The Addictive Ring

[Morthoron]

You bring what you already are when given the Ring. The mean and basest of the those who come in contact with it look to achieve the meanest and basest of goals; ergo, the petty thief and murderer Sméagol kills and eats his prey and he hides from others. However, the mere thought of the Ring being given to her gives Galadriel a terrible vision of a bright and beautiful queen, like Lucifer the Morningstar. Gandalf won't even touch it, Boromir is driven mad merely being in its proximity and Sauron betrays the Istari and the Valar of the Blessed Realm in order to get it (and he, never even close to it). This then is not a "chemical hook"; it is something else altogether.

The Ring effectively cuts off human connection.

Not necessarily. Sméagol was driven away from his clan, he did not leave of his own will. Bilbo existed for decades in the Shire and was beloved by many. Sam did not lose his love for Frodo nor was he driven away even when the Ring reached Mordor. Again, you bring what you are to the Ring, and the Ring merely enhances whatever it is that you are personally, at least your evil aspects are magnified.

[littlemanpoet]

In the case of Bilbo, you seem to have conveniently ignored the opening pages of FotR in which he himself speaks of "feeling stretched" and has a frenetic need to be gone from the Shire, from which he already feels a sense of disattachment.

I think it would be more accurate to say that the Ring tempts out the worst of which you carry in your potential. Sam defeated the temptation of the Ring by clinging to love for his master. Bilbo had to be virtually manhandled (hobbithandled?) by Gandalf to give it up. Possibly the most Elvish of all hobbits, Frodo, lasted a long, long time. His worst was the best ever seen of anyone wielding the Ring; however, that does not defeat my argument.

How could the ring not cut off human connection, rendering one invisible at the very least?

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by littlemanpoet

How could the ring not cut off human connection, rendering one invisible at the very least?

The Ring itself is nothing but a piece of metal. It is the influence of Sauron's fea that affects those in contact with it. Behaviors exhibited by the Ring's victim's are the result of an immersion into Sauron's will and its attendant lies, illusions, and temptations. It is Sauron who conquers them; the Rings is simply an instrument.