August 5, 2002

Re: Jimeous Agree To Disagree
Danny

Your quotes are very good, and you have certainly read more of Tolkien's writings than I. However, I don't feel that anything that was cited in your post is anything more than open to interpetation. Ie: it is your interpetation that Gollum wished to hide from the other hobbits. Why wouldn't he wish to show his beautiful ring to them? That is just as easy to interpet from the account of Smeagol and his precious. There is great room for interpetation there, and I interpet it to be that Smeagol was surprised at his invisibilty, and after realizing he was invisible decided to use that in devious ways. I don't feel there is enough stated in those passages to say that Gollum could will himself visible while wearing the ring.

My other point that we dispute is also based on interpetation. That is the weathertop moment. Frodo's will was to be invisible to the wraiths. Had his will had any influence on what the ring does, it would have done so. I don't think it matters that the wraiths have the powers of their rings to help. The will of Frodo was ignored at weathertop, and he was betrayed by the effect the ring has on all bearers save those who dwell in both wraith and mortal worlds simultaneously.

Perhaps we should agree to disagree. I feel that the ring excercises its will over the bearer. Any power or ability it bestows on the bearer even according to its stature, is in order to ensnare the bearer. It imparts greater power to a greater being because more of its power is needed to enslave the bearer. My interpetation is that the ring places someone in the wraith world as it has been called, and that only extremely powerful beings could will that effect not to impart invisibility. Perhaps it could even be said that only those who already dwell on both sides (IE elves who have seen the blessed realm, Gandalf etc) would show no visible influence from wearing the ring.

However, I feel kind of foolish for taking this discussion so seriously, because after all it is literature, and it is open to interpetation and opinion. That is what makes Tolkien's writings so enthralling. It is also what makes these discussions so interesting.