You really got a hold on me

[Bêthberry]

I have been reading these fascinating and contradictory posts from a distance and feel rather delighted that as work kept me away others still pondered the question.

Now, I will have nothing to do with Eomer's wargery--er, roguery--in suggesting a less than heroic motivation for Frodo, a motivation which Lal has expertly exploited.

Rather than focus just on one episode when Frodo wore the Ring, I'd like to consider what we know of Frodo when he wears it. The Ring, like Galadriel's Mirror, gives premonitions of another world.

Sam, for instance, has visions, and when he attempts to free Frodo from the Orcs, he believes that the Ring distorts his senses in these visions. Frodo, we are shown in Weathertop and told later during his recovery in Rivendell, actually sees into the Wraith world.

It is terrifying, as he has a full vision of the Ringwraiths and they of him. Yet he also sees Glorfindel and at Rivendell Gandalf tells Frodo that the elves indeed live in two dimensions at once.

What is this twilight zone that includes both the Dark Lord's minions and the elves, who apparently have their finest, richest, fullest form in this alternate world? The wraith world apparently partakes of some aspects of the immortal world the elves know--perhaps its terrror is that the Riders are there under false and terrible means. We know that Frodo is "Elf friend". Is it his sensitivity to the elves and their world, his openness to other things, which both allows him to carry the Ring as far as he does, and then which ultimately swallows him?

I wish we had more than the words Gandalf speaks to Frodo in Rivendell about the other side.

Originally Posted by Many Meetings

You were in the gravest peril while you wore the Ring, for then you were half in the wraith-world yourself, and they might have seized you. You could see them, and they could see you.

'I know,' said Frodo, 'they were terrible to behold.. . . .'

. . . .

'The Elves [Gandalf again] may fear the Dark Lord, and they may fly before him, but never again will they listen to him or serve him. And here in Rivendell there live still some of his chief foes: the Elven-wise, lords of the Eldar from beyond the furthest seas. The ydo not fear the Ringwraiths, for those who have dwelt in the Blessed Realm live at once in both worlds, and gainst both the Seen and the Unseen they have great power.'

'I thought I saw [Frodo here] a white figure that shone and did not grow dim like the others. Was that Glorfindel then?'

'Yes, you saw him for a moment as he is upon the other side: one of the mighty of the Firstborn. He is an Elf-lord of a hounse of princes. . . . '

So, what is this world which the Ring holds out to Frodo?

I write in haste without much clarity. Sorry. Thanks all for your replies.

PS. I don't think the Nazgul speak to Frodo to put the Ring on at Weathertop. They telepathicly urge him to wait for them when at the Ford, but I think it is the Ring which tempts Frodo at Weathertop.

[Firefoot]

Interesting thread here - I don't often come into the Books any more, but this caught my eye...

I think one thing that you have to look at is that the adventure Frodo got wasn't really the adventure he wanted. He wanted Bilbo's sort of adventure: off to find treasure, with home to come back to whenever he wanted, but he knew from the outset that what he effectually faced was exile. For the most part of his journey, Frodo didn't really think he would be coming back - and this, I think, is what the Ring worked on.

Frodo didn't set out to be a hero. He didn't really want to be famous (and I'd say this goes along with the 'hiding' theory that others have presented... Frodo's not very confrontational, he'll run or hide rather than fight - e.g. Boromir - and he doesn't seek out the limelight - remember at the Prancing Pony he felt rather foolish). He wanted adventure, sure, but not the wearing, tiresome, hopeless one he got. The Ring didn't have to actively work on him much, nor did it have much opportunity, since Frodo usually had no desire to wear it; it just had to be there as a constant weight on Frodo's mind - a war of attrition rather than bombarding Frodo's desire to destroy it. He couldn't escape it. Towards the end, all Frodo really wanted was peace of mind - some comfort. Frodo was absolutely worn out by the time he made it to the Cracks of Doom - the Ring might offer something like, If you give in, you don't have to fight it any more, you can have peace.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by Firefoot

He couldn't escape it. Towards the end, all Frodo really wanted was peace of mind - some comfort. Frodo was absolutely worn out by the time he made it to the Cracks of Doom - the Ring might offer something like, If you give in, you don't have to fight it any more, you can have peace.

Great! I wanted to say something like this, but I couldn't formulate it. I completely agree with you. This is, in my opinion, why he really put the Ring on in the end. I think also something like this was from time to time happening to him on the road (apart from the moments he really wanted to hide or escape, but this was more at start, when he still didn't have that much experience with what the Ring can do) - the pressure was so big, that it was easier just to give in.
The interesting thing about this is, that where there is no knowledge of trespassing something, there is no temptation: if you look at Bilbo, during his adventure he was putting the Ring on and off with no problem. Of course, it became later something like a habit, or like addiction to smoking: he was not comfortable when he didn't have the Ring with him. But during the adventure - for example in Mirkwood - he had the Ring on for several weeks - some think that it was a month - without putting it off! (in Thranduil's halls) If you consider that it was the Ring of Power which he had... on... for a month...