do, or don't be;

Tumblr: It’s so disgusting how Western culture won’t let men express affection or emotional vulnerability without saying they’re gay.

Tolkien: watches his school friends die horribly in WWI, feels immense guilt for the deaths of the “lower class” men put in his command and writes a series of books where this time the friends live and the true hero is a working class character who gets to come home in the end

The more despair I endure in life, the more I love Frodo. I'm just. I'm so glad that Tolkien wrote him like that. He was a hero and it broke him. He was given too much to carry. The circumstances were dire, everyone was doing the best they could, and Frodo tried so hard, for such a good cause, and he...broke. And the narrative has pity for him, the characters show him kindness. Even after victory, his hurts did not heal, and it isn't considered his fault. He must go to the undying lands, to seek out peace there. In universe, he is forgiven for being human - don't be pedantic - and his great torment is recognized. He fell. He could not have done it alone. He is still a hero.

Had a revelation recently and thought it might help other people too.

Illustrations part V by