You really got a hold on me

[Firefoot]

Interesting thread here - I don't often come into the Books any more, but this caught my eye...

I think one thing that you have to look at is that the adventure Frodo got wasn't really the adventure he wanted. He wanted Bilbo's sort of adventure: off to find treasure, with home to come back to whenever he wanted, but he knew from the outset that what he effectually faced was exile. For the most part of his journey, Frodo didn't really think he would be coming back - and this, I think, is what the Ring worked on.

Frodo didn't set out to be a hero. He didn't really want to be famous (and I'd say this goes along with the 'hiding' theory that others have presented... Frodo's not very confrontational, he'll run or hide rather than fight - e.g. Boromir - and he doesn't seek out the limelight - remember at the Prancing Pony he felt rather foolish). He wanted adventure, sure, but not the wearing, tiresome, hopeless one he got. The Ring didn't have to actively work on him much, nor did it have much opportunity, since Frodo usually had no desire to wear it; it just had to be there as a constant weight on Frodo's mind - a war of attrition rather than bombarding Frodo's desire to destroy it. He couldn't escape it. Towards the end, all Frodo really wanted was peace of mind - some comfort. Frodo was absolutely worn out by the time he made it to the Cracks of Doom - the Ring might offer something like, If you give in, you don't have to fight it any more, you can have peace.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by Firefoot

He couldn't escape it. Towards the end, all Frodo really wanted was peace of mind - some comfort. Frodo was absolutely worn out by the time he made it to the Cracks of Doom - the Ring might offer something like, If you give in, you don't have to fight it any more, you can have peace.

Great! I wanted to say something like this, but I couldn't formulate it. I completely agree with you. This is, in my opinion, why he really put the Ring on in the end. I think also something like this was from time to time happening to him on the road (apart from the moments he really wanted to hide or escape, but this was more at start, when he still didn't have that much experience with what the Ring can do) - the pressure was so big, that it was easier just to give in.
The interesting thing about this is, that where there is no knowledge of trespassing something, there is no temptation: if you look at Bilbo, during his adventure he was putting the Ring on and off with no problem. Of course, it became later something like a habit, or like addiction to smoking: he was not comfortable when he didn't have the Ring with him. But during the adventure - for example in Mirkwood - he had the Ring on for several weeks - some think that it was a month - without putting it off! (in Thranduil's halls) If you consider that it was the Ring of Power which he had... on... for a month...