The Ring of Power

    The book The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R Tolkien takes place in Middle Earth, a fantastical world very different from our own. The story follows Frodo Baggins, a Hobbit, and his companions on their quest to destroy the Ring of Power. The Hobbit race are a smaller relative of men. The band of Hobbits are heading to Mount Doom, the only thing strong enough to destroy the evil ring.The Ring of Power makes the wearer vanish out of sight. Over time, the power of the ring corrupts the wearer. The ring is a good example of how power can bring corruption.

    The ring corrupted Sméagol, another Hobbit to the point of insanity. On page 58, when Gandalf the Grey is telling Frodo about the powers of the ring, the author writes, “ ‘No one ever found out what had become of Déagol; he was murdered far from home, and his body was cunningly hidden. But Séagol returned alone; and he found that none of his family could see him, when he was wearing the ring. He was very pleased with his discovery and concealed it; and he used it to find out secrets, and he put his  knowledge to crooked a malicious uses. He became sharp-eyed and keen-eared for all that was hurtful. The Ring had given him power according to his stature.” The power of the Ring took over Sméagol even before he laid it his fingers on it. He murdered a fellow Hobbit over it. The Ring’s power quickly consumed him, turning him evil. He used the power of the ring for unjust purposes, and in turn, the power corrupted him.

    As the ring consumed Séagol, he turned into a wretched creature that the Hobbits called Gollum. On page 59 the author writes, “ ‘So he journeyed by night up into the highlands, and he found a little cave out of which the dark stream ran; and he wormed his way like a maggot into the heart of the hills, and vanished out of all knowledge. The Ring went into the shadows with him, and even the maker, when his power began to grow again, could learn nothing of it.’ ” The power of the Ring ruined Séagol. He fled to the dark mountains to be alone. He turned into a monster. The power  corrupted Sméagol. It seems that Gollum let himself lose sanity, however the ring was what made him go insane. It’s immense power was what allured Gollum to the Ring.

    On page 67, the author writes, “ ‘But I have so little of any of these things! You are wise and powerful. Will you take the Ring?’ ‘No!’ cried Gandalf, springing to his feet. ‘With that power I should have power too great and terrible. And over me the Ring would gain a power still greater and more deadly.’  His eyes flashed and his face was lit as by a fire within. ‘Do not tempt me! For I do not wish to become like the Dark Lord himself. Yet the way of the Ring to my heart is by pity, pity for weakness and the desire of strength to do good. Do not tempt me! I dare not take it, not even to keep it safe, unused.The wish to wield it would be too great for my strength. I will have such need for it. Great perils lie before me.’ ” Gandalf does not wan’t to be tempted by the power of the Ring. Even if he could use it for good, he knows he would abuse his power. He might have good intentions in the beginning, however he would become corrupted with the immense power that the Ring brought him.

    Power has a way of changing people. The Ring gave the inhabitants of Middle Earth immense power. The Ring is representative of power and the abuse of it. When people begin to use their power for personal gain, corruption may follow.