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Gilbo · 02-15-2003, 10:22 PM

[img]smilies/eek.gif[/img]
Willie, I have to agree with your sentiment. Since I first read the book, I've been rooting for Smeagol to win the argument. When I saw it in the movie, I was STILL pulling for him. Maybe, as a fellow sinner, I need his redemption to feel some assurance of my own.
First off, Sauron endowed the Ring with a portion of his power. He invested himself into the Ring.He was corrupted by envy and when he invested his power, he invested his weaknesses,i.e.envy and greed.
Envy of Deagol's new find made Smeagol kill his friend for the Ring.
The Ring awakens desire. (envy) the Hobbits were simple folk, with simple desires, peace, quiet, second breakfastes, orderliness and cleanliness, among others.Except for silver teaspoons, they didn't seem to be tempted by precious metals.I think that this is why the Ring is slow in changing them. It's hard to equate desire for a second piece of chocolate cake with world domination.(hold this thought)
Borormir desired power and glory. I believe that he felt envy for Denethor and Aragorn and it corrupted him. Although he wished to use the Ring to defeat Sauron, his ultimate goal was to bring glory to himself, as opposed to ridding the world of a great evil.His desire was greater, thus his corruption was quicker.
Second Track.
Smeagol went back to his home after "finding" the Ring from Deagol. How long did he spend there? I believe that Gandalf says Gollum's grandmother eventually turned him out because of a series of incidents and that he continued to wander until he went to the Misty Mountains.How long?
Although his initial misdeed was grevious, he became more Hobbitlike after, doing mischief in small ways. Again, the greatness of the desire portends the immediacy of the corruption.
Gandalf, Galadriel, and elrond, all ringbearers, would have taken the Ring and used it to defeat Sauron. Their desires would have been for great good and this would have slowed the corruption. However, they were all wise enough, and filled with enough lore of the Ring to accept the fact that corruption was inevitable. This knowledge allowed them to turn it down.
I'm sorry, I seem to be going on and on. Let me get to the point. The Ring is a corupting influence based on the power and desires of its maker. This influence is in direct proportion to the power and desires of its bearer.

02-15-2003, 10:22 PM	#47
Gilbo Animated Skeleton Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: maryland Posts: 34	[img]smilies/eek.gif[/img] Willie, I have to agree with your sentiment. Since I first read the book, I've been rooting for Smeagol to win the argument. When I saw it in the movie, I was STILL pulling for him. Maybe, as a fellow sinner, I need his redemption to feel some assurance of my own. First off, Sauron endowed the Ring with a portion of his power. He invested himself into the Ring.He was corrupted by envy and when he invested his power, he invested his weaknesses,i.e.envy and greed. Envy of Deagol's new find made Smeagol kill his friend for the Ring. The Ring awakens desire. (envy) the Hobbits were simple folk, with simple desires, peace, quiet, second breakfastes, orderliness and cleanliness, among others.Except for silver teaspoons, they didn't seem to be tempted by precious metals.I think that this is why the Ring is slow in changing them. It's hard to equate desire for a second piece of chocolate cake with world domination.(hold this thought) Borormir desired power and glory. I believe that he felt envy for Denethor and Aragorn and it corrupted him. Although he wished to use the Ring to defeat Sauron, his ultimate goal was to bring glory to himself, as opposed to ridding the world of a great evil.His desire was greater, thus his corruption was quicker. Second Track. Smeagol went back to his home after "finding" the Ring from Deagol. How long did he spend there? I believe that Gandalf says Gollum's grandmother eventually turned him out because of a series of incidents and that he continued to wander until he went to the Misty Mountains.How long? Although his initial misdeed was grevious, he became more Hobbitlike after, doing mischief in small ways. Again, the greatness of the desire portends the immediacy of the corruption. Gandalf, Galadriel, and elrond, all ringbearers, would have taken the Ring and used it to defeat Sauron. Their desires would have been for great good and this would have slowed the corruption. However, they were all wise enough, and filled with enough lore of the Ring to accept the fact that corruption was inevitable. This knowledge allowed them to turn it down. I'm sorry, I seem to be going on and on. Let me get to the point. The Ring is a corupting influence based on the power and desires of its maker. This influence is in direct proportion to the power and desires of its bearer.