what if Sam had kept the ring?!!!!!

[Child of the 7th Age]

There is no one in Lord of the Rings more devoted and loyal than Sam. However, even he could not have destroyed the Ring.

Tolkien is absolutely clear on this point in his Letters. He stated that no being within Arda could have escaped the corruption of the Ring. He blankly stated that Frodo was given an impossible task, one that no one would have been able to accomplish.

I can imagine the Ring working on Sam's mind, taking positive attitudes and turning them inside out. I can almost hear it whispering to him: Sam, go on and put it on. What harm can come of using it? You can make life much more comfortable for Mr. Frodo who has been so deeply hurt. Just use it to ease his pain.

Gandalf understood that someone could take up the Ring meaning to do good, and that it would corrupt all those good intentions. Sam's situation would have been no different.

Child

[ September 19, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]