July 24, 2002

Response to Jimeous
Danny

First off, in the movie, Frodo wasn't wearing the ring so Sam wouldn't have dissapeared, but in the Book Tolkien never says one way or the other so that moment in the story has no weight in the debate on the nature of the ring.

Secondly, I challenge you to find any place where it is explicitly stated that someone can will the ring not to take them into the wraith world. The ring only serves one master. That master in truth is Sauron. The Ring is constantly striving to fulfil Sauron's will, not the bearer's. The ring has a will of its own, not the will of its bearer.

As I said, there are moments that illustrate this. Weathertop for example. Had Frodo's will been excercised when he wore the ring he would have been invisible to both mortals and the wraiths. The will of Sauron on the other hand wanted Frodo to put the ring on and be more visible to the wraiths.

The taking the bearer into the wraith world can be called a default reaction I suppose, but that doesn't change the fact that that is what the ring will do with whatever bearer wears it. The exception may be Bombadil, but if you remember the reaction of Gandalf and Elrond at least implies that Bombadil was VERY UNIQUE.

Perhaps those who have dwelt in the blessed realm, and already are visible on both plains of existance will remain visible on both sides, but I find no argument that the ring listens to the will of anybody but Sauron. The power it gives to the bearer is always calculated to bend that person to evil or break their will. IE Frodo seeing Barad-dur(sp?). That seems to be somethign the Ring let Frodo do in order to strike fear and despair into his heart. The Ring let Frodo Grow in power to command Gollum in order to ensnare him in the lust for the Rings power. I argue that the ring never submited to any will other than the will of Sauron. The great majority of Sauron's power was in the ring. Why would that power and will even listen to the will of its bearer. The ring excercises its will over the bearer.

Even Gandalf knows that the ring's will would overpower him. Galadriel knew the same thing. Elrond wouldn't take the ring for the same reason. Even without wearing the ring, just lusting after it, Saruman was overpowerd by its will. The Ring Excercises its will over its bearer not the other way around.