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Old 10-04-2006, 01:07 PM   #9
Mänwe
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Tolkien In repost...

To start at the end and go to the beggining is what I will do here. For I in my personal opinion must agree with ninja's statement, and it would seem we are in favour of your second point Morsul, it was more of a "gollum" desire.

The reason for my belief is due to the existence of Letter #131 which unfortunately struggles against the letter Raynor qouted. And clearly disagree's with Farael's point.

"'Also, so great was the Ring's power of lust, that anyone who used it became
mastered by it; it was beyond the strength of any will (even his own) to
injure it, cast it away, or neglect it. So he thought. It was in any case on
his finger.'"
(Letter #131)

"...(even his own)" this is Sauron, the quote continues in a similar style, reflecting the feelings of all those who had possession of the ring for a time, Isuldur, Gollum and Bilbo and to an extent Frodo.

I do admit though it is tough to disregard the second quote other than to say that Letter #131 was written after Letter #246. Perhaps he had a change of heart?

As has been pointed out I would put forward his capture by Ar-Pharazôn and subsequent corruption of the King is an adequate example of him not using the ring. Though whether he actually had the ring or not during his capture is a matter of debate.
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