August 5, 2002

Replies Out the Wazoo
Everett V.

I want to begin by addressing, briefly (if at all possible), a couple things regarding invisibilty. First of all, I would like to respond to Jimeous' argument that the Ring maks one invisible because one wills the Ring to do so. This, I submit, is inaccurate, though also not entirely wrong. Let us not forget that the Ring is a Ring of Power, and that power is unleashed when the it is placed on the finger of its bearer. When this power is unleahed, it washes over its bearer, cloaking him in a shroud of power that makes him completely invisible, unless he is standing in the noonday sun, in which case a thin shadow can be seen as the sun pierces the shroud. This shroud can also be dimmed, if not wholly removed by someone if the strength of his will is greater than the power being exerted by the Ring (It is important to note that simply placing the Ring on one's finger does not release the full potency of the Ring. Only Sauron was capable of using the full power of the Ring.). This is very probably why Tom Bombadil did not vanish when he placed the Ring on his finger. His strength of will was so great that the Ring could not exert its power over him. So yes jimeous is right. Invisibility can be controlled, but it requires strength of will to turn it off, not on.

On to point two. Gollum did not necessarily see Frodo when the two struggled at the edge of the chasm inside Mount Doom. Gollum's long possession of the ring had heightened his senses considerably, especially his ense of hearing and his sense of smell. It is quite possible that Gollum was able to locate Frodo both by his smell and by the (very little) noise he made inside Mount Doom. He was also drawn by the Ring. He did not have to see it to know where it was. Rather, just as the Ringwraiths could feel its presence, Gollum's long possession of it had given him the same ability and his long absence from it heightened this sense. So much for being brief.

Anyway, on to point three. A question has been raised regarding whether or not the Eye of Sauron is actually Sauron in physical form, or simply a visible, immaterial manifestation of his spiritual form. Though I have great difficulty visualizing this, The Eye of Sauron is most likely his physical form. It is written that after the Last Alliance, the spirit of Sauron wandered aimlessly for thousands of years, until he began to take his most fearsome form: the Eye of Sauron (I don't remeber where exacyly this is or the exact wording, so I'm paraphrasing.). Also, remember that Gandalf discovered that the Necromancer in Dol Guldur was actually Sauron. Additionally, in order for Sauron to wield the Ring, he needed to have actual fingers (And, by extension, hands, arms, etc.), the Ring being a physical object. If he wasn't in physical form, why should he seek out the Ring in earnest, revealing himself to his enemies unless he planned to use the Ring? Granted, there was always the possibilty of someone using it against him, but as far as he knew, it was being kept by lowly Hobbits in the Shire who had no idea that they possessed the key to his possible downfall. No. He must have been planning to wield it to ensure his ultimate victory.

Finally, a few-hopefully-short-again, hopefully-points on LOTR and Christianity. First of all, Tolkien described Frodo as being a sort of "proto-Christ" in that he took upon himself the burden of an entire world, sacrificing himself that the world might be free from the domination of Sauron. His succumbing to the power of the Ring on Mount Doom can be seen as symbolic death, and the loss of the Ring and the rescue from Mount Doom by the eagles as a symbolic ressurection.

Gandalf can be viewed as the Holy Spirit. He did, after all, inspire people to great acts. He came often in ways and times unlooked for to render aid to those in trial. He bore Narya, the Ring of Fire, and fire is a symbol of the Holy Spirit.

The Rings represent our desires and the means we use to attain them, and all but the Rings of the Elves, which were not touched by the hand of Sauron, brought about the downfall of those who used them. Specifically, the seven represent greed and the means used to satisfy it; the nine represent the lust for glory and power and the means of attaining it; and the three represent the desire to preserve what is good in the world, to keep it from becoming corrupted by evil.

Aragorn, particularly when he is first seen, represents the nature of a true Christian. He appears rough, unkempt, dirty, worn, unappealing, etc., but if one looks deeper, his true nature can be seen: noble, dignified, powerful, etc (The same could also be said of Glorfindel.).

Sam is the true Christian servant. He serves Frodo, not for personal gain, but out of love for him. He is also humble, regarding Frodo as better than himself in that he put Frodo's needs before his own. He always has faith that the quest will make it and sacrifices everything for it.

Merry, Pippin, Legolas, and Gimli (Gandalf and Aragorn also, but to a lesser extent) are, as a group, an example of the nature of Christian fellowship. They share a bond and a love that is born of their call and transcends human understanding (esp. the friendship between Legolas and Gimli). Gimli endured Fangorn out of the love that he bore for Legolas and the Paths of the Dead out of the love he bore for Aragorn.

Well, I guess that's all for now. I apologize for carrying on for so long. God bless.