July 21, 2002

Regarding the One Ring
Jimeous

There have been subsequent replies and good ones at that to the One Ring in relation to invisibility.

I would like to emphasis that invisibility is a "willed effect" and not a default attribute of the One Ring. It is impossible for situations to occur where people and objects are visible while wearing the ring if invisibility is a defaulted affect. Especially so when Bilbo's shadow can still be seen.

What I've not looked at is the default attributes which are unique to the One Ring as pointed out by Danny and Peter

For this we are provided with the strongest clues from Gandalf's 17 year search. How so?

Gandalf is more likely to suspect Bilbo's ring was something different based on the clues before Bilbo left the Shire for the last time.

1. The youthful Bilbo
Gandalf found it unusual that Bilbo hadn't aged as much as he should have, at this time it is unlikely for Gandalf to make a connection to Bilbo's magic ring

2. The disappearing Hobbit
Witnessed by everyone at the party, it was a first alert to Gandalf that the Bilbo had been using the Ring. Consider also that Frodo would have made a connection between invisibility and the ring at this point also.

3. The transformed Hobbit
When asked to leave the Ring behind, Bilbo did not act as Gandalf had imagined. Gandalf had to force himself to reveal part of his authority to Bilbo to convince him.

So the clues Gandalf had were sketchy at the best, but raised enough suspicion in him to suspect that the ring was no ordinary magic bauble. It took Gandalf 17 years with more clues to decide that Bilbo's Ring was indeed the One Ring. Had Smeagol not been caught, its likely the Ring would have had remained safe in the Shire, it had been for so long. Gandalf took long simply because the Middle Earth Search Engines truly did suck in those days :P lol. But mainly because he wasn't given alot to go on. The reasons for the rings removal from teh Shire became evident when it could be traced back to Bilbo.

Looking at these clues we can say the One Ring gives the ability of long life but not eternal youth. Bilbo was still aged, and we also know that Smeagol was aged and not youthful. The next attribute is the One Ring can be subjected to the will but not wholly controlled by it. In his initial stages, Bilbo was motivated by fear to become invisible however he could never get his shadow to become invisible, his "spell" became corrupted. Finally we recognised the ability of the ring to transform the wearer into obsessive behaviour, in essence like a drug.

Gandalf and Galadriel make a nice speech of such, but our physical evidence is provided by those whom we know have had it for a long time. Bilbo we see wanted nothing more than to keep the Ring. Smeagol was always greedy and selfish, the odd Hobbit out from how Tolkien portrays hobbits in general. The ring didn't corrupt him to be more undesireable than he already was. Its because he is so old and his flesh looks as if its rotting like meat why he appears physically repulsive. The Ring corrupted Gollum by transforming his greed into a single obsession. Smeagol the greedy ceased to exist and is replaced by Gollum the obsessed. Greed is a plural desire, obsession is its' singular

It is no surprise that the Ring is named in the singular to highlight obessessive behaviour. Its also no surprise that it as the ability to control and in essence cause other rings to rely on it as an obsession. The allergory of it being a drug is an apt one. Gandalf and Galadriel recognise this as being the potential danger, and both hint at this only after its been taken I mean used.

The difference between Frodo and Bilbo or Smeagol, is, Frodo has knowledge of the One Ring. Like a smoker whom has no knowledge of the effects of cigarattes [Ed: Trust me those last couple of years are useless when you're old and crusty puff puff :p], poor Frodo is encouraged by Gandalf not to use the Ring. But bless him, Frodo doesn't listen and the story becomes interesting :)...

Now these are only some of the One Rings attributes as has been shown by "past owners". Fear is linked when the ring is used, as is obssession and long life BUT we can only see how Hobbits have reacted to it, because they have been the ones which we've read about that had it the longest. Still the RIngs attributes would remain constant..

Invisibility is and effect of the Ring, its by no means the default. Will which is driven by fear is channelled through the ring for such effect, but those which cabn channel thier will with knowledge have better control of the One Ring Effects. BUT those whom use it have to suffer from the rings own ability to corrupt desire and make one obssessed with it. The ring seems more desireable to those with a single mind, hence Boromir's desire to have it.

I would like to end by saying that, I really enjoyed how the movie portrayed the One Ring as a living entity. And also to send support to Brett about Glor. Glorfindel's lack of motivation and sensibility seems odd because it would have been faster to take Frodo then and not wait with walking Hobbits. Glor and Aragon are very unlikely to be surprised by the Nazgul, it doesn't seem to fit how either of them are portrayed :)...

Still it is a brilliant textual scene, and I do miss him, Arwen in that scene doesn't bother me because its a great cinema scene :)