The subject of this topic has been one of the eternal questions. May it be explored and debated until there is no need to consider evil anymore!
Please forgive the somewhat random organization of the following. I was taking notes from previous posts and am under a tight time restriction ...
The Ring embodies evil. Evil is a verb, more than a passive concept--it requires an object to exist, a host, in fact, since it must feed. And it feeds best on fear. However many ways our choices can be swayed away from God/Love is how it begins to work. Those who are corrupted and never answer the call to choose again are obsessed with the products of fear--defending, controlling, attacking, protecting--all centered upon the Ring.
Gollum first responded to the rich glint of gold. Gandalf and Galadriel understood they would be ensnared by intentions of good. Boromir = noble cause. Bilbo = something shiny, then the simple possession of something unique with the power of invisibility. Frodo = well, it was thrust on him and he was eventually ensnared by the evil embodied in the Ring, yet he was redeemed.
This brings up an essential point that I believe Tolkien was trying to make in addition to the importance of awareness of choices--alone, we cannot stand against evil. It is only when we are part of a fellowship that we have a chance. What the Ring awakens, or calls to, is the desire or belief that, given the right circumstances, we can be like God--create & control people, places, and things. Every character in LOTR and Silmarillion came to a sorry end because of the attempt to usurp God.
This brings up another vital aspect--that of nature. In my opinion, nature and its manifestation of creation and, well, natural laws, embodies God. Those who were closest to the harmonies of nature were least likely to be corrupted quickly, if at all. Tom Bombadil wasnature, if you will. To him, the Ring was hardly more than an amusing piece of jewelry. Gollum was an intellectual, if you will, in the Stoor clan--curious and pretty much a loner. (I know this seems like a stretch, but look up his origins and think about it.) Boromir was a rather solitary guy who was certainly up in his head a lot, excellent warrior skills notwithstanding.
I agree with the person who mentioned humility. Before someone mentions that Faramir was clearly on the intellectual side (and I think intellect is a fine thing, btw), I will hasten to add that he also portrayed a person of true humility. Boromir thought more of himself although he rationalized it by saying he wanted to save Gondor; Faramir thought of himself less and was willing to surrender Self to a greater cause.
We all have our own Ring, and a neverending series of choices to choose our own quest--for Mt. Doom, or Self. Fear, and its myriad manifestations, and the delusion of being able to be God, even if for a Very Good Cause, are how our Rings ensnare us. I believe this was Tolkien's purpose for the Ring in LOTR. And the Ring is just a junior player compared to how all this is illustrated in the Silmarillion.
Okay, that's it. If you stayed this long, thank you for listening!
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