[Marileangorifurnimaluim]

Welcome Ringbearer!

Well, what I proposed was based on Gandalf's explanation that the ring works through twisting inner desires and weaknesses:

"but it's way to my heart would be through pity. But it wouldn't end there, I'm afraid."

The ring didn't operate in a vacuum.

In Boromir it worked on his love of Minas Tirith and desire for glory.

Sam, his love of gardens and sadness at the ruin he saw in Mordor & Ithilien, his wish to "fix things."

If it didn't act on and twist what was already in their minds, there would be no difference between Sam and Boromir's delusions.

Frodo.. it's not clear what the ring was trying to twist, what it had available to work with. My intention was to dig out a detailed analysis of the most important and yet elusive character in the LotR.

Now Mr. Underhill here points out that putting on the ring in the end was not neccessarily failure on Frodo's part, it was merely inevitable, and that the ring worked to twist good qualities as well as bad, and found itself unable to work with self sacrifice.

In a future thread I think I would like to explore Frodo's character from another avenue, but Mr. Underhill is not only right, he's hit something well, if it's not profound, it's at the very least fascinating.

That was a recap, though you can review the thread for more detail. If you feel there's more to go on this subject, please you are welcome to continue! This thread was revived by one person's question, to an outstanding discussion before - and it's in keeping with the barrowdowns to reanimate! I never did quite get the human analysis I was expecting and would be grateful for further insight.