THE RING and corruption - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

**The Saucepan Man** · 02-06-2003, 12:02 PM

Good topic, Hilde.

I'm not a venerable BD'er, but thought I'd pitch in anyway.

Doesn't Elrond's quote at your B) provide the answer? Merely seeing the Ring and/or being aware of it can trigger a desire for it in those who are particularly vulnerable to its power. Hence Boromir and Gollum are "corrupted" by their mere desire for it.

I don't believe that Boromir ever actually touches the Ring in the book. (I don't think he handles it at the Council of Elrond, but I may be wrong - I haven't got the book to hand to check.)

As for Gollum, he is, in my opinion, persuaded to kill Deagol by his desire for the Ring, before he ever touches it. I don't believe that he would have murdered Deagol otherwise.

It is intersting to note that, while great play is made of Gandalf not touching the Ring in the FotR film, he does actually handle it in the book (in A Shadow of the Past). Although even he admits to being vulnerable to its power (when Frodo offers it to him), such passing contact appears to have little or no effect on him.

[ February 06, 2003: Message edited by: The Saucepan Man ]

02-06-2003, 12:02 PM	#2
The Saucepan Man Corpus Cacophonous Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: A green and pleasant land Posts: 8,390	Good topic, Hilde. I'm not a venerable BD'er, but thought I'd pitch in anyway. Doesn't Elrond's quote at your B) provide the answer? Merely seeing the Ring and/or being aware of it can trigger a desire for it in those who are particularly vulnerable to its power. Hence Boromir and Gollum are "corrupted" by their mere desire for it. I don't believe that Boromir ever actually touches the Ring in the book. (I don't think he handles it at the Council of Elrond, but I may be wrong - I haven't got the book to hand to check.) As for Gollum, he is, in my opinion, persuaded to kill Deagol by his desire for the Ring, before he ever touches it. I don't believe that he would have murdered Deagol otherwise. It is intersting to note that, while great play is made of Gandalf not touching the Ring in the FotR film, he does actually handle it in the book (in A Shadow of the Past). Although even he admits to being vulnerable to its power (when Frodo offers it to him), such passing contact appears to have little or no effect on him. [ February 06, 2003: Message edited by: The Saucepan Man ] __________________ Do you mind? I'm busy doing the fishstick. It's a very delicate state of mind!