Galadriel: with what was each member tempted?

[William Cloud Hicklin]

Yes, I don't think Frodo is being the naif here. When Galadriel says "Gently are you revenged..." that's exactly right; Frodo knew what he was doing. He wasn't just teenage Elijah begging "please, please take this burden away."

Book-Frodo is very far from clueless.

[Boromir88]

I just wanted to pop in and say I agree with the point being made that Galadriel wouldn't be tempting members of the Fellowship with claiming and using the Ring. The Fellowship is grieving the loss of Gandalf, so she is testing their resolve and I think tempting each one of them with what their heart desires and all they would need to do is abandon the quest of the Ring.

I recall various threads over the years here and other members saying they thought Galadriel hastened Boromir's downfall. Prior to Galadriel testing him, Boromir didn't seem to be bothered by the Ring. Sure he makes his case to use it as a weapon at the Council of Elrond, but it appears he accepts the Council's decision and besides made quite clear his journey was to return to Minas Tirith. I disagree with the argument that Galadriel hastened Boromir's fall, and I'm not even entirely convinced she tempted him with claiming the Ring.

I think it was Gandalf's death that hastened Boromir's downfall, because after Moria, the observant Sam starts noticing a personality change...Boromir is becoming more anxious and pressing Frodo with questions. I think it's interesting what Boromir says about Galadriel:

'...but almost I should have said that she was tempting us, and offering what she pretended to have the power to give.'

I think it's an astute observation, almost as if Galadriel is acting as a surrogate for the Ring..."pretended to have the power to give" could easily describe the One Ring's chief power. Galadriel tests each member before she passes the test. I read that whole encounter as Galadriel was acting as a surrogate for the Ring to aid him in his own trial. Boromir is able to realize that Galadriel was "offering what she pretended to have the power to give." Unfortunately, as Gandalf would say about Boromir's trial:

"I could not see what happened to him. It was a sore trial for such a man: a warrior, and a lord of men."~The White Rider

Boromir is unable to realize the One Ring deceives in the same way, tempting someone with delusions of power it pretended to give.

Regarding Aragorn's test. Maybe it has something to do with whether to return to Minas Tirith or not? His original plan in joining the Fellowship was to go there with Boromir, Gandalf's death changes his mind. And his choice after leaving Lothlorien is "I'm just going to lead us down the river and delay my decision for as long as possible."

[CSteefel]

It should be noted that Galadriel held all in her gaze, but Aragorn and Legolas showed no embarassment or discomfort. I assume based on Aragorn's statement later on the Tongue when they were departing that:

......... "Lady, you know all my desire, and long held in keeping the only treasure that I seek".

This suggests that Galadriel offered Aragorn the chance to be with Arwen, but as Aragorn says:

......... "It is not yours to give me...",

thus the lack of a response from Aragorn. Similarly, I expect that Legolas was offered a chance to go back to his northern woods:

......... "The heart of Legolas was running under the stars of a summer night in some northern glade amid the beechwoods:"

I would agree with the comments above that only Boromir was offered the Ring, or perhaps the taking of the Ring to Gondor--the others would have been looking for something else. Gimli was probably offered gold, the usual (and predictable?) temptation of the dwarves...

[Mithadan]

A late add to this thread. Was Frodo tempted with anything? And if so, with what?

I have a theory, but would like to see what others think.

[Boromir88]

Originally Posted by Mithadan

A late add to this thread. Was Frodo tempted with anything? And if so, with what?

I have a theory, but would like to see what others think.

I believe so, because Galadriel mentions something about Frodo perhaps getting his revenge for her testing of him earlier:

'You are wise and fearless and fair, Lady Galadriel,' said Frodo. 'I will give you the One Ring, if you ask for it. It is too great a matter for me.'

Galadriel laughed with a sudden clear laugh. 'Wise the Lady of Galadriel may be,' she said, 'yet here she has met her match in courtesy. Gently are you revenged for my testing of your heart at our first meeting.'~The Mirror of Galadriel

I'm not sure what her test would have been. What's your theory?

[Mithadan]

While it is possible that Galadriel may have "offered" Frodo the Ring (which would have made his offer to yield it to her even more striking as a reaction), my guess, and it is nothing more than speculation, is that Frodo's greatest desire was to settle down again with Bilbo. To do this, Frodo would need to be free of the Ring. The easiest route to his being free of the Ring? Give it to Galadriel. So Frodo's offer back to Galadriel, made appropriately before her Mirror, was a reflection of what she suggested to him and what she, herself, desired.

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Mithadan

While it is possible that Galadriel may have "offered" Frodo the Ring (which would have made his offer to yield it to her even more striking as a reaction), my guess, and it is nothing more than speculation, is that Frodo's greatest desire was to settle down again with Bilbo. To do this, Frodo would need to be free of the Ring. The easiest route to his being free of the Ring? Give it to Galadriel. So Frodo's offer back to Galadriel, made appropriately before her Mirror, was a reflection of what she suggested to him and what she, herself, desired.

I got halfway through disagreeing with this and then changed my mind. ^_^ The key point I missed is that Galadriel's offer wasn't "Give me the Ring and you can go back to Bag-End with Bilbo"; it was just "If you give up, you can...".

What Frodo is saying in his offer to her is "Yes, I would like to give up - but the Ring still has to be dealt with. Gandalf and Aragorn both refused it - will you take it up?"

But crucially, he's still taking responsibility for the Ring. He's not abandoning the Quest, like she offered, not just dropping the thing and going home; he's trying to pass it on to someone (he thinks is) more suitable.

To extend the guess a bit more: perhaps Frodo's initial response to Galadriel's offer was to go "But who would take the Ring?". Her reply, based on the ' turn aside from the road and leave the Quest... to others' description, would have been, "Don't let that bother you; it wouldn't be your problem any more."

But Frodo couldn't do that. He had to know the Quest was in safe hands, and ultimately, that turned out to be his.

hS