July 24, 2002

Whether You Will Or No
Brett C.

There have been several articles about the invisiblity induced by the One Ring being an act of deliberate will. I have to say I don't agree. Nowhere in Any of Tolkien's works that I am aware of is this idea implied, and while the arguement made by Jimeous is intriguing, I believe the source material points to the invisiblity effect being an unavoidable effect of the Ring being used by mortals.

This is a very important point. The rings were NEVER meant to be used by mortals. The Elven Smiths under Celebrimbor made them for the Elves, and it was Sauron who perverted his intentions by giving the rings captured from the sack of Eregion to mortal races. As I've said in other articles, the rings are safe enough when used by beings who exist in 'both worlds' such as the more powerful Elves, but when used by mortals they draw that being to the edge of the 'other side' as Gandalf puts it, one aspect of which is the Wraith World. This is supported by Gandalf's talk with Frodo when the latter awakes in Rivendell. The effect of this transition is to become invisible to eyes that only percieve the mortal world of Middle Earth.

The arguement for the wearer being able to will themselves invisible [or not with suficient control] seems mostly to center around Bilbo and Frodo's desire tohide when doning the Ring. Well of course every time after the first instance that is clearly Bilbo's intention, but lets go back further to Gollum, or rather Smeagol. The first time he puts n the Ring he is srurprised to find his family cannot see him, but he had no intent to hide. It may be argued, I suppose, that he was somehow wishing to hide his guilt over Deagol's murder, but I think that's a bit of a long bow to draw. What sems more likely, especially given a lack of direct evidence to the contrary in the written works, is that the Ring makes a mortal invisible because it must, because that is how mortals are affected by its power. The wearer has no say in the matter, any more than they can control the fading/corrupting effect it inevitably produces.

By the same token, I don't think Sauron COULD make himself invisible with the Ring. After all, the invisiblilty is not really invisiblity to him, so it's not like these mortal users are accessing a power they could use against him, s what does he care if they can make themselves unseen to each other. Those using that power will just end up his slaves anyway, serving his puroposes. Also, whatever pride he may have possessed, Sauron had been having his butt handed to him for seven years by Gil-Galad and Elendil when it came to the final battle on Mount Doom. I just can't rationalize the Dark Lord throwing away such a tremendous advantage in battle after being on the ropes for so long.