July 18, 2002

Re: Ring Invisibilty
Danny

I have to disagree with the last statement made about the one ring. The post implied that had Frodo or Bilbo willed it, they could have avoided being invisible while bearing the Ring. This is not true. In Rivendell, that was something that many used to site the idea that Bombadil was not influenced by the ring because he didn't dissapear. The invisibility comes from their being in the Wraith World. The bearer becomes part of the wraith world wether or not he wants that. IE: Frodo on weathertop certainly didn't will to be more visible to his enemies, but that is exactly what happened. Sure the Ring's will and the power of the nine had something to do with his puting the ring on but my point is that the ring's effect of making the wearer invisible is not something that is easily changed.

The nine wraiths (The Captain of Which was a great sorceror before succumbing to his ring) couldn't change their wraith state even though it had some inherent disadvantages.

A bearer who knows how to wield the ring can exhert much of his will but most couldn't escape the invisibility. Frodo grew in ability with the ring and used it to see Barad-Dur (sp?), to command Gollum, and a few other things. A being like Gandalf or Galadriel would have been incredibly powerful with the ring, but they would have been part of the wraith world when wearing it. The surprise of Gandalf, Elrond and others at Bombadil's ability to remain in our world is evidence that they wouldn't expect to be able to do so themselves.

Furthermore about why Sam wouldn't disappear when grabbed by Frodo: the ring puts its wearer in the wraith world, but not all the things he interacts with. I would say that many things are part of both worlds, which is why they are seen in both (ie the earth itself.) Obviously, the wraiths can see and navigate the land. Also, magical swords ie Sting and the morgul blade Frodo was stabbed with seem to have a duel existance. I say this because they are visible in both worlds and have unique appearances in both.