The Ring & Bilbo

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Interesting question - not sure if perhaps it hasn't been addressed in Tolkien's letters (anyone knows?) or something, but I would say that it has to do with the "degree of corruptedness" of the person, first; second, maybe also the rising power of Sauron caused the Ring to have "stronger influence". Also, Frodo started seeing the stuff mostly after he had gone through the experience of being almost stabbed to death by a Morgul-blade, and Sam saw that only in Mordor, where the power of the Ring was certainly altered considerably...

But that is just my own guess.

[Inziladun]

Along the lines of what Legate said, I would note also that the entrance of the "wraith-world" wasn't noticeable to Frodo until he had his experience wearing the One in the presence of the Ringwraiths on Weathertop. This despite the fact that he had worn it in the Shire while hiding from one of them. I would agree then that Frodo's wound had something to do with his noticing his differences of perception while wearing the One, and that Sam's similar observation was due to his proximity to Mt. Doom.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Indeed. And maybe just to say what I had mentioned in my first post, but it had just occured to me now that I could say it more clearly: let us remember that Sauron had, since the time of Bilbo, openly proclaimed himself the lord of Mordor again, and had rebuilt Barad-dur. Gandalf makes a big deal out of that event, so I believe we should too.

[Pervinca Took]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

This despite the fact that he had worn it in the Shire while hiding from one of them.

Frodo didn't put on the Ring on this occasion. He was tempted to, and found himself thinking that Gandalf's advice seemed absurd - "After all, I am still in the Shire," he thinks. I think he gets as far as taking the Ring out and thinking of putting it on, but then Gildor & Co. arrive and the Rider disappears, as do thoughts of donning the Ring.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Pervinca Took

Frodo didn't put on the Ring on this occasion. He was tempted to, and found himself thinking that Gandalf's advice seemed absurd - "After all, I am still in the Shire," he thinks. I think he gets as far as taking the Ring out and thinking of putting it on, but then Gildor & Co. arrive and the Rider disappears, as do thoughts of donning the Ring.

Pfft. You're right, of course. I should really refrain from halfway reading through things here when my mind is really elsewhere.

Ok, he did put it on in Bombadil's house, and noted no enhancement of his senses. So I think Legate still has the right of it.

[Inziladun]

Another thought struck me: what about Gollum's time in the wraith-world? Does repeated wearing of the Ring for a long period, as was the case with him, lead to such a change in the senses, giving a somewhat permanent affinity for the shadow-world just as a wound from a Morgul-blade? That would explain Gollum's apparent extraordinary abilities of sight, smell, and hearing.

[SonofUgluk]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

Another thought struck me: what about Gollum's time in the wraith-world? Does repeated wearing of the Ring for a long period, as was the case with him, lead to such a change in the senses, giving a somewhat permanent affinity for the shadow-world just as a wound from a Morgul-blade? That would explain Gollum's apparent extraordinary abilities of sight, smell, and hearing.

Hi Inzil I think Gollums enhanced senses came from the fact he lived in 'darkness' under the mountains for so long - in the same way blind people find their senses of hearing and smell enhanced due to their absence of sight , their other senses compensate , so gollums 'other' senses became enhanced from living in the dark for so long . This is why he 'hates' the sun and only wishes to travel under the cloak of the moon (if he travels at all , he hates both the sun and the moon , he'd rather live with no illumination whatsoever) . It will be interesting to see in the film of the Hobbit how Jackson deals with the issue of the 'wraith world' aspect of the wearing of the ring , I think tolkein maybe avoided that aspect as the Hobbit was supposed to be a childrens book which is maybe why he avoided that 'spooky' side of the wielding of the ring ...

[SonofUgluk]

Interesting responses guys thanks - so the 'wraith world' and sensory enhancement aspects are more than likely related to proximity to the nazgul themselves and/or sauron ? I was pondering that maybe the 'wraith' aspect came in to play once the 9 left minas morgul and crossed into the shire , but if physical proximity to the wraiths and sauron had this effect , why did bilbo not experience it while using the ring in the elf-kings dungeons in the Hobbit , when sauron was dwelling close by in Dol Guldur ?

[Galadriel55]

Welcome to the Downs, SonofUgluk! (nice nick! )

Originally Posted by Inziladun

Another thought struck me: what about Gollum's time in the wraith-world? Does repeated wearing of the Ring for a long period, as was the case with him, lead to such a change in the senses, giving a somewhat permanent affinity for the shadow-world just as a wound from a Morgul-blade? That would explain Gollum's apparent extraordinary abilities of sight, smell, and hearing.

Even if the Ring had no such effect on his senses, he still lived in almost complete darkness (with a couple odd goblin torches here and there, perhaps) for... how many years? Living in the dark is just as sense-sharpening as living in fog.