Why all the Fuss over the One Ring?

[Alzrius]

One thing that has always puzzled me about Lord of the Rings:

Why do so many people want the ring so badly??? Gollum is literally addicted to it, and Sauron needs it to put the rest of his essence back together, but beyond that...it doesn't do much.

We keep seeing people like Boromir talking about how they want to use "the power of the Ring". What power??? It's indestructable, it corrupts and grants long life, and it turns you invisible, that's it! It won't turn the tide of a war in your kingdoms favor if you have it. Why then does character after character seem to think it will grant them ultimate power if they wield it???

 

[Geoff Watson]

It had many other powers other than invisibility; that was just the easiest one to use. Frodo didn't try to learn any more powers as he knew it was dangerous.

Geoff.

 

[Black Omega]

The ring gives power according to the stature of it's user. Little people like Gollum turn invisible. Gandolf and Galadriel would gain so much power they would easily overthrow Sauron, and ultimately replace him.

 

[Alzrius]

So, which one is it? Hidden powers, or powers by stature?

btw, they couldn't overthrow Sauron with his ring...not when it ultimately wants to return to him.

 

[shilsen]

So, which one is it? Hidden powers, or powers by stature?

btw, they couldn't overthrow Sauron with his ring...not when it ultimately wants to return to him.

Powers by stature.

And potential for overthrowing Sauron was definitely there. There are a number of references in the book to the fact that Sauron fears someone taking it and overthrowing him. Galadriel, for example, is quite confident that she could tip the scales if she took the Ring, but chooses not to because it would only result in replacing the Dark Lord with a Dark Queen.

 

[Black Omega]

Agreed. The books left little doubt the ring could be used against Sauron. the problem was not defeating him, the problem was ultimately the ring would make you as evil as Sauron so it would make little difference.

You don't think Saruman really planned to grab the hobbits and the ring then simply turn the ring over to Sauron...

 

[Mistwell]

I always assumed (and I don't know where I got this from) that it enhanced the abilities of the user. So halflings hide very well in shadow, therefore it made them fully invisible. Gandalf does magic very well, so it would have made his magic more powerful. Boromir fought very well, so it would have made him fight even better. That sort of stuff.

 

[jonesy]

I always assumed (and I don't know where I got this from) that it enhanced the abilities of the user. So halflings hide very well in shadow, therefore it made them fully invisible. Gandalf does magic very well, so it would have made his magic more powerful. Boromir fought very well, so it would have made him fight even better. That sort of stuff.

Well isn't that power by stature?

 

[Mistwell]

Well isn't that power by stature?

Well I supposed. Stature implies status to me (though perhaps that is too narrow a definition). I didn't think about it as "Gandalf is of a higher status of power than Frodo, so it will be more powerful in his hands", I thought of it more as Frodo and Gandalf are equals, and it would have a different effect depending on the individual skills of each person. But I see your point - I suppose they can mean the same thing.

 

[Femerus the Gnecro]

Actually, 'power by stature' means that the taller the user, the more badass the power structure.

Gandalf is taller than Galadriel, who is taller than Boromir, who is taller than the hobbits.

Anyone remember how tall Sauron was in the beginning of LOTR?

I think I've proven my case.



-F