Alternate "Hiding the Ring" strategies

[narfforc]

If The (un)Wise had tried to hide The One Ring instead of destroying it, then the said island would have to be unhinhabited. How far would the exclusion zone have to be around the island?I do not begin to imagine. For even knowledge of the treasure on the island would corrupt. Who would take it there, would Frodo have become another Gollum, marooned on the isle?. What damage would be done, if the Ring was sent all the way to Aman, what powerful being would it corrupt there. It would not be safe in the air, would it not corrupt The Maiar of the Heavens, or Earendil himself. I am afraid it could not be hidden safely, lest it was placed in the hand of Eru himself, why this is not an option I know not, for surely a thing made of the substance of Arda, would have no power of its ultimate creator.

[Farael]

I believe that the Valar could have resisted it's temptation.... it's a Maiar's "thing" and the Valar are mightier than them (or so I understand). But even then, Sauron would have probably taken over Middle Earth anyhow. It was only a matter of how long it would take him (barring a lucky break or another intervention by the Valar)

Yet, as the topic of this thread is to propose ALTERNATE strategies, I would suggest just tossing it into the ocean. Sure, it COULD wash up in some shore, but by tossing it into the ocean you make sure that no-one can know for certain where to find it... and thus, it's harder to be corrupted by it

[Tuor of Gondolin]

While Elrond (or Gandalf?) dismissed the ocean
solution (presumably on the suggestion of
JRRT) it has some merits. Wouldn't Ulmo,
one of the most (the most?) committed to
Middle-earth vala, have had an interest in safeguarding it?

Another thought. If the "good guys" had gotten
control of Orthanc could it have been sealed there
(covering the top entrance with more orthanc rock
and barring windows with orthanc rock?

And there seems to be a strong element of natural
fractiousness among the bad guys (remember the
two orcs in Mordor thinking of the "good old days"
and musing on becoming freelancers after a bad guy win
against Gondor. But more fundamental is an underlying
philosophy that i see in Tolkien's Middle-earth that
Iluvatar would not permit a permanent Sauron taking
over Middle-earth (areas could be dominating, as in the
Second Age, but eventually there would be a redressing of
Middle-earth ills).

More later.

[The Saucepan Man]

Originally Posted by Farael

But even then, Sauron would have probably taken over Middle Earth anyhow.

Isn't this rather the point. They might have hidden the Ring. They might even have been able to do so securely. But it would not have prevented Sauron defeating the Free Peoples militarily.

Originally Posted by Tuor of Gondolin

But more fundamental is an underlying philosophy that i see in Tolkien's Middle-earth that Iluvatar would not permit a permanent Sauron taking over Middle-earth

But doesn't it rather defeat defeat the point of their (and particularly Frodo's) struggle and make it all rather unnecessary if Eru was always going to "save" them in the end anyway?

[Tuor of Gondolin]

But doesn't it rather defeat defeat the point of their (and particularly Frodo's) struggle and make it all rather unnecessary if Eru was always going to "save" them in the end anyway?

Actually, I factor that in. The view is what some perceive as Tolkien's
pre-Christian Christian philosophy, and it involves free will. Allowing
free will necessitates bad/evil things happening/being enacted by
"bad guys". To allow this while still not permitting it to permanently
pervert God's/Eru's design/music means that poor decisions (Feanor)
evil acts (Morgoth) do have effects, sometimes long-lasting,
but that eventually actions will be taken to redress the
balance, but there will still be great damage done. Think of Eru's
comments when Morgoth tried to take over the music of the Ainur.
And I can't find the quote now, but someone says (Gandalf?)
something like "It cannot be as though evil never was."
Also recall the longterm, permanent damage done to Ea by the
struggle between Morgoth and the Valar which left it permanently
marred, yet still essentially intact.

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

Originally Posted by The Saucepan Man

But doesn't it rather defeat defeat the point of their (and particularly Frodo's) struggle and make it all rather unnecessary if Eru was always going to "save" them in the end anyway?

I warrant that the best place to hide anything would be in the midst of the debate that this is about to spark off....

Originally Posted by The Saucepan Man

Isn't this rather the point. They might have hidden the Ring. They might even have been able to do so securely. But it would not have prevented Sauron defeating the Free Peoples militarily.

But doesn't it rather defeat defeat the point of their (and particularly Frodo's) struggle and make it all rather unnecessary if Eru was always going to "save" them in the end anyway?

Yes, I think that even if they did hide it, then Sauron would have killed off everyone anyway, and the Ring would be prolonged even further from being destroyed, and more people would die than was needed.

[Valier]

Interesting. I don't know about the Island... you say Saron/minnions are afraid of water. Or that Sauron would ride a Nazgul. I think this unlikely, but I do think he would send someone or thing to go get it for him.How about if "we" threw it in the ocean...deep...do you think that might work?

[Elu Ancalime]

Well, I think besides the warning from gandalf: (Something like) Lands change and there are many beasts unknown...blah blah saying stuff can make it come back. In a more specific example, Deagol found it after so many years under some mud in the Anduin. Whop knows? Pearl divers from Lindon? But in any case, I think the Wise would rather know where its going and how they could get it back if they needed to. If it was thrown in the middle of the Sea, it would take forver to get it back. Considor: With modern technology, it might take months or even years to find a sunken pirate ship. Without that technology or size.....it would be completley thwoing the Ring away, moreso than Boromir and Corrupted Co. would say than sending it to Mordor with a halfling.
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