[Aerandir Carnesir]

I agree with the people who said that Galadriel was the only woman exposed and tempted by the ring, hence the only woman with the desire to have the ring. The reason I think that men were the ones who desired power, at least Boromir and Faramir, etc., Is they wanted to use the ring to do good. That is why they wanted power, to save Gondor. And Sam used the ring to help Frodo in Mordor. The case with Sauroman at least, he wanted the ring for his own power, But "There is only one lord of the rings, and he does not share power!!!"-Gandalf. But you do know that not all the men wanted the power. Gandalf refused the ring because he was wise and knew what it would do, and I think a wizard doesn't need any more power than he already has. Tom Bombadil didn't take the ring for his own because he had an immunity to it. Even Aragorn, he swore a promise to Frodo that he would protect him. Legolas, Gimli, they had better things to do. Merry and Pippin were too busy worrying about food and pipe weed and everything a hobbit should like. Elrond was a wise old elf who was there with Isildur in mount doom, so he didn't want anything to do with the ring. So, in fact, not too many men desired the ring either, but there were more men exposed to it than women. And everyone was tempted, just a few let that temptation turn into desire. If more women had been exposed to the ring's power, I think that it would have been quite even. The nature of humans is the same for each gender. I'm not sure about elves and dwarves though.

Also, remember that Tolkein lived in a different time. In the 1950s when he wrote the LotR, men were the workers and the soldiers, and women were those stay at home Housewives playing bridge together and watching soaps on the kitchen T.V. The whole deal with Hitler in the 30s and 40s and his desire for power really impacted the future world. Maybe Tolkein's writings reflected the state of the world at that time. The men desiering power and fighting and ruling, and the women working as nurses and such. Eowyn could have symbolized the femenist movement, but that might not be accurate. I think that if Tolkein had written LotR today, it would be much more "equal rights" or "politically correct".
The ring didn't care who it corrupted, male or famale. There just wern't many women it could have corrupted.
And also, I read that the ring was Smeagol's grandmother's, but I'm not sure if that's right.
I agree with Ten'oio 1000%. The men did desire power more than women, just that's the way Tolkein wrote it. It's best not to ponder these things too deeply. We'll all get headaches.

[ February 07, 2003: Message edited by: Aerandir Carnesir ]