Science fiction and fantasy: Xenite.Org -- Worlds of Imagination on the Web!

The White Council

Re: Isildur and The Ring

Tolkien and Inklings Discussion

Archive index

Tolkien and Inklings Forum
Middle-earth Mailing List
LoTR movie news
LoTR collectibles
Liv Tyler is Arwen
Elijah Wood is Frodo Baggins
Tolkien Middle-earth at Suite101
LoTR movies forum
All Forums

  Posted by Bacchus on March 17, 2000 at 02:20:33
In Reply to: Re: Isildur and The Ring posted by macadamia on March 17, 2000 at 01:40:45:



: [snip]

: I don't have the passage in front of me, but my memory agrees with yours -- Isildur said some rather remarkable things to one of his sons (the one said to most resemble Aragorn), basically (1) That he had not yet learned how to use the ring, and (2) That he now realized that the ring should have been destroyed. I think that it was clearly his plan at this moment to try to have the ring destroyed (I believe you're right as well that he specifically mentioned giving the ring over to another keeper).

: Now, whether he could actually have done that or not remains an open question. Even to say this after having possessed the ring for a couple of years is impressive, I think. But what would have happened as he approached Rivendell? Would he have maintained a Faramir-like cool (Faramir, who never held the ring at all)? Or would he have succumbed to the temptation that kept Gandalf, Elrond, and Galadriel all from taking it?

: Both answers are interesting (and purely speculative).

My gut feel is that, no matter what he said in the heat of battle, when the time actually came to relinquish the Ring, he would not have had the strength. That said, I'll go ahead and devil's advocate myself and point out that Isildur was obviously a very strong willed individual. After all, he saved a sapling of the White Tree at great personal peril while very young. Bilbo managed to pass on the Ring after carrying it for 61 years (albeit with help); perhaps Isildur would have been strong enough.



Tip: Earlier messages, if they are missing when you click on the links, may be in a lower-numbered archive. Edit the URL in your browser window to change the archive number. Ex. archive_02/ becomes archive_01/.
Tip: Click on the Tolkien and Inklings Forum link to followup to archived messages. You'll need to copy the text from this message and repost it in your new message.


The Tolkien and Inklings Forum is an SF-FANDOM Web site.

SF-FANDOM is a part of the Xenite.Org network.

Xenite.Org is home to Lord of the Rings movie news. The Tolkien and Inklings Forum is the Web's oldest fan-run forum dedicated to J.R.R. Tolkien.

Xenite.Org has been providing the most comprehensive Lord of the Rings movie news on the Web since February 1998.

Xenite.Org also brings you Xena Online Resources. Xena Online Resources is the Web's largest directory of Hercules and Xena-related content.

The Xenite.Org network is home to more than 100 science fiction and fantasy Web sites.



The Tolkien and Inklings Forum is an independent, moderated forum provided as a courtesy to fans of J.R.R. Tolkien and the Inklings, including C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, et. al., by Xenite.Org. Please be sure to review our Posting Policy before participating in our forums. This archive is provided as a courtesy of Xenite.Org and in no way implies or imparts any liability or obligation on our part to uphold or maintain the content provided herein. This message and other archived messages from Xenite.Org forums may contain content not necessarily endorsed, reviewed, or approved by Xenite.Org and/or its moderation staff. All opinions expressed in these archives are those of the original posters and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of Xenite.Org, its owner or owners, moderators, administrators, and/or other volunteer staff or agents. All content is copyright the original poster unless otherwise noted. This page is copyright © 1997-2001 Michael L. Martinez. All rights reserved. No reproduction, electronic or otherwise, may be made without the express permission of the copyright holders, except as occurs in normal browser caching and search engine indexing. You may print one copy of this page for your personal use.