Faithfulness in Middle Earth

[Mungo of Bracegirdle]

It's possible he was going for "Absolute power corrupts absolutely", but not all of his traitors were corrupted by power (ie Mim, Gollum[debatable], Grima, Maeglin[he was corrupt before he got any power]). Anyone have a theory?

perhaps an explination again lies in the Music. Melkor originally changes his theme in order to create his own themes, even though they are just perversions of the theme given to him by Eru. At this time in ME mythology it seems as if power is measured in the ability to create. Eru "creates" the ainur (I say "creates" even though it is more like gives his own thoughts being) Melkor, therefore, is motivated to be unfaithful to his theme to prove his power/ability to create. This orginal betrayal (do i sense an echo of original sin here?) then springs from Melkor's misconcieved ideas about power and his desire to gain it. However, Melkor also convinces others to join in his theme. At first, it is simply the ainur around him who are corrupted. JRRT does not specifically say that they change their song in the pursuit of creation, rather they are merely lead astray by the traitorous Melkor. They are not intrinsically disloyal but are pursauded to stray from the strait and narrow. Isn't it intesting that this is also a trend that flows throughout the rest of ME history. A traitor convinces others to follow him/her to the destruction of all. The Fall of Numenor is an excelent example of this, as well as the fate of the Fëanorians.