Frodo's Free Will In Oedipus The King

The Free People of Middle-earth seek a world where they can live without fear of Sauron. He signifies the power of corruption and its effects on the world. Sauron is a malevolent leader that bends and corrupts the will of his subjects. The opposite of Sauron’s rule is the free society that the resistance to Sauron seeks. They glorify freedom of will over the corruption of power and the Ring. Free will is an important characteristic of a free society because it allows the people to reach their full potential, accepts forgiveness to move the society forward, and to creates an atmosphere of a peaceful civilization. Giving their followers free will is the defining leadership characteristic of Elrond, Gandalf, and Aragorn. This allows their people to reach full potential and gain a sense of achievement and valor rather than being forced to do the bidding of their leaders. Frodo is a prime example of this, as he uses his free will to achieve greatness. Gandalf trusted Frodo to take the Ring from Bilbo, but he did not force any part of Frodo’s involvement. At the Council of Elrond, Frodo volunteers himself to carry the Ring to Mordor. Elrond responds, “’If I understand aright all that I have heard.’

“And the King pardoned the Easterlings that had given themselves up, and sent them away free, and he made peace with the Peoples of Harad; and the slaves of Mordor he released and gave to them all the lands about Lake Nurnen to be their own” (947). Aragorn’s forgiveness of those who fought against him is integral to a free society. Aragorn knows that to hold a vengeance and to bend the will of the losing side would only create more tension. A good leader shows mercy and does not force the hand of anyone as this creates controversy and leads to war. Aragorn’s mercy leads to the physical restoration of the land, and this is a direct result of the resolve that has come over Middle-earth by the defeat of