The One Ring is the most compelling object of desire and temptation in literature since Eve bit the apple in Genesis. Indeed, in many ways, the Ring of Sauron seems to draw from the Creation story of Genesis. Throughout the history of Middle Earth, various people have called to the temptation of the Ring. Many have also resisted its allure. Gandalf, Galadriel, and Sam are able to deny the Ring, while Boromir, Denethor, and Gollum fall under its spell and are held under its sway. What determines a characters ability to resist the desire to use the Ring appears to be their knowledge of how it functions. More specifically, they have knowledge of Good and Evil and knowledge of their own desires. The best characters to demonstrate this fact are Manwe, Gandalf, and Galadriel.
In the legendarium of the Lord of the Rings, Evil and corrupted characters often employ deceit to bend others to their will. The promise of the knowledge, order, or dominion necessary to fulfill one's deepest desires obscures the intentions of Evil. Evil beings often take on the form of gift givers such as Sauron masqueraded as Annatar, "the Lord of Gifts (Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age) or a counselor such as Grima Wormtongue in The Two Towers and the snake in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). They do not directly corrupt others. Instead, they goad those around them into voluntarily corrupting themselves and serving Evil through false promises and half truths.
Knowledge simply of Good or Evil is insufficient to resist the temptations of Evil. In fact, knowledge of only Good or Evil grants practical knowledge of neither. When Melkor is unchained and sent before Manwe to repent of his Evil, he lies and pretends to repent only for a time; yet Manwe is blind to this, as he "was free from evil and could not comprehend it" (Quenta Silmarillion). He was unable to understand both the motivation and methods that Melkor employed, and so he was deceived. He could not see through the illusion of Melkor to see its falseness. Without knowledge of Evil, its illusions appeared as reality to Manwe.
Galadriel knows exactly how she would be tempted to use the Ring, yet she recognizes that it cannot be so. Interestingly, Galadriel recognizes a desire beyond the Ring's power: freedom. Galadriel knows that if the Ring survives, then Lothlorien will be overrun and corrupted, and if the Ring perishes, then Lothlorien will fade into nothingness (The Fellowship of the Ring). Despite this, she and the elves are willing aid in the fight against Sauron to preserve their freedom and the freedom of others. So while the Ring tempts Galadriel with dominion and the love of those beneath her, that is not what she truly wants (The Fellowship of the Ring). She is tempted not with her greatest desire, but with the greatest desire the Ring could offer. Her greatest desire is not dominion or power or wealth, but freedom, self-sacrifice, and diminished power. Therefore, through an intimate knowledge of her deepest desires, Galadriel overcomes the temptation of the Ring. Additionally, Galadriel has knowledge of Evil. She says that she "perceive[s] the Dark Lord and know[s] his mind (Fellowship of the Ring). She is not easily deceived, as she knows what Sauron would do should he regain the Ring.
Within The Lord of the Rings series, Gandalf is the first knowledgeable character tempted by the Ring, and he demonstrates both knowledge of Good and Evil and self-awareness. Frodo offers him the burden in Bag End at the beginning of The Fellowship of the Ring. When offered the Ring, Gandalf quickly denies it and proclaims that he would become like Sauron, and that the way the Ring would corrupt him would be through his pity for the weak and a desire to do good (The Fellowship of the Ring). He knows that the deceit of the Ring would convince him that he himself is wielding it for the Good of others, for a greater good that he is wise enough to see. Yet, in reality, he would be corrupted by the Ring and instead of the Ring serving his purpose, his power would be bent to serve the Ring's purpose. Additionally, he knows what the Ring could best tempt him with. By recognizing where he is most vulnerable, he is better able to stiffen his heart against an urge or sudden temptation.
The knowledge of Good and Evil and one's self works to strengthen one's will against the temptation of the Ring, almost like spiritual armor against the onslaught of Sauron's will. By understanding the how the Ring works to corrupt its wearer and how it deceives people to get them to put it on, various characters are able to freely deny the Ring, despite its best efforts otherwise.
MDH
4 comments:
I like your emphasis on self-knowledge here, which would seem to include knowledge of both Good and Evil. Manwe had no knowledge of Evil and was therefore deceived. There is a humility in this self-knowledge—the knowledge that one could not or would not wield the Ring only for Good, but would fall into Evil. Knowledge is necessary, but is it sufficient? Did Sauron know himself, and Good and Evil? Is knowledge here in your point of view distinct from Wisdom? Was Manwe wise, and/or naive? - LB
My question is where this knowledge of Good and Evil comes from. I agree, the characters who seem able to resist the Ring do so out of a knowledge of both (very nicely observed), but where did they get this knowledge? Does Tolkien have an answer, or does he just push the problem back to the Garden of Eden? RLFB
From a memory of the various scenes, I would say that the knowledge of Good and Evil seems to come from a logical analysis of consequences. When Gandalf and Galadriel are considering taking the Ring, they go through a thought process that roughly follows the pattern "If I take the Ring, I will want to do X, but the Ring will deceive me through my desire to do X and in reality I will do Y, which will actually cause Z." It is by realizing that they are capable of evil themselves and gauging if the various outcomes create new beauty, grace, or freedom that they can tell if the outcome is good, and if the outcome creates suffering, ugliness, or slavery, then it is bad. Regardless, I believe the process would have to be mental and rational, as rationality is the unique aspect of humans given to us by God. Additionally, using Paradise Lost as an example of Satanic logic, the serpent used very simple cause and effect relationships like "if X, then Y," to convince Eve. The serpent said if you eat of the fruit, then you will become like God, but what would God do if this were to happen? What would happen to Adam and Eve should they become god-like? The reason they were deceived is because the thought process was not completed. They only considered the impact to themselves, not the impact to those around them, or how those around them would, in turn, respond.
I forgot to sign my comment. I am the one from 1:13pm on June 3. MDH
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