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he knew that the Ring, in Frodo's hands would eventually corrupt Frodo as well. Why did he want to put Frodo through that?
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I think the question here is whether the Ring is better off with Bilbo, as it always has been, or with Frodo, who has no experience with it. There was a discussion some time ago (loooong time ago as I recall) that an understanding existed that eventually, the Ring would be a point of contention and the cause of an ultimate rift between Bilbo and Frodo if Bilbo continued with the Ring at Bag End. And if Bilbo took the Ring with him on his journey, it would put Bilbo in great danger. Thus, the only answer is to part Bilbo and the Ring and for Bilbo to be parted from Frodo. And, at that time, it is either Frodo or Gandalf who would end up with the Ring. Tolkien himself laid out a frightening tableau of what would happen if Gandalf had taken the Ring, so the only one left is our unassuming Mr. Frodo Baggins.
I can't see that Gandalf had no hope at all, or that he purposefully laid suffering upon Frodo by being the go-between in its bequeathing from Bilbo to Frodo. It was the only logical choice. If Gandalf had not been there to mediate, Bilbo might have taken the Ring on the Road and suffered pursuit and danger as Frodo later did (all the while being more firmly under the Ring's power than Frodo was at the outset of his quest). Alternately, Bilbo might have stayed home with Frodo and the Ring, eventually falling completely under the spell and quarrelling irretrievably with Frodo for some imagined attempt to take the Ring. One way or the other, the Ring would come between Bilbo and Frodo, and Gandalf simply tried to minimize the damage, not only to both hobbits, but also to their relationship.
Cheers!
Lyta