Where are Frodo, Gandalf and the others going at the end and why?

Question

First of all, I haven't read the book (shame on me).

I remember one of the last scenes of Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King shows Frodo, Gandalf, Bilbo and some others leave by ship.

Where are they going to, and why?

Answer 1

They are traveling to Valinor, the Undying Lands. these exist outside the human world. Men cannot go there. The ending of LOTR ties back to material from the Silmarillion. The Appendices to The Return of the King provide added detail. As noted, many of the elves, Galadriel included, returned to Middle Earth in rebellion against the Vala to wage war on Morgoth, who stole the silmarillions (gems). The Vala are not "gods." There is but one creator-God in Tolkien's mythology. The Vala are created and participate with Illuvatar in fashioning the world.

Frodo, Bilbo and even Sam have been altered by their contact with the One Ring. They have also performed great deeds. Frodo is specifically given leave to travel to Valinor because of the unhealable wound from the Morgul knife. It is a grace of the Vala to permit them to come to the Undying Lands. Gimli, by the intercession of Galadriel, is also given leave to come to Valinor. Like the elves, and unlike men, the dwarves are tied to the world. Elves and dwarves go to the Halls of Mandos (a Valar) when they die. Men pass beyond the world - the "gift" of Illuvatar, but subverted by Morgoth.

The Silmarillion details the creation of the world by Illuvatar (a variant of the term "All-Father" - JRR Tolkien was a philologist and there are cognates to English, German and other languages in those spoken in Middle Earth). The Vala are created beings - created by Illuvatar in the long past. The Maia are another angelic order of beings, below the Vala. Saruman and Radagast are of the same order as Gandalf. Sauron is also a Maiar.

Answer 2

The characters you mention are accompanying the elves-- Galadriel, et al-- back to Valinor, the Undying Lands, across the sea to the west. The reasons for the elves' departure are detailed in the Silmarillion. It's a long story, which I encourage you to read, but to summarize very briefly:

• The elves lived in Valinor with the gods
• They rebelled and were exiled to Middle Earth, but
• After thousands of years they have been allowed to return. Gradually, many do.

Gandalf goes with them because that's where he's from. He's one of the Maiar, essentially a minor god. He's only in Middle Earth because he was sent there on a mission, which is now complete. He could probably magic himself back but it's not his style, so he travels with the elves.

As for Frodo, Bilbo, and eventually Sam, I don't think the reasons are explicitly stated. It seems that they have been invited to live among the gods-- an unprecedented honor for anyone not an elf-- as a reward for their service related to the ring.

Answer 3

Frodo leaves Middle-earth for the Undying Lands with Gandalf, Bilbo, Elrond, Celeborn, and Galadriel.

This is considered a mystical land, home to the Valar, a race of 'angelic' elves also known as the 'masters of spirits'.

From the LotR wiki:

In TA 3021 (Third Age), Círdan the Shipwright accompanied Elrond, Galadriel, and Gandalf, the Keepers of the Rings, on a voyage to the Undying Lands, where they intended to remain. They were also joined by Frodo and Bilbo Baggins, Hobbits who were among the very few mortal beings to be allowed passage to the Undying Lands. Eventually, Samwise Gamgee, another Hobbit of the Shire, and the Dwarf Gimli along with his good friend Legolas, are also said to have made the journey.

Now, as to why they made the journey, there seems to only be speculation, although the most common agreement is that Tolkien chose to have his beloved characters travel there, seemingly to remain, in order for them to live forever.

EDIT: It has been pointed out that, as mortals, eternal life would not be an option for the hobbits, so perhaps we should consider it more of a happy retirement.

Another, more thorough, answer could be the following, from Yahoo:

His [Frodo's] journey to Mordor had scarred him, physically and emotionally. He would never fully heal. Arwen gave him her seat on the last ship (the only thing of note she ever did in the whole danged book) so that he could find rest. All of the ring bearers left middle earth; Gandalf, Galadriel, Elrond, Bilbo, Frodo, and even Sam after his children were grown and rosie passed away.