Did Frodo REALLY volunteer to Bear the Ring?

[Ivriniel]

Originally Posted by Nerwen

Okay, well then: I think the Ring had gained a measure of influence over him by that point; I do not think this means that he intended to betray the others or that he was only acting out of vanity.

That's about all I can say at this stage.

"Intended" is your point. And, so without intention, there cannot be vanity, or Vanity.

Interesting, thank you for offering

@all

This then opens up the area of conscious versus unconscious mind. I'd be curious to hear what people thought about this, as it's going into psychology. Still, that's okay, because Tolkien was, certainly, a master of understanding about some basic psychological processes, and I believe his experiences of war underscored how he developed the percipience.

who "...lied even unto himself..." - those who do, I'm sure sometimes are not aware that they are. Or - must - not be aware, at least for a term. Wasn't that the point. Even Sauron had the capacity to '...lie even unto himself...' and believe his own bs when pleading for Mercy. For his....Vanity.

I think Frodo's Vanity was very apparent at his footstomping moment in the Council of Elrond.

A second question comes up for me from Nerwen's point:

For those beings whose core underlying being did (not) 'select' the Ring, or claim it in Greed or Vanity of Avarice - how much protection did that afford Frodo? And was that the basic reason that at the Sammath Naur, by 'fate', "Eru" or 'Lady Luck", he used The Ring to Command Sméagol on the upward march to the Sammath Naur, which saved the world. "If you claim the Ring, you will becast yourself into the Sammath Naur". Interesting choice of words, don't you think?