When Boromir attends the Council of Elrond, he nearly laughs aloud at the spectacle of an aged, tiny being called a hobbit offering to take the One Ring to Mordor. But, the Man's mirth vanishes when he sees that everyone else regards Bilbo with "grave respect".
As the days darken, perspectives change. Boromir's countrymen look in hopeful wonder at Pippin when he and Gandalf arrive at Minas Tirith. In their great need, the Gondorians see Shadowfax as a promising token that the Rohirrim may come to their aid, and word spreads quickly throughout the city that a Perian - a prince of the halflings - has come amongst them. The desperate wish for help from any source seems to open the eyes of proud men to the value of others - even horses and hobbits - in time of war.
By the time Frodo and Samwise are being praised with great praise by a vast host on the Field of Cormallen, the honorific Periannath does not seem at all humorous or ironic to the men whose whole way of life they have just saved. In men's eyes, little Mr. Baggins and Master Gamgee are, indeed, grand, splendid princes. As the triumphant horns and voices fall silent, J.R.R. Tolkien immediately follows with insight into how the hobbits see themselves. They blush, they stare in wonder at the crowd, and Sam bursts into tears over a very good song. With emotions running so high, it is almost a relief to escape from such joy for a moment so that Frodo and Sam are again on their own under the care of Gandalf. He brings them to a tent where fine raiment has been prepared for them, doubtless while they lay long in sleep after their intolerable ordeal.
In trying to capture this moment of quiet reckoning in the tent, I had to think about how Frodo and Sam might have looked after their long trek. It was very sad to paint thin hobbits, but, of course, they were starving and dehydrated in Mordor. Their hair would have become quite long. When might they have last had a trim? In Rivendell, or possibly Lothlórien? I think the ringlets on their shoulders might have added to their princely look in the eyes of men.
The hobbits are delighted by the return of their mended elven cloaks. Light and shadow flow through the folds around Sam, symbolic of the hobbits' journey. Sam is given gilded mail. The Gaffer will later call this uncommon garb "ironmongery", giving us a clue as to how most hobbits would see Sam in this moment. In fact, we see how peculiar the four traveling hobbits appear to all their folk when they return to the Shire in gear of war and splendor.
In the tent, Frodo shines in Bilbo's mithril-coat, but he has to be talked into wearing Sting while Sam has the barrow-blade. Frodo's reticence as to violence in the Scouring of the Shire is foretokened in this scene under the canopy. His wounded hand is bandaged, and he will have difficult days ahead, but Gandalf is there and help will come to Frodo.
Last of all, Sam - who began his adventure with a bag on his head - is crowned with a silver circlet to match the one Gandalf puts on Frodo. In this moment, I wanted to try to capture a glance between the two hobbits. Frodo looks battle-weary, but Sam is awkwardly showing himself off in his unaccustomed finery in hopes of making his master smile. For all the riches and praise being showered upon the Shire-folk, Frodo and Sam can still see one another through hobbit eyes as two small beings who have been caught up in something far larger than themselves. Here, we also see the pattern going forward of Frodo having become remote from the zest of life, and Sam ever trying to take care of him. Gandalf the White, of course, sees all.
J.R.R. Tolkien is an absolute genius in giving us this pause with the hobbits before they head over to the feast in one of the pavilions by the Anduin. In these minutes I've painted, I hoped to convey something of what it feels like to be greatly praised when, inside, you feel very small. To yourself, you may feel like one small hobbit in a very large world of Men. But to others, your good will and good works may make you look like a hero. Perspective is everything, and I believe that all folk, however meek, have the potential for greatness, yet for many, the quiet tent of refuge with our closest friends and family is also a necessity. To be fully seen, our light must sometimes be hidden, but it should also sometimes shine. Let's have courage!
I hope you find some inspiration in this video short in which, you too, can step share this moment in the tent with Gandalf, Frodo, and Sam: