The Unfinished Legacy: What Happened After The Lord of the Rings

Frodo leaves blank pages at the end of his book and I think he charged his friend Sam to fill these in. For Frodo was planning on leaving Middle Earth with his uncle Bilbo with both leaving and passing on over the ocean into the Western Lands or Undying lands before 'the earth was bent.'

The Unfinished Epilogue

The text of The Lord of the Rings as we know it today is a remarkable achievement, crafted over eight long years by J.R.R. Tolkien. However, despite the careful and meticulous presentation of events and characters, it did leave some readers with a nagging question. What happened after the Thrice-Blessed Rings were cast into the fires of Mount Doom, and how did Frodo and the other characters at Mount Doom find themselves, and what became of them after the event?

Throughout the narrative, there are subtle hints about the resolution. Frodo, in particular, had his fill of the Shire's 'sun and daffodils' and felt drawn to the sea, to 'the undying Lands' where one knew all things were beautiful and changed. This theme of longing for the unchanging beauty and transformation is a constant through Frodo's journey. However, by the end of the Third Age, most of it remains obscured, an enigma for the readers.

Tolkien's Vision and Its Limitations

Tolkien intended that The Lord of the Rings be published in one volume. But his publisher, to mitigate expected financial losses, decided to split the work into three volumes: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King. The structure of the book means that the weight of the story is particularly impressive, allowing for a detailed depiction of the characters, their journeys, and the vast scope of Middle Earth. However, this division also means that the narrative offers a condensed version of the ongoing saga, which makes some implications for the characters' futures a bit more ambiguous.

It's within this context that the unresolved endings in The Lord of the Rings become significant. While many readers are content with the introspective and momentous conclusion to the rings' journey, others may want to know more about the lives of those who survived, especially about Frodo's journey. The mysterious line in the book 'And the sea came riding' hints at a deeper purpose, a character's role in an ongoing saga beyond the Third Age.

The Enduring Enigma

Sam, for instance, became Mayor of Bag End, rebuilding and renovating the Shire. This act of revival suggested a new kind of inheritance and legacy far beyond the initial life-changing events. The question remains, however, if the sea would indeed come for Sam and his descendants. Bilbo, by the end of his journey, had passed away and 'departed for the Grey Havens'. Were there other such voyages planned for other characters in Tolkien's grand vision?

Frodo's journey is the most poignant. He ultimately takes the sea, the 'undying lands', passing beyond the confines of Middle Earth for reasons of peace and fulfillment. But what of his small band of friends and the other characters who helped him? What of the intertwining destinies they had so carefully plotted? Should Tolkien have concluded with a full story of these men and their lives in the Undying Lands, or was it fitting to let the reader infer?

These questions remain unanswered, leaving the doors open for a thousand stories, interpretations, and sequels. The beauty of The Lord of the Rings is not only in its storytelling but also in the unanswered questions it leaves behind, encouraging readers to imagine their own continued narrative. This unfinished legacy leaves a lasting mark on the hearts of fans, who eagerly await the continuation of stories brimming with Middle Earth's magic and wonder.