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The White CouncilRe: Temptation and the RingTolkien and Inklings Discussion |
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The White CouncilRe: Temptation and the RingTolkien and Inklings Discussion |
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Posted by Bacchus on July 21, 2000 at 04:36:36 In Reply to: Re: Temptation and the Ring posted by Mordomin on July 21, 2000 at 03:57:35:
: What did the Ring show Gollum? What glorious vision did it give him? That he could become a social outcast, living in a black cave under the mountains eating raw fish? It is not told why Smeagol chose to murder Deagol, other than to obtain the Ring. But it must be noted that the vision shown a potential owner does not necessarily need to be accurate. Sam was shown a vision of him throwing down Sauron and turning Mordor into a garden, but he was wise enough to see that it was a lie. The Ring grants power according to the stature of the possessor. Smeagol initially used the Ring to find out secrets about his extended family. He had absolutely no idea how powerful it was. (Neither did Bilbo, for that matter.) Later, when Smeagol and Gollum are debating the Ring, the Gollum persona alludes to the possibility of greater things (in his mind). Paraphrasing again: "We could take the Precious. Become Smeagol the Great. The Smeagol. Eat fish every day three times a day. Most precious Smeagol! : I think that the idea of the Ring corrupting people was more a comment about 'human nature', something akin to "power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely". Agreed, but the Ring represents the temptation to seize that power, by presenting the opportunity. It is merely a question of ends and means. Saruman himself said as much to Gandalf. Those who feel that the ends justify the means are the ones susceptible to the Ring.
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