The effect of the Ring

[mormegil]

Originally Posted by Meriadoc1961

Knowledge, I agree, plays a part, but what I believe was the most important factor is the heart of the individual. Take the cases of Smeagol and Bilbo: Smeagol already had an evil heart, and he saw the ring and used it as an opportunity to murder his friend, Deagol. Frodo found the ring, discovered that it held some power for it made him invisible, and yet of his own free will he discarded the option of killing Smeagol, a creature who at that moment was his enemy, and bent on killing him, and yet Frodo chose to spare his life.

Merry

But constrasting Frodo and Bilbo. I would say they are of similar character and have about the same 'heart'. How much more was Frodo tempted than Bilbo being that Frodo, unlike Bilbo, understood, at least in some part, the rings potential.

Agreed that with Smeagol he started off roten and he was a weak willed creature that quickly answered the rings call. Yet with Bilbo and Frodo there is the element of knowledge. I would posit, also, that Saruman indeed had a decent if not great heart at the start and began his study with the intent to do good. The more in depth he got the more he couldn't resist the urge until he truly fell and failed in his mission.