The ring was only as powerful as its owner

[Telchar]

Interesting thread. Interesting comments:
Sharku said:

"then why did the ring pass right under Sauron's eye in Dol Guldor, in Mirkwood, with nary a blink?"

Some facts: TA2460 Sauron moves back to Dol Guldur. TA2463 Smeagol gets the ring TA2470 Smeagol hides under ground. TA2941 The white council attacks Dol Guldur, at practicly the same time as Bilbo travelles through Mirkwood. TA2942 Bilbo travelles home, at this time Sauron is no longer in Mirkwood, but in Mordor.

The Attack on Dol Guldur was probably one of the luckiest timed events in all the history of ME because it completely drew Saurons attention from anything else. And it is the most reasonable explanation why Bilbo was not discovered.
The seven years Smeagol used the ring near the Gladden Fields was much more likely to have drawn Saurons attention - also because Smeagol used the ring for evil purposes.


Then Mr. Underhill came with this interesting remark:

Interestingly, Galadriel implies that knowledge of what the Ring is and what it does is an important part of the equation. ‘Only thrice have you set the Ring upon your finger since you knew what you possessed,’ she says, indicating that she is aware of each of the three occasions (presumably via Nenya). Perhaps Bilbo’s ignorance of what he possessed helped shield him from the Dark Lord’s notice while he was under his nose.

Maybe Underhillo is right, that it was Bilbos ignorance of what he possesed that helped him. But if Galadriel could detect Frodo using the ring, because she had Nenya then she should have been able to also detect Bilbo and even Gollum. If so - then why did it take Gandalf a lot of trouble and a good 75 years to find out that the one was THE ONE???
I would guess that Galadriels remark was something JRRT would have changed if he had thought it through...

Ohhh yeah - better yet.... Gandalf too had one of the elven rings, why could he not imitiatly discover the identity of THE ONE???????? [img]smilies/rolleyes.gif[/img]

[ November 29, 2001: Message edited by: Telchar ]

[ November 29, 2001: Message edited by: Telchar ]