July 14, 2002

Re: Ring of Invisibility
Jimeous

One of the most misunderstood principles behind the One Ring is the usage of it. We know that its more than an invisibility ring and more improtantly can speculate that just wearing it doesn't evoke a person invisible.

The key ingredient has been one of "Will" and "fear". You notice when Gandalf talks about it and later Galadriel, its thier "will" which surfaces of what they can become with having the Ring.

Notice when Bilbo first turns invisible, it was through fear and a "willingness" to disappear which exerted itself over the Ring. When brandishing Sting, the extension of the sword was a show of strength, of defiance. Bilbo had no will to hide the sword because he wanted to show his resistance. Logically speaking, when you're in a fight, you want your weapon to be seen not hidden, especially moreso if you can't see it to control it right?

Tom Bombadil doesn't disappear when touching the ring, and his will isn't one which was easily discerned.
Frodo only recognises the invisibility ability at Bilbo's party, of course he undergoes situations when fear motivates him to "disappear". He wills himself to be invisible, just as Bilbo did. In the movie, Frodo panics just before the Ring "slips" on his hand, again a fear driven will evoked invisibility.

The foundation of all magic items, is not the effect they can do, but the will of those whom use it. The Ring could have remained harmless in the hands of Hobbits because they don't have "will" to lust after power. In the end, the One Ring isn't a mere Invisibilty bauble which fades everything by default, its a ring which uses a person's will to determine the results.