Tuesday, December 12, 2017

What two races resisted the power of the ring?

There are lots of characters in The Lord of the Rings who are able to resist the power of the ring. For example, Tom Bombadil, in Chapter 7 of Book 1, is completely unaffected and seemingly unimpressed by the ring. He doesn't disappear when he puts the ring on, and, after examining it, he hands it back to Frodo "with a smile." It's unclear as to what race Tom belongs to. He calls himself the "Eldest" and "Master," and when Frodo asks Goldberry about Tom, she simply says that "He is."
Another character who resists the power of the ring is Aragorn. In Chapter 2 of Book 2, Aragorn is offered the ring by Frodo, but responds that "It does not belong to either of us . . . but it has been ordained that you should hold it for a while." Aragorn is descended from elves.
In Chapter 1 of Book 6, Samwise Gamgee has a chance to take the ring but resists. Tolkein writes that, "he knew in the core of his heart that he was not large enough to bear such a burden." Samwise is a hobbit.
From these examples it is possible to say that it is at least possible for three races—elves, hobbits, and whichever race Tom Bombadil might belong to—to resist the power of the ring.

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