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The general ideas developed in the film Lord Of The Rings; Return of The King written J.R.R. Tolkien, a film adaption produced by Peter Jackson, is that individuals are able to recognize the coherent impression that there is a struggle to restore honor and certainty within oneself, or to regain this status within a group. Individuals are often faced with life-changing decisions, and the characters used in this film are significant symbol and interpretations of what struggles they are faced with and how they cope with them.  By analyzing the characters Faramir, Sam, and Pippin, we are presented with these key ideas that individuals must go to measures necessary to reinstate what noble status they once had.

            Faramir’s character is one that most people are able to relate to. Faramir’s father, Denethor treats him poorly throughout the film, because he is angered that Faramir’s kin had died, instead of him.” You wish it was me who died... and not him. You wish us to have traded places...” . “yes. I wish that.”  This quotation has significant meaning; because we are clearly shown with the idea that Faramir is desperate to prove to his father that he can be strong at war too. This also has significant meaning because it is a juxtaposition right before Faramir goes out to try to conquer Osgiliath, even though he is aware that they are vastly outnumbered. When his army is about to march out, Gandalf speaks to him, and tells him that it is a wasteful battle, and makes the point that they will not win. Faramir is ignorant to Gandalf’s suggestion, that he too does not realize the loss he is about to be faced with. This demonstrates that an individual may be faced with the desire to reestablish their self-worth, but they may become to reliant on one opinion. This can be dangerous because the one they are relying on could be corrupted by the vainness of their own self-image. When Denethor realizes that Faramir has not died, he commits suicide by jumping of the ledge at Minas Tirith. The text creator develops the thought and understanding when creating these characters, which deepens their meaning and helps us to comprehend the ideas presented, and show the audience that restoring honor can be done, but individuals should also look to themselves, and realize what they have already overcome to get to that point.

            The next character that Peter Jackson, and J.R.R Tolkien have used in their text is Samwise Gamgee. Sam is a shire hobbit, but when Gandalf gives him the job to protect Frodo, he makes it a personal goal to fufill his task. Throughout the film, Sam is presented with several cases when he is faced with the rot and corruption that Gollum is slowly poisoning Frodo’s mind with, and must make a decision to stay with his innocence and remember what he has been assigned to do. On the staircase above Minas Morgul, Gollum throws away the Elven bread, framing Sam. and making it seem like he was the one who ate it. Frodo discovers this, and because of the power of the ring, Frodo tells Sam to go home. “Go home, Sam.” Even though Frodo says it in a kind voice, it is ironic due to the fact that Sam has been supportive to him. When Frodo is caught in Shelobs lair, minutes later, He calls out to Sam in pain with the realization of what has just happened. Sam had been climbing down the stairs, but when he sees the Elven bread that had been cast away carelessly, he turns around and begins the treacherous climb back up the stairs ,in an effort to go save Frodo. He comes to Frodo’s aid, moments to late, yet sends Shelob the spider back to the darkness. The last scene that we see Sam have to maka decision that could change Frodo’s fate, and the fate of middle earth, is when the hobbits are climbing mount doom, and Frodo has become to weak to carry on. Sam, realizing that the power of the ring is too much for him to handle, and knowing that he would too easily become corrupted by it, chooses to carry Frodo instead. “ I can’t carry it for you, but I can carry you!” Sam struggles with the idea of restoring certainty is himself, because on countless occasions throughout the film, Frodo condescends him. Jackson uses this character to present the idea that even though it may seem like a hopeless thought, it is best to work to achieve what you have sought out for. If Sam had given up, middle earth would have been destroyed by the evil forces of the one Ring. The main idea presented by Sam is to not become discouraged, the journey to achieve certainty in oneself is worth the hardship and pain.

            Another character that demonstrates both the struggle to restore honor and certainty is Eowyn. When we are introduced to this character in the second film, she does not appear to have much effect on the plot development. When we see Eowyn in The Return Of The King,  However, she is presented as an individual who is fighting her own battle against the harsh opinions and stereotypical views on middle Earth. Jackson uses this character as an extreme symbol of life in society today, and that many individuals still face the same judgment that Eowyn is struggling to overcome. When Rohan is called to war, Her uncle Théoden asks of her that she stays at the main camp. Eowyn does not intend to listen to her uncle’s instructions, and prepares for war instead. When she is helping Merry prepare for battle, her brother, makes a harsh comment that Merry should not be in the war. “He deserves to fight...”Eowyn takes this comment personally because even though she is a woman, she feels she deserves to help save her Realm. At the battle of Minas Tirith, Théoden becomes injured from trying to fight the Witch King. Eowyn rushes to his aid, and is faced to fight him herself. In the end, Eowyn stabs the Witch King, crumpling him to the ground. “You fool…no man can kill me.” To which Eowyn responds, “I am no man.” This was an extremely significant part in the Film that Eowyn had succeeded, and proves to herself and to society that no matter your gender, achieving honor and certainty is within reach, it just may be a little harder. 

            The characters presented in the novel all share similar qualities while still maintaining different goals. The characters that I have chosen to analyze are just few of the many that J.R.R Tolkien uses in his novel, Lord Of The Rings, Return Of  The King,  and Peter Jacskon’s film adaption, that show the audience that the struggle to restor honour and certainty can be problematic, but in the end, it is the ultimate sacrifice that benefits the greater good, and can help an nidivual to cope with the troubles that they have inside themselves, or the ones that society has pressed upon them.