I’d define a main character as anyone who has a significant stage presence, and active role, across all three books. That pretty much rules out Boromit which is fine by me. It clearly rules in Gollum and maybe Saruman though her really is pretty much out by the third book. OTOH — Galadriel and Eowyn both deserve at least some credit for main female characters.
Doubt is a funny thing. I’ve found that as I’ve gotten older I care less and less whether anyone’s going to laugh at me if my doubts turn out to be true. That — to me — has been super powerful. Either way, I’ve always found action to be the best antidote for fear.
