XPost: rec.arts.books.tolkien   
   From: mr@sandman.net   
      
   In article , Stan Brown wrote:   
      
   > > > Stan Brown:   
   > > > [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.   
   > >   
   > > Sandman:   
   > > 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 Smeagol 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.)   
      
   Not sure how "mean" became a paremeter here. And I'm not sure I agree that   
   Smeagol and Frodo were corrupted by the ring due to them being somewhat   
   related to men. That's a bit too binary to me, like saying that *only* men   
   can be corrupted by it, but that's not the case, as both Elrond and Gandalf   
   says, and Galadriel for that matter.   
      
   > 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.   
      
   And immortal, mind you. At least as far as "corruption" goes. Gandalf,   
   Elrond and Galadriel all fear to take the ring for that very reason. The   
   ring will not "destroy" them, but it is clear they fear it would corrupt   
   them.   
      
      
      
      
   --   
   Sandman[.net]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)