Why did the Nazgul not succeed in Bree and on Weathertop?

[Raynor]

Originally Posted by A_Brandybuck

I think, that it is worth considering the fact, that the Nazgûl were abroad and deep in the 'enemies land'. Although they are very powerful in spreading fear, they had to be careful not to attract much attention, because there are enemies, which are more powerful then they are.

I agree; as stated in the Hunt for the ring, "but Sauron did not underesteem the powers and vigilance of the Wise, and the Nazgul were commanded to act as secretly as they could".

They're a bit feeble and pathetic really
...
This was the state they wanted to attain. And so they let the Ring go

I disagree with both ideas:

Originally Posted by Hunt for the ring, UT

At length he resolved that no others would serve him in this case but his mightiest servants, the Ringwraiths, who had no will but his own, being each utterly subservient to the ring that had enslaved him, which Sauron held.
Now few could understand even one of these fell creatures, and (as Sauron deemed) none could withstand them when gathered together under their terrible captain, the Lord of Morgul
...
They were by far the most powerful of his servants, and the most suitable for such a mission, since they were entirely enslaved to their Nine Rings, which he now himself held; they were quite incapable of acting against his will, and if one of them, even the Witch-king their captain, had seized the One Ring, he would have brought it back to his Master

Originally Posted by Letter #246

I do not think they could have attacked him with violence, nor laid hold upon him or taken him captive; they would have obeyed or feigned to obey any minor commands of his that did not interfere with their errand - laid upon them by Sauron, who still through their nine rings (which he held) had primary control of their wills.

[Anguirel]

Who'd 've thought it'd need a scholarly exegesis on Nazgul monoethelitism to disprove my frippery!

Pah. I still like the idea of a scheming Blackadder Witch-King...

[The 1,000 Reader]

They could have just killed Sauron and taken the ring for themselves in that case.

[Durelin]

Originally Posted by Rumil

I've also had the impression that the Nazgul became more powerful the closer they came to Sauron in Mordor. During the passage of the Dead Marshes Sam and Frodo were more terrified by the cries of the Nazgul than they had been in the Shire.

I think this was perhaps only because both Frodo and Sam, and particularly Frodo, had a much greater understanding of what the Nazgul really were. By TTT, Frodo had been carrying the Ring quite a while, feeling its weight, feeling the desire to give in to it... He understood what the wraiths were, and that, essentially, he could become quite like them. I'd say that's enough to cause quite a great deal more fear.

And then there's the simple aspect of being out of one's element - being far far away from home!

Still, you definitely have a good point there. It is perhaps logical that they would be stronger, but that might require more of a mystical connection between the Ringwraiths and Sauron than anyone might be willing to even imagine.

[Raynor]

I've also had the impression that the Nazgul became more powerful the closer they came to Sauron in Mordor. During the passage of the Dead Marshes Sam and Frodo were more terrified by the cries of the Nazgul than they had been in the Shire.

According to the Tale of Years, RotK, that event happens ~two weeks before the attack on Minas Tirith. Concerning the witch-king at that time, Tolkien stated:

Originally Posted by Letter #210

The Witch-king, their leader, is more powerful in all ways than the others; but he must not yet be raised to the stature of Vol. III. There, put in command by Sauron, he is given an added demonic force.

[The Squatter of Amon Rûdh]

I think it's worth quoting the above passage in full, since it reveals a lot about the innate powers of the Ringwraiths.

Originally Posted by J.R.R. Tolkien (Letters #210)

Their peril is almost entirely due to the unreasoning fear which they inspire (like ghosts). They have no great physical power against the fearless; but what they have, and the fear that they inspire, is enormously increased in darkness. The Witch-king, their leader, is more powerful in all ways than the others; but he must not yet be raised to the stature of Vol. III. There, put in command by Sauron, he is given an added demonic force. But even in the Battle of the Pelennor, the darkness had only just broken.

Therefore, Frodo's call to Elbereth and attack on his assailant succeed because he overcomes his fear, which is the Ringwraiths' chief weapon. Perhaps Cardinal Ximenez could be defeated in the same way, but that's another argument. Of course, knowing that Frodo had received a Morgul wound, which was enough to kill the great Ruling Steward Boromir (not to be confused with his namesake from the Fellowship), probably played a part as well. What would be the point of risking a fight with Aragorn (in which one or more of the Nazgul might themselves be destroyed, just as the Witch-King was by Eowyn) when the Ringbearer will soon become a lesser wraith himself? The Nazgul aren't really that powerful: they seem so only because of the fear they inspire. This, of course, makes more sense when one considers Sauron himself. He deals in treachery and betrayal, and those are things which he expects from his followers. Why would he want minions who were powerful enough to offer him resistance if the thought took them?

The presence of Aragorn at Weathertop and Glorfindel at the Ford of Bruinen, together with the surprise release of the floodwaters, are unexpected setbacks to the Nazgul. Sauron knows enough to know that hobbits are small and unwarlike, so his Ringwraiths ought to be enough to overcome four of them. It's only the presence of those factors that cause their efforts to fail so early in the story, even if one takes into account the hidden qualities of the hobbits themselves. It's a wonderful irony that those whose main weapon is fear are themselves so easily overcome by it.

[The 1,000 Reader]

There's a problem with that though. Fear or not, the Nazgul could still just shiv Frodo, which they did. Also, I doubt that Aragorn could have vanquished any Nazgul at that point with a broken blade. If anything, he'd be vanquished.

[skip spence]

As much as I love "The Fellowship of The Ring", I've always found the Weathertop episode rather ridiculos. I can see why they failed in Bree but at Weathertop they should have taken the ring, if they indeed were Sauron's deadliest servants. They knew it was there and attacked at night, unseen and led by their great captain. It should've ended there and then, if they had any power apart from fear.

And also, even if they did fail to win the ring at weathertop, how come they lost their trail and allowed their pray to get away? Did they just flee like headless chicken?

Originally Posted by The Squatter of Amon Rûdh

It's a wonderful irony that those whose main weapon is fear are themselves so easily overcome by it.

That is ironic. The most fearful creatures known to men scared ****less by a midget and a name. It's like a monster too afraid to come out from under a little kid's bed at night.