The One Ring: A Thing of Beauty? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Morwen · 05-20-2007, 08:38 PM

One person who does not see the Ring as a thing of beauty is Bombadil who tells Frodo to "Take off your golden ring! Your hand's more fair without it."
The Ring has no power over him and cannot deceive him into seeing it as something especially beautiful.

Iarwain Ben-adar · 05-21-2007, 01:31 PM

The three Elven rings, the seven dwarf rings, and the nine rings of Men all had a Gem in them. The one ring did not. It was a magnificent gold band which, as we all know, shows the ring inscription (Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul,
ash nazg thrakatulûk, agh burzum-ishi krimpatul. ) when heated. It is so beautiful and precious because of the greed and lust for power that it instills in its beholder.An example of this lust for the ring and for power is Boromir; a seemingly strong man turned into what seemded like a child when he beheld the ring that Frodo held. He wanted it for his people, and was overcome by Greed. That is why it is so precious and beautiful to its beholder. As we also know, there were many Rings made by the elves of Eregion that had NO gem in them, and were of considerably less power than the great rings that I have mentioned above. The one ring was made in the manner of these rings; a plain band with no gem or stone in it.

Lalwendë · 05-21-2007, 01:33 PM

Gold of course is a metal associated with Melkor so it was the appropriate choice of material. And if you look at how Gold is referenced in the text then it is certainly not portrayed as being dull or 'boring'. Just from the saying "All that glitters is not Gold" we know that Gold is very highly prized. Yes, Mithril is more rare but does that automatically make it more beautiful? Platinum after all is more rare and more expensive than Gold to us, but people still lust for Gold.

As for setting a gem into the One, it would interrupt the flow of the engraving! A circle containing a 'spell' or 'charm' is a hugely powerful thing - note how many Megalithic monuments were constructed in circular form, and this was carried on in the form of the Celtic Cross, the symbol of Christianity set into the unending symbolism of a simple circle. A literal Ring Of Words would not be as effective were it interrupted by a gem stone. The gem would in fact tarnish the magic.

05-20-2007, 08:38 PM	#1
Morwen Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 274	One person who does not see the Ring as a thing of beauty is Bombadil who tells Frodo to "Take off your golden ring! Your hand's more fair without it." The Ring has no power over him and cannot deceive him into seeing it as something especially beautiful. __________________ He looked down at her in the twilight and it seemed to him that the lines of grief and cruel hardship were smoothed away. "She was not conquered," he said

05-21-2007, 01:33 PM	#3
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	Gold of course is a metal associated with Melkor so it was the appropriate choice of material. And if you look at how Gold is referenced in the text then it is certainly not portrayed as being dull or 'boring'. Just from the saying "All that glitters is not Gold" we know that Gold is very highly prized. Yes, Mithril is more rare but does that automatically make it more beautiful? Platinum after all is more rare and more expensive than Gold to us, but people still lust for Gold. As for setting a gem into the One, it would interrupt the flow of the engraving! A circle containing a 'spell' or 'charm' is a hugely powerful thing - note how many Megalithic monuments were constructed in circular form, and this was carried on in the form of the Celtic Cross, the symbol of Christianity set into the unending symbolism of a simple circle. A literal Ring Of Words would not be as effective were it interrupted by a gem stone. The gem would in fact tarnish the magic. __________________ Gordon's alive!

05-21-2007, 01:31 PM	#2
Iarwain Ben-adar Newly Deceased Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 10	The three Elven rings, the seven dwarf rings, and the nine rings of Men all had a Gem in them. The one ring did not. It was a magnificent gold band which, as we all know, shows the ring inscription (Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul, ash nazg thrakatulûk, agh burzum-ishi krimpatul. ) when heated. It is so beautiful and precious because of the greed and lust for power that it instills in its beholder.An example of this lust for the ring and for power is Boromir; a seemingly strong man turned into what seemded like a child when he beheld the ring that Frodo held. He wanted it for his people, and was overcome by Greed. That is why it is so precious and beautiful to its beholder. As we also know, there were many Rings made by the elves of Eregion that had NO gem in them, and were of considerably less power than the great rings that I have mentioned above. The one ring was made in the manner of these rings; a plain band with no gem or stone in it.