Now that Frodo is a Ringbearer that makes him 'special'. Him and Bilbo are now suddenly different than everyone else, but if I am not mistaken shouldn't that translate to a few other characters? Does Tom Bombadil count? He had the ring. Also, if I remember correctly Gandalf took the ring from Frodo earlier in the book, right before he threw it in the fire. Looking back that seems odd to me that he takes it. He could have had Frodo put it in the fire. Does anyone else have any thoughts on this?
On the same token, you can say that Sam should be considered too. I don't know if the book is the same as the movie, but doesn't Sam give up the ring under his own accord just like Bilbo? Earlier Gandalf is talking about Bilbo and he says, "For he gave it up in the end of his own accord: a very important point." Gandalf and Tom do the same. What are your thoughts?
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These are very good points- I'd like to point out a few things in the book in hopes of answering the questions (at least how I view them).
First of all, on page 61, Gandalf is talking about how Bilbo, and then Frodo gain possession of the ring. Gandalf states, "I can put it no plainer than by saying that Bilbo was MEANT to find the ring, and not by its maker. In which case you also were MEANT to have it."
In this context, it seems that Gandalf feels the Ring, or the power behind it, has chosen its owner. It uses who it can, to get where it can. For this reason, I feel that Bilbo and Frodo felt the affects of the ring much more than Tom or Sam or anyone else has. Because it has been chosen to be a 'burden' to them. Therefore, Tom or Sam did not feel as strong of an affect from the ring as Frodo or Bilbo have.
In terms of Gandalf, he talks about the power that the ring has on page 67. He states, "With that power I should have power too great and terrible. And over me the Ring would gain a power still greater and more deadly....Do not tempt me! For I do not wish to become like the Dark Lord himself." I think Gandalf realizes how powerful the ring and its power is, especially in the hands of a wizard. For that reason, while he might have it long enough to throw it into the fire, I don't believe he has the ring in his possession long enough to feel it's affects. Only people who keep it with them for long periods of time, I believe feel the affects the ring has on them.
For these reasons, I feel it wasn't as difficult for Tom, Sam or Gandalf to give the ring back to Frodo.
I agree...simply stated, I believe it is the length of time the posessor has of the ring as to the control it has on the character.
I have to disagree with the previous comment. I don't believe it is the length of time the owner has the ring, but rather the will power that the owner has over the ring. Gandalf tells Frodo not to tempt him with the ring because he only wants to do good with the ring and the ring only wants him to do evil with it, therefore he can't take it. In this case, it is Gandalf's will power that will not let the ring take him over. And as for the case of Tom Bombadil, if he is in fact "God", then the ring would have no power over him whatsoever, because he can do whatever he wants to do without the rings power, so it doesn't matter if he has the ring or not.
I disagree, Megan. Although I think that the ringbearer's willpower does have an effect on how long he or she can resist the ring's power, the stories told about the ring show that it always corrupts the ringbearer eventually. It had no effect on Tom Bombadil because he's above the influence of most things. Something tells me that nothing can harm Bombadil.
As for what Heidi and Rebecca said about the length of bearing the ring, I agree. The ring holds on to the bearer the longer the bearer holds on to the ring, if you follow me, and it seems that it would be much easier for a ringbearer to give it up after just having held it for a few minutes rather than keeping it in his or her pocket for several years.
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