[MLD-Grounds-Keeper-Willie]

Simple means a lot of things to me but it does not mean unintelligent. To me, it means the opposite of complicated, it means ignorant, young/underdeveloped, crude. That may sound kind of negative so here are some way's it sounds more positive- neat, undemanding, and clear. I do agree with you that hobbits did not desire power or dominion but only a good life and peace. I think that is a way that hobbits were simple also; since they were undemanding.

You made a good point about the ring as a force instead of a separate character. However, I still believe in my idea that the ring is a character. But your point led me to another thought; maybe the ring is an extension of sauron. I think that since sauron and the ring were binded to each other this could make sense. Also, if it is an extension, it does make sense that when they are together, they are most powerful. I think that the ring had a mind of its own, but now it could be part of sauron's mind. And I don't think that sauron can telepathically communicate to the ring or something, so to me it makes sense if the ring's mind is part of sauron's mind but they think independently.

Thanks for the reply and for sparking another idea. I'd like to hear a response to this one also.