Something I've never quite understood... (Why a Ring?) - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Voralphion · 06-08-2004, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Furthermore, why tie your life-force to something physical at all? Why not ferret it away on the astral plane or somewhere else safe?

Sauron had to put his power into the ring so he could control the others. His ring had to be more powerful than the others so only his direct physical power would be enough in order to be more powerful than the elven rings

Rilwen Gamgee · 06-09-2004, 03:11 AM

One possible reason that Tolkien used the One Ring as a main source of power is he was trying to emphasize the point that Sauron had almost all of Middle-earth at his disposal: right at his fingertips. This sort of power probably coudn't have been explained the same way if the weapon was, say, a frying pan (or a sword).

dancing spawn of ungoliant · 06-09-2004, 07:50 AM

One reason for using a ring could be that rings possessed at that time (I think) a certain value. They told the family the ring's bearer belonged, great lords had rings as a sign of their social status and they were beautiful things. Or that could be one explanation, why they made the nine, the seven and the three rings. Then Sauron made, as he was mocking all other ring bearers, a master ring.

Orofaniel · 06-09-2004, 09:55 AM

Quote:

One possible reason that Tolkien used the One Ring as a main source of power is he was trying to emphasize the point that Sauron had almost all of Middle-earth at his disposal: right at his fingertips. This sort of power probably coudn't have been explained the same way if the weapon was, say, a frying pan (or a sword).

Just a comment on this one; There are probably many reasons why Tolkien sued “a Ring”. I do think however that he was inspired by Norse Mythology, which many have said before me. Rings are in Norse mythology a sign of power and fortune/wealth. Sauron's Ring was definitely a powerful Ring.(

)

I have a couple of very interesting examples that'll bind the tales about Rings in Norse mythology together with LotR, but I'm afraid I'll turn this topic away from it originally theme.

Lathriel · 06-09-2004, 01:24 PM

I see a ring as a symbol of something precious and something that can't be lost that easily because Sauron wore it like a wedding ring which you never ever take off. Also if this was kind of like a wedding ring you could say that with his ring he was bound to his power as a husband is bound to his wife.

Maybe that is reaching a little far but I thought it was an interesting thought.

Estelyn Telcontar · 06-09-2004, 02:11 PM

This is an interesting question, which I hope will generate some good discussion! Those who read here might also want to go back to previous old threads on this topic: Why a Ring?(1) and Why a Ring?(2). For an interesting and amusing thread on the aspect of the ring as a 'wife', check out The One Ring?. Enjoy!

06-09-2004, 07:50 AM	#3
dancing spawn of ungoliant Mischievous Candle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: So near to Russia, so far from Japan, quite a long way from Cairo, lots of miles from Vietnam. Posts: 1,234	One reason for using a ring could be that rings possessed at that time (I think) a certain value. They told the family the ring's bearer belonged, great lords had rings as a sign of their social status and they were beautiful things. Or that could be one explanation, why they made the nine, the seven and the three rings. Then Sauron made, as he was mocking all other ring bearers, a master ring. __________________ Fenris Wolf

06-09-2004, 01:24 PM	#5
Lathriel Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Wandering through Middle-Earth (Sadly in Alberta and not ME) Posts: 612	I see a ring as a symbol of something precious and something that can't be lost that easily because Sauron wore it like a wedding ring which you never ever take off. Also if this was kind of like a wedding ring you could say that with his ring he was bound to his power as a husband is bound to his wife. Maybe that is reaching a little far but I thought it was an interesting thought. __________________ Back again

06-09-2004, 02:11 PM	#6
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	Additional Reading This is an interesting question, which I hope will generate some good discussion! Those who read here might also want to go back to previous old threads on this topic: Why a Ring?(1) and Why a Ring?(2). For an interesting and amusing thread on the aspect of the ring as a 'wife', check out The One Ring?. Enjoy! __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

06-09-2004, 03:11 AM	#2
Rilwen Gamgee Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: At home. Posts: 135	One possible reason that Tolkien used the One Ring as a main source of power is he was trying to emphasize the point that Sauron had almost all of Middle-earth at his disposal: right at his fingertips. This sort of power probably coudn't have been explained the same way if the weapon was, say, a frying pan (or a sword).