Who IS the Lord of the Rings?

[Ringbearer]

read the books some 15 years ago, saw the film 15hrs ago, yep still fresh in my mind...my question is just who exactly IS the Lord of the Rings? i answer myself and say "Sauron".

Am i right? the books' title is the "ultimate evil" itself?

[Heretic]

LOTR -- Book II -- Many Meetings

'Hurray!' cried Pippin, springing up. 'Here is out noble cousin! Make way for Frodo, Lord of the Ring!'
'Hush!' said Gandalf... '... The Lord of the Ring is not Frodo, but the master of the Dark Tower of Mordor...'

I am not the most schooled in Middle Earth, but I am fairly certain the "master of the Dark Tower of Mordor" is Sauron.

[Elrian]

Since it was made by Sauron and contained his power only he could have been the Lord of the Ring. No one would have bben able to successfully wield it but him.

[Gollumm]

The "Lord" of the "Rings" is The Ruling Ring.

The Lord of the "Ring" is Sauron.

Sauron is not the Lord of the "Rings"(3+7+9) since he never laid hands on the 3 Rings.

[Elrian]

Originally posted by Gollumm:
<STRONG>The "Lord" of the "Rings" is The Ruling Ring.

The Lord of the "Ring" is Sauron.

Sauron is not the Lord of the "Rings"(3+7+9) since he never laid hands on the 3 Rings.</STRONG>

The ring is an object not a person an cannot be a Lord, it is a Master Ring.

smilies/tongue.gif smilies/rolleyes.gif

[Gollumm]

When I was new to Tolkien, I used to think "Lord" refers to a person or a living thing. Most newbies probably also thought so.

[Argoth]

Do you believe the "Ring" is only an object? I believe the "Ring" is a "person". Sauron placed part of himself into it, it was trying to get back to him. How could an object betray its wearers or want to return to its rightful owner? I believe the "Ring" is alive in a sort of way.

[Elrian]

an animate object yes, a person no.

[Elendur]

No one would have bben able to successfully wield it but him.

Sure other people could have used it succesfuly. Why do you think Gandalf says he would become the next Dark Lord?

[Elrian]

That's right, therefore they would not have been able to wield it successfully they would have become like him. The ring was made with Sauron's power and blood, it would only feign it's wearer into beleiving they were until it could get back to it's master.

[Voronwe]

The Lord of the Rings was most definately Sauron. Glorfindel refers to him by this title at the Council of Elrond:
And even if we could, soon or late the Lord of the Rings would learn of its hiding place and would bend all his power towards it.

-Voronwe