The Scouring of the Shire: Why Peter Jackson Cut Tolkien's Real Ending

The Scouring of the Shire represents Tolkien's true finale—a chapter millions never saw when Peter Jackson cut it from his films. After destroying the Ring, the four hobbits return home to find the Shire occupied by Saruman's ruffians, transformed into an industrialized wasteland with trees cut down and the Old Mill replaced by a polluting factory. The hobbits must liberate their homeland without Gandalf or Aragorn, leading to the Battle of Bywater where Merry commands with tactical brilliance. Frodo shows mercy to Saruman before Wormtongue kills the fallen wizard. Sam uses Galadriel's gift to restore the Shire, planting a golden mallorn tree that brings miraculous renewal. Yet Frodo cannot heal from his wounds and must sail to the Undying Lands. Jackson cut this chapter because adding another conflict after the Ring's climax would violate cinematic structure, despite critics already saying the film had too many endings. The omission reveals fundamental tensions between literary depth and medium-specific storytelling—both valid, both valuable.