Gandalf's response when Frodo tried to give him the ring:
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With that power I should have power too great and terrible. And over me the Ring would gain a power still greater and more deadly. Do not tempt me! For I do not wish to become like the Dark Lord himself. Yet the way to the Ring to my heart is by pity, pity for weakness and the desire of strength to do good...The wish to wield it would be to great for my strength.
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It would seem that the ring entices each according to what is in the heart. For Gandalf, the desire to do good. For Isildur, the desire to rule. For Gollum, the desire to be special. For Saruman, the desire for power.
In Galadriel's temptation:
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In place of the Dark Lord, you will set up a Queen. And I shall not be dark, but beautiful and terrible as the Morning and the Night!...Stronger than the foundation of the earth. All shall love me and despair!
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Perhaps it was in Galadriel's heart to be worshipped.
After she has already turned down the ring and "passed the test", Frodo says again:
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I wish you'd take his Ring. You'd put things to rights...You'd make some folk pay for their dirty work.
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Galadriel replies:
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I would, That is how it would begin. But it would not stop with that, alas! We will not speak more of it.
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The ring does seem to be another character. While Sauron is an overt destroyer, the ring is deciever and enticer as it covertly destroys. The ring's deception is different for each. While the ring is undoubtedly Sauron's, even those those know this enticed by gaining their heart's desire. They believe they deception that they are capable of wielding it against Sauron. It is not enough for the ring to use them to get back to Sauron, it entwines itself into their hearts. It becomes precious to them. When it has ensnared and corrupted them, as with Isuldur and Gollum, it then abandons them to return to Sauron.
[ February 11, 2003: Message edited by: greyhavener ]
[ February 11, 2003: Message edited by: greyhavener ]