What caused Frodo to finally give in to the power of the Ring and claim it?

[Marileangorifurnimaluim]

Hmmm.. For me it's enough people respond, with new ideas, thoughts.. the LotR as a touchstone to universal principles, as it must be or it would not be so believable.

One again I must rebel against the concept of the ring having a mind of its own, in this and other topics. If it were possible for the ring to have that much control it would simply march Frodo or any bearer straight to Mordor, hut-hut-hut, and that would be that.

On a broader scale, once all evil is the responsibility of an outside source, so is all good, and Frodo deserves neither credit nor blame: it was merely the gods and evil fighting it out, with him as some pawn for no reason anyone can fathom.
It robs his conflict of any value.

The ring is a thing, a tool, an object of power of great subtlety. Logically, it would not vary in its effects from one wearer to another, and you would not need to learn how to use it, if were an entity posessing a will of it's own.

Your point concerning Gandalf's statements is well taken, Mr. U., but the hold the ring had was still on Frodo's mind, he did not have the will to throw it away, etc.

The nature of the ring is to subvert rather than control, so the wearer still has ultimate responsibility. Even if that responsibility is too much to expect of anyone. The ring has to have something to work on. Someone completely pure, with no ambitions it cannot effect (i.e. Tom Bombadil).

I like the observation of Frodo's martyrdom, that's true, I think you're right. But saying he had no will left in the matter lends the ring a mind it doesn't have.

[ December 18, 2001: Message edited by: Marileangorifurnimaluim ]