XPost: rec.arts.books.tolkien
From: the_stan_brown@fastmail.fm
On 16 Oct 2014 09:23:05 GMT, Sandman wrote:
> In article , Stan Brown
wrote:
>
> > [quoted text muted]
> >
> > The "and so" refers to the giving of Rings, not to the pride and
> > greatness of the Men. I'm not sure if you're saying that, or
> > something different.
>
> I'm saying it's both. The fact that men were "proud and great" is pertinent
> information in how they could be ensared.
>
I don't think so. We saw how the small and mean Sméagol was
corrupted, and how the small and not-mean Bilbo and Frodo both
started down that road. (Hobbits are a branch of the race of Men,
remember.)
In all sorts of different ways, over the course of the novel, Gandalf
and others of the Wise make the point that the Great Rings will
destroy anyone of mortal race who tries to possess them.
The "proud and great" were chosen by Sauron not because they were
more corruptible but because they were more useful. The most obvious
example is the destruction of the North Kingdom by Angmar. One
Nazgūl, or nine Nazgūl, couldn't have conquered a kingdom. It took
armies led by the Nazgūl King to do the job.
--
Stan Brown, Oak Road Systems, Tompkins County, New York, USA
http://OakRoadSystems.com
Tolkien FAQs: http://Tolkien.slimy.com (Steuard Jensen's site)
Tolkien letters FAQ:
http://mysite.verizon.net/aznirb/mtr/lettersfaq.html
FAQ of the Rings: http://oakroadsystems.com/genl/ringfaq.htm
Encyclopedia of Arda: http://www.glyphweb.com/arda/default.htm
more FAQs: http://oakroadsystems.com/genl/faqget.htm
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