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I do think though, that he tapped into something about human nature, and as we might say 'power corrupts' and 'absolute power corrupts absolutely'.
Yes, but I think there is also a 'Tolkien corollary' to Acton: "power attracts the corruptible." Smeagol was already dishonest and mean before the Ring ever came out of the Anduin mud; Saruman was already arrogant and brooked no rivals when he stepped off the boat.
As for a 'ring-persona'- Hmmm. Good question. It does appear that Boromir was 'not himself' when he tried to take it from Frodo. It might well be said that the Ring amplifies and grows the "Morgoth-element" already present in every person in Arda Marred.
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The entire plot of The Lord of the Rings could be said to turn on what Sauron didn’t know, and when he didn’t know it.
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