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Shade of Carn Dûm
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Re: Hmm. . .
I agree completely with your assessment of Frodo's motivations. I was indeed referring to Gandalf.
Here's more fuel for the fire:<blockquote>
Quote:<hr> At the Council of Elrond:
At last with an effort he [Frodo] spoke, and wondered to hear his own words,
as if some other will was using his small voice. "I will take the Ring," he said, "though I do not know the way."
And later, when the Hobbits are discussing the information revealed at the Council, Gandalf says this:
"If you want to know, the only real eye-openers, as you put it, were you [Bilbo] and Frodo; and
I was the only one that was not surprised."<hr></blockquote>When Elrond assembles the Fellowship, it's quite clear that most of them won't be going all the way to the Fire with Frodo. Aragorn and Boromir will split off for Minas Tirith. Legolas and Gimli "are willing to go at least to the passes of the Mountains, and
maybe beyond." Did Gandalf plan to go the whole way? Unlikely. He wasn't even completely sure at first that he would set out with the Fellowship:<blockquote>
Quote:<hr> "I only said
I think I shall come. Do not count on anything yet."<hr></blockquote> In any case, I think he knew that if he personally came with the Ring to Mordor, the temptation to use it would be too great. Look at his violent reaction in Bag End:<blockquote>
Quote:<hr> "No!" cried Gandalf, springing to his feet. "With that power I should have power too great and terrible. And over me the Ring would gain a power still greater and more deadly." His eyes flashed and his face was lit as by a fire within. "Do not tempt me! For I do not wish to become like the Dark Lord himself. Yet the way of the Ring to my heart is by pity, pity for weakness and the desire of strength to do good. Do not tempt me! I dare not take it, not even to keep it safe, unused. The wish to wield it would be too great for my strength. I shall have such need of it. Great perils lie before me."<hr></blockquote>I agree that Gandalf had ideas on how the Ring might ultimately be delivered into the Fire... and that's what I'm talking about.
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