Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Boromir88
I think it would refer to him losing his Ring, as in the Letter to Milton Waldman Tolkien does say the Ring enhanced Sauron's power.  |
Yes, that is what I had in mind. Anyway, it does seem that Gandalf makes several .... questionable statements, this being one of them. Some other are that he stated that mithril can be found only in Moria - while in an author's note (31) in The Disaster of Gladden Fields, Unfinished Tales, it is stated that in can be found also - or when he said that the nazgul keep their rings, something which is contradicted in all the other referrences throughout Tolkien's works. Perhaps Gandalf's age is catching up with him? After all, Tolkien did note in the letters (#156) that he does make errors of judgement.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by CSteefel
Stated another way, does the loss of the Ring bring him back to Square One, his power before the forging of the Rings, or is his power still beyond that since the Ring still exists and answers to his will???
|
Imo, Sauron continuously loses power and he can at most replenish it by absorbing the power Melkor dissipated. Concerning the effect of Sauron not having the ring, Tolkien stated:
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Letter #131
While he wore it, his power on earth was actually enhanced. But even if he did not wear it, that power existed and was in 'rapport' with himself: he was not 'diminished'.
|