June 17, 2003

Did I Do Right?
Lilly

The other day, to my great delight, a friend actually asked me about the LOTR: more specifically, about the rings. Why does Sauron need the Ring? What's up with the wraiths? Why aren't the elves with rings gone nasty? What's the deal with the whole 'invisible' thing? Why don't the elves turn invisible with thier rings on?...

I was thrilled that someone was actually interested, so I quickly babbled out an answer off the top of my head:

The rings given to the Elves, men, and Dwarves were made so that they had the strength to govern thier people; they weren't made to turn you invisible. Each was made according to the strength of the bearer. But Sauron helped make the men's rings, so that in time they were overcome and became wraiths. He made the dwarves' rings too, but the dwarves were too sturdy to become wraiths. The Dark Lord didn't, however, mess up the Elven rings, so that while they are bound to the power of the One, they do not have evil effects, and they do not hurt the bearers. Elves are already immortal, so that the rings cannot affect them in that way anyhow (like the One did to Gollum, giving him long life). But the One Ring's power is huge; only Sauron, a Maiar, can master it. Everyone else gets thrown right into the wraith world when they put it on, and eventually are forced to stay there. The power is too strong for them to harness. That's why they turn invisible.

Also, when Sauron made the ring, it was almost as if he put half of himself into it. When he was destroyed but the ring was not, it was as if half of him had stayed: the ring was like an anchor to him. Since the ring survived, so did he, and soon he was able to build himself up again, even without the ring. Were he to get it, he would have all his former power again as a whole, and then some. But when the ring was destroyed, his anchor was cut loose, and he was vanquished.

Are these good answers? Are my facts straight? I'd hate to confuse anyone, especially those new to Middle Earth and showing interest.

Studiously yours.

~Lilly