Women vs. desire of the ring

Considering the various sources of inspiration for LOTR/Silmarillion, a couple of possibilities come to mind:

(1) In most mythology and ancient Celtic time, women are generally seen as being closer to the earth, representing earth (earth = mother). If you consider that the Ring had absolutely no effect on Tom Bombadil, except to amuse him ;o), it would be a logical inference that those with close connections to the rhythms and energies of the earth are not particularly aroused by desire for such things. Also, Tolkien, being a devout Catholic, may have thought it unseemly for the significant females in his tales to lust for power.

[As I write, it occurs to me that perhaps the heart of the question in this thread, is why did no female character ever possess--instead of want--the Ring?]

(2) Reflecting on my current level of scholarship re The Silmarillion, the notions of female = earth & reverence for Virgin Mary, are consistent. It was Feanor and his brothers--the males--who went nuts, plunging whole peoples into kin strife and slaying over the Simarils. I can't recall a female desiring them for anything other than Luthien, and it was to aid Beren that she went in search of them. However, I am unfamiliar with Beruthien (sp? can't recall the name exactly) mentioned a few posts ago..

and ... I'm ding-donged, too! I righteously reached for the nearest copy of LOTR and looked it up--Gandalf actually held the Ring after Frodo handed it to him for a brief moment before tossing it into the fire at Bag End. I'd never registered that in this context before, and that's why I have become an avid fan of message boards such as this.

[ February 08, 2003: Message edited by: Fain Clawmirth ]