[akhtene]

IMO, the key to understanding who could/or couldn't be the Ringbearer is ties and responsibilities all the characters have. Frodo seemes the one to be burdened with none...Wait, don't throw heavy objects, I'll explain!.. So, he's got no family (Bilbo left and other relatives don't seem to care), no love, no real occupation. Of course he loves The Shire, but it is contemplative admiration. He is educated and well-read for a hobbit, he absorbs wisdom when it's offered to him, but he hardly has much experience. Thus nothing restrains him from taking that great Burden, the responsibility for the whole world.

As for Sam and Aragorn Lyta_Underhill has said it all. No matter what their intention would be, they would have hardly be able to devote themselves completely to THAT quest.

Boromir's loyalty to his city proved that weekness at which the Ring Caught him.

Gimli and Legolas can't be viewed separately from their races, that have complicated relations with each other and with Men. Their friendship could be theri private business, but carrying the Ring could be well viewed as political affair and trigger more hostility and mistrust.

Somehow if I had to choose the most 'logical ringbearer' I'd consider Merry and Pippin (as a team). Most of what I wrote about Frodo is true for them both. They proved selfless and determined. And perhaps together they could cope with each other's follies.

/criticizm welcome. Hard and heavy things...can't you find a better use for them? [img]smilies/evil.gif[/img] /