How many people touched the One Ring ? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

The Mouth of Sauron · 03-14-2007, 06:14 PM

From its creation to its destruction, a number of people physically touched the One Ring .

I make the discrete number of people who did so 9 ( nine ) . Am I right ?

radagastly · 03-14-2007, 06:27 PM

Let's see:
1. Sauron
2. Isildur
3. Deagol
4. Smeagol
5. Bilbo
6. Frodo
7. Gandalf
8. Samwise
9. Tom Bombadil

Possibly a tenth, in Rivendell. While Frodo was unconscious, someone placed the ring on a chain. If that someone was Gandalf, then the number is still nine. If it was Elrond, or someone else from his house, then the number is ten.

But I haven't read all the way through in a while, so I may be missing someone.

The Mouth of Sauron · 03-14-2007, 06:32 PM

Would Shelob count if she accidentally touched the Ring whilst binding Frodo with cords ?

radagastly · 03-14-2007, 07:07 PM

IF she accidentally touched it, then she would count, in my opinion. She would fit in the same category as the The Mysterious 10th Bearer Of course, there's no way to know whether she touched it or not, or whether or not it would have any effect on her. I suspect her reaction would be similar to that of Tom Bombadil, but there's no way to know for sure. We just don't know enough about her.

MatthewM · 03-14-2007, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radagastly

IF she accidentally touched it, then she would count, in my opinion. She would fit in the same category as the The Mysterious 10th Bearer Of course, there's no way to know whether she touched it or not, or whether or not it would have any effect on her. I suspect her reaction would be similar to that of Tom Bombadil, but there's no way to know for sure. We just don't know enough about her.

Just curious, why do you suspect her reaction would be similar to Tom's? Tom was a good man, Shelob was an evil creature. I know she is ages old, but don't you think her evil ways would affect her differently than Tom's innocent spirit? I think so...

radagastly · 03-14-2007, 10:57 PM

I think that, like Tom, she was beyond it's influence, though not for the same reasons. Tom was Master of his domain, and within its borders, nothing was master of him. The Ring had nothing to offer him, because he already had all he wanted and knew it. He is contentment.

Shelob was much the opposite, perhaps even a deliberate foil for Tom, of sorts (though I would never second-guess Tolkien's intentions.) Much like Ungoliant with Morgoth, her greed and hunger seemed to surpass Sauron's even at the height of his power. Surely the Ring, alone and seperate from its Master's Hand, could never tempt a creature that was already consumed with temptation. She simply wouldn't notice the difference between the Ring's poison carrots and her own lust.

Also, the Ring itself may well have held back in her presence. Certainly, Sauron had no real influence over Shelob, just a convenient truce. The Ring could certainly not expect to have any more success than that. Even if the Ring managed to take hold of Shelob, it would very likely find itself in the same kind of dark cave as it was with Gollum. Only this time, it's keeper would eat any possible finders before they ever got close enough to touch their hand on them as Bilbo did. There, on the very edge of it's homeland, it would be lost in the dark forever.

03-14-2007, 06:14 PM	#1
The Mouth of Sauron Wight Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Barad-Dur Posts: 196	How many people touched the One Ring ? From its creation to its destruction, a number of people physically touched the One Ring . I make the discrete number of people who did so 9 ( nine ) . Am I right ?

03-14-2007, 06:27 PM	#2
radagastly Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Washington, D. C., USA Posts: 299	Let's see: 1. Sauron 2. Isildur 3. Deagol 4. Smeagol 5. Bilbo 6. Frodo 7. Gandalf 8. Samwise 9. Tom Bombadil Possibly a tenth, in Rivendell. While Frodo was unconscious, someone placed the ring on a chain. If that someone was Gandalf, then the number is still nine. If it was Elrond, or someone else from his house, then the number is ten. But I haven't read all the way through in a while, so I may be missing someone. __________________ But all the while I sit and think of times there were before, I listen for returning feet and voices at the door.

03-14-2007, 07:07 PM	#4
radagastly Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Washington, D. C., USA Posts: 299	IF she accidentally touched it, then she would count, in my opinion. She would fit in the same category as the The Mysterious 10th Bearer Of course, there's no way to know whether she touched it or not, or whether or not it would have any effect on her. I suspect her reaction would be similar to that of Tom Bombadil, but there's no way to know for sure. We just don't know enough about her. __________________ But all the while I sit and think of times there were before, I listen for returning feet and voices at the door.

03-14-2007, 10:57 PM	#6
radagastly Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Washington, D. C., USA Posts: 299	I think that, like Tom, she was beyond it's influence, though not for the same reasons. Tom was Master of his domain, and within its borders, nothing was master of him. The Ring had nothing to offer him, because he already had all he wanted and knew it. He is contentment. Shelob was much the opposite, perhaps even a deliberate foil for Tom, of sorts (though I would never second-guess Tolkien's intentions.) Much like Ungoliant with Morgoth, her greed and hunger seemed to surpass Sauron's even at the height of his power. Surely the Ring, alone and seperate from its Master's Hand, could never tempt a creature that was already consumed with temptation. She simply wouldn't notice the difference between the Ring's poison carrots and her own lust. Also, the Ring itself may well have held back in her presence. Certainly, Sauron had no real influence over Shelob, just a convenient truce. The Ring could certainly not expect to have any more success than that. Even if the Ring managed to take hold of Shelob, it would very likely find itself in the same kind of dark cave as it was with Gollum. Only this time, it's keeper would eat any possible finders before they ever got close enough to touch their hand on them as Bilbo did. There, on the very edge of it's homeland, it would be lost in the dark forever. __________________ But all the while I sit and think of times there were before, I listen for returning feet and voices at the door.

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03-14-2007, 06:32 PM	#3
The Mouth of Sauron Wight Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Barad-Dur Posts: 196	Would Shelob count if she accidentally touched the Ring whilst binding Frodo with cords ?