells him that it is not permitted to speak of the Three but that they are not idle.
The Elven Ringbearers have pondered what the destruction of the Ruling Ring will mean to them. Elrond says that some believe the Three (which were not made or touched by Sauron) would be free. However others, himself included, believe the Three would diminish and that many fair things would fade and be lost forever. It is, however, a pain the Elves are willing to bear in order to defeat evil.
General Thoughts:
I think the fact that I'm having trouble assigning direct motivation for the destruction of the Ring to particular characters has to have some significance. After all, if that is a character's goal, he assumes a sort of ownership over the Ring in order to bring it about. The Ring is his to cast away. And that assertion of ownership, that saying "Mine," is what gives the Ring its first foothold in its bearers.
While he was only a Ringbearer for a very short time (though it is within the borders of Mordor itself where the Ring is at its most potent), Sam is able to give the Ring back to Frodo. I think that may come in part from his never taking ownership of it. He uses it to prevent being captured and then to rescue Frodo.
Compare that to Boromir when he attacks Frodo, "It would have been mine. Should be mine. It's yours only by a happenchance." After this attack when Frodo asks Aragorn, "Would you destroy it?" Aragorn doesn't answer. Instead, he says, "I would have gone with you to the end. Into the very fires of Mordor." He asserts no claim over the Ring. It is the assertion of possession that allows the wielder to be possessed.
Hmmm, it's hard to talk about this one using just the movie, so I'm going to refer to the books too. If we are to believe in Tolkien's world and his characters, we need to believe that they have an existence beyond that which is required of them by the story he is telling. If the characters, people, and places exist simply to destroy (or save, if you happen to be on the other side) the Ring, there isn't much of a story.
In fact, there aren't any characters whose sole focus is the destruction of the Ring. Like the Ents, some are simply caught up in the story of the Fellowship. Their concerns are focused on the lost Entwives...well, and Sauruman.
The Hobbits:
Except for Frodo, I don't think that the main agenda of any of the hobbits is the destruction of the Ring. Sam is on the quest to look after Frodo. Merry and Pippin have similar motives (though more of a desire to see the world) in the beginning.
However, after the Fellowship dissolves, Merry becomes entangled in the defense of Rohan and Gondor with Theoden, Eowyn, and Eomer. Pippin goes with Gandalf to Minas Tirith and becomes involved with Denethor and Faramir. In essence, the defense of the kings they become attached to becomes their primary agenda in RotK.
Even Frodo isn't focused on the destruction of the Ring. He wants to get it out of the Shire. In the film, it isn't until Rivendell that he takes it up with the intention of destroying it, and that isn't even a burden he fully owns until the end of the film when he leaves the Fellowship.
Boromir and Aragorn:
Boromir makes it clear that his primary concern is for Gondor. He is along on the quest, but intends to return to his city rather than take the Ring into Mordor. Of course, part of him would prefer the Ring not go into Mordor either. His other agenda is what contributes to his succumbing to the Ring.
Similar to Sam, Aragorn is along to protect the Ringbearer (as opposed to destroying the Ring). After he lets Frodo go and Boromir dies, his agenda shifts first to the recovery of Merry and Pippin and then to the defense of the world of Men.
Gimli and Legolas:
They are in much the same position as Boromir and Aragorn. They are the representatives of their races in the Fellowship, but as warriors, they are with the Ringbearer in order to protect and defend him.
The Elves:
While the Elves do not want the world to fall to Shadow, they are in the process of disengaging themselves from Middle Earth. Their concerns as they still relate to the world are holding their own. In the Council of Elrond (book version) I believe Boromir challenges Elrond about the Elves, especially the Ringbearers, not doing anything about the world's current troubles. Elrond tells him that it is not permitted to speak of the Three but that they are not idle.
The Elven Ringbearers have pondered what the destruction of the Ruling Ring will mean to them. Elrond says that some believe the Three (which were not made or touched by Sauron) would be free. However others, himself included, believe the Three would diminish and that many fair things would fade and be lost forever. It is, however, a pain the Elves are willing to bear in order to defeat evil.
General Thoughts:
I think the fact that I'm having trouble assigning direct motivation for the destruction of the Ring to particular characters has to have some significance. After all, if that is a character's goal, he assumes a sort of ownership over the Ring in order to bring it about. The Ring is his to cast away. And that assertion of ownership, that saying "Mine," is what gives the Ring its first foothold in its bearers.
While he was only a Ringbearer for a very short time (though it is within the borders of Mordor itself where the Ring is at its most potent), Sam is able to give the Ring back to Frodo. I think that may come in part from his never taking ownership of it. He uses it to prevent being captured and then to rescue Frodo.
Compare that to Boromir when he attacks Frodo, "It would have been mine. Should be mine. It's yours only by a happenchance." After this attack when Frodo asks Aragorn, "Would you destroy it?" Aragorn doesn't answer. Instead, he says, "I would have gone with you to the end. Into the very fires of Mordor." He asserts no claim over the Ring. It is the assertion of possession that allows the wielder to be possessed.
