[Lalwendë]

Ho, Eomer has inspired a naughty heretical thought in my mind. Here goes...*lights blue touchpaper and runs*...

Maybe the Ring works on Frodo's wish to hide from danger, on his cowardice?

When ever Frodo puts the ring on he needs to hide. The only times this is not true are when he puts the Ring on at Tom Bombadil's House, and in The Prancing Pony, where he is drunk both on beer and pride at his own song. So yes, maybe it works on his pride too (this could also be half of the case at Mount Doom), but mostly it seems to work on his wish to hide and not face danger.

Is this true of everyone who bears the Ring? They all have the need to be invisible but do they all want to hide?

When Sam wears the Ring he sees himself as a great leader. Gollum wears it to catch food. Bilbo to avoid the neighbours. Isildur to get glory for Gondor. When Frodo wears the Ring he sees into 'another world'.

It's as though the Ring says 'what do you want?' when it's put on. Frodo wants to hide, so that's what he gets.

Then at the end of he wants that ability to hide more than anything and won't give up the Ring. He goes back to The Shire broken and eventually takes the ultimate step into hiding and goes to Valinor.