[Essex]

Lalaith, I think I can 'hear' jest in your last post, so I'll take what you said regarding

Frodo trying to give the ring to passing Nazgul, Faramir is tempted by the ring

with a pinch of salt, but:

Frodo was not giving the ring to the nazgul. I think he was being tempted/forced to put on the ring so that the Nazgul could 'see' him properly. (I still think this is one of the most weakest points in the film, and it really stinks!)

But Faramir WAS tempted by the Ring in the book. People are confusing Faramir dragging Frodo all the way to Osgilliath being wrong (which it was) with his 'temptation' being wrong (which was NOT).

Faramir is a man of his word. He said he would not pick up the 'thing' if it were lying on the highway BEFORE HE KNEW WHAT IT REALLY WAS, but then after finding out what is was by Sam's slip up (and Faramir's superb interrogation techniques) he then kept to his word. But he WAS tempted. Read the chapter again with this in mind, and I then hope you will agree with me. here's a quote to explain my point:

`So that is the answer to all the riddles! The One Ring that was thought to have perished from the world. And Boromir tried to take it by force? And you escaped? And ran all the way – to me! And here in the wild I have you: two halflings, and a host of men at my call, and the Ring of Rings. A pretty stroke of fortune! A chance for Faramir, Captain of Gondor, to show his quality! Ha!' He stood up, very tall and stern, his grey eyes glinting.
Frodo and Sam sprang from their stools and set themselves side by side with their backs to the wall, fumbling for their sword-hilts. There was a silence. All the men in the cave stopped talking and looked towards them in wonder. But Faramir sat down again in his chair and began to laugh quietly, and then suddenly became grave again.
'Alas for Boromir! It was too sore a trial! ' he said. `How you have increased my sorrow, you two strange wanderers from a far country, bearing the peril of Men! But you are less judges of Men than I of Halflings. We are truth-speakers, we men of Gondor. We boast seldom, and then perform, or die in the attempt._ Not if I found it on the highway would I take it_ I said. Even if I were such a man as to desire this thing, and even though I knew not clearly what this thing was when I spoke, still I should take those words as a vow, and be held by them.
'But I am not such a man. Or I am wise enough to know that there are some perils from which a man must flee. Sit at peace! And be comforted, Samwise. If you seem to have stumbled, think that it was fated to be so. Your heart is shrewd as well as faithful, and saw clearer than your eyes. For strange though it may seem, it was safe to declare this to me. It may even help the master that you love. It shall turn to his good, if it is in my power. So be comforted. But do not even name this thing again aloud. Once is enough.'

Hey, my post has gone off on a tangent again.

PS We mainly see Merry and Pippin's growth in the penultimate chapter of LOTR, ie the Scouring of the Shire. With Jackson's decision to remove this from the film, we, alas, do not see their and (to some extent) Sam's full growth. This is a pity.