XPost: rec.arts.books.tolkien   
   From: g.kreme@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies   
      
   In message    
     Sandman  wrote:   
   > In article ,   
   >  "Clams Canino"  wrote:   
      
   >> "Sandman"  wrote in message   
   >>   
   >> > I just don't agree with that definition of "desire". Desiring the ring   
   >> > would not be analogous to being corrupted by the ring, if you ask me.   
   >> >   
   >> > Gandalf desires the ring, sees how it can be used for good, but won't   
   >> > take the ring in fear of being corrupted by it. Saruman desires the   
   >> > ring, and has no chance to be corrupted by it since he never has the   
   >> > chance to use it.   
   >>   
   >> You're 1/2 right.   
   >> Saruman was already corrupted by a "lust for power".  He understood the   
   >> power of the One Ring and desired it for himself - with every intent to use   
   >> it.  ie He was fallen.   
      
   > Only, that was not something done by the ring. He lusted for power in   
   > the same way most people would. The ring for him was a means for that   
   > power. I am trying to make a distinction between Sarumen being   
   > "corrupted" simply by wanting to have more power, and "corrupted" as   
   > an active force by the ring, which incidentally doesn't actually seem   
   > to exercise a force to make you want to use it for world dominantion   
   > (in spite of what Tolkien himself says).   
      
   I disagree. The Ring, inasmuch as it was possible, was searching for a   
   power able and willing to wield it. That is not to say that it was   
   active in its search;lets think of it, perhaps, as a force like gravity,   
   bending the world around it so that things fall toward it. Saruman fell.   
      
   --   
   'And I suppose you know what sound is made by one hand clapping, do   
   you?' said the holy man nastily.  YES. CL. THE OTHER HAND MAKES THE AP.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)