A Latent Desire?

[Gorthaur the Cruel]

It was at that time that she received Nenya, the White Ring, from Celebrimbor, and by its power the realm of Lórinand was strengthened and made beautiful; but its power upon her was great also and unforseen, for it increased her latent desire for the Sea and for return into the West, so that her joy in Middle-earth was diminished. --Unfinished Tales, "THG&C"

I don't understand why this had a side-effect on her. Can any experts try to give theories please.

[Elianna]

Galadriel, by using Nenya, was trying to make her realm more unchanging, more beautiful: more like Valinor. And it worked, Lórien reminded her of Valinor, reminded her of all the wonderful things of the country of her birth, and in contrast she was stuck in Middle-earth, with the threat of Sauron.

[davem]

Nenya is the Ring of Water.

Now, that's either virtually irrelavant, or its central to explaining why it affected Galadriel so. I can't decide, because I haven't thought deeply enough about how the Rings relate to the elements they 'symbolise'/control. Was there some kind of 'psychic' link established between the wearer & the element? If there was then Galadriel's latent desire for the Sea would have been awakened by her possession & use of Nenya.

Its also interesting that Tolkien speaks of 'its power upon her'. The Rings (& not simply the One) seemed to exert a power over the wearer. To what extent was Galadriel 'influenced' by the Ring she wore? This idea, that Nenya had an innate power which it exerted upon Galadriel brings up another question - was Nenya in some way intentionally exerting its power on her, or was the power just there & her response simply an awakening of a latent desire - Tolkien's words could be read that way. On the other hand, to speak of 'its power upon her' seems to imply that the Ring is actively causing her to feel the way she did, that it wasn't simply a catalyst but more of an active agent.

Did Celebrimbor know of this 'power'? did he give Galadriel Nenya knowing that it would increase her latent desire for the West - ie, did he have ulterior motives: he loved her, maybe he wanted her out of Middle-earth, in the West, where she would be safe?

Or maybe this 'power' over the wearer comes from Sauron's input into their making?

[Saurreg]

Perhaps it is a side-effect of the power rush - realization that she would have been better off in valinor than there in middle-earth.

[Kuruharan]

he loved her, maybe he wanted her out of Middle-earth, in the West, where she would be safe?

And away from Celeborn?

Perhaps it is a side-effect of the power rush - realization that she would have been better off in valinor than there in middle-earth.

But that would be inherently contradictory. By going to Valinor she would be permanently giving up any possibility of indulging in power rushes.

[Eruanna]

davem said:
Was there some kind of 'psychic' link established between the wearer & the element? If there was then Galadriel's latent desire for the Sea would have been awakened by her possession & use of Nenya.

I too, have wondered about this. I am convinced of the link between the 'Three' and the elements that they represent. I don't see how someone, with such a deep love of language as Tolkien, would have named the rings as he did, without there being a direct link.

There is another connection between Galadriel and water. She uses water from her stream in Lorien in order to 'see'. Ulmo is Lord of the Seas, but his power is in all water; rivers, streams, including Galadriel's stream. Were not the Themes of Illuvatar heard strongly in the sea? Perhaps this is also part of the 'sea-longing', the need to be closer to the creator?

Forgive my ramblings, I haven't got it all worked out in my head yet. I'm just sure that there's a connection.