Professor J. R. R. Tolkien‘s most iconic creation in his legendarium must be the One Ring. Solid by the Darkish Lord Sauron, who poured a lot of his energy into it, the One Ring was designed to manage all different Rings of Energy and lengthen Sauron’s will, permitting him to dominate all life. Although Sauron misplaced the ring through the Final Alliance of Males and Elves, it might solely be destroyed within the fires of Mount Doom, the place it was solid. Nevertheless, the ring protects itself by tempting whoever finds it with their best needs, thus making certain that nobody can willingly destroy it.
Between 3441 of the Second Age (or 1 of the Third Age) and 3019 of the Third Age, six people apart from Sauron turned Ring-bearers to the One Ring. The ring tempted every of them, however some managed to climate its corrupt affect higher than others. Their resistance, or lack thereof, was attributable to a number of components, together with the circumstances by which they got here to own the ring and who they have been as individuals. This record will rank every of the Ring-bearers based mostly on how nicely they resisted its temptations.
6
Déagol
Ring-bearer for a couple of minutes in TA 2463
Lengthy earlier than the three tribes of Hobbits intermarried into the trendy inhabitants of the Shire, Déagol lived with the remainder of his household in Stoor nation and was shut buddies together with his cousin, Sméagol. On Sméagol’s birthday, Déagol was fishing within the Gladden River and obtained pulled underneath by a giant fish, the place he discovered the One Ring on the riverbed. When he climbed out of the river, he refused to surrender the ring when Sméagol requested for it as a birthday current, so Sméagol strangled Déagol to demise.
Déagol’s time with the ring was the shortest out of all of the Ring-bearers, however his influence was arguably a very powerful. Had Déagol by no means discovered the ring, who is aware of how the historical past of the Third Age would have performed out? His brief time with the ring additionally proved poor, because it made him hostile and defensive in opposition to his beloved cousin and in the end value him his life.
5
Gollum
Ring-bearer from TA 2463 to July TA 2941
After murdering Déagol and hiding his physique, Sméagol claimed the One Ring, and it shortly exacerbated all of his worst traits. He was banished from his household and fled to a cave within the Misty Mountains, the place the ability of the ring prolonged his life however twisted and warped his physique into one thing withered and monstrous. In time, Sméagol started referring to himself as Gollum after the choking sound he began making and remained remoted in darkness to defend his treasured.
Over 400 years with the ring has left Gollum a creature at warfare with himself. He is aware of that the ring has ruined his life however can’t break away from its siren music. Thus, Gollum loves and hates the ring simply as a lot as he loves and hates himself. Whereas his time with Frodo helped some remnants of Sméagol to resurface, it in the end wasn’t sufficient for him to interrupt free. But, in the long run, it was Gollum’s obsession with the One Ring that lastly led to its destruction, which fittingly turned Sauron’s grasp protection mechanism into his undoing.
4
Isildur
Ring-bearer from TA 1 to October 5, TA 2
Seven years into the siege of Barad-dûr, Sauron lastly exited his fortress and decimated the Final Alliance, killing each Excessive King Gil-galad of the elves and King Elendil of Gondor. Nevertheless, Sauron was left badly weakened after dueling each kings, permitting Elendil’s son, Isildur, to make use of his father’s damaged sword to chop the One Ring from the Darkish Lord’s hand. Sadly, grief and temptation led Isildur to maintain the ring, although he later realized his folly and tried at hand the ring over to Elrond on his manner north to Arnor. Sadly, orcs ambushed him through the journey, and the ring betrayed him within the waters of the Anduin.
Isildur’s failure to destroy the One Ring is the catalyst of the story, however he proves to be considerably extra resilient to its affect than others. He took the time to doc his observations on the ring, together with the runes that solely appeared when heated and took the steps to try to comprise the ring when it turned obvious that he couldn’t management it. Since Isuldur by no means reached Rivendell, we’ll by no means know if he would have voluntarily given up the ring, however the truth that he thought-about the choice proved him wiser than most.
3
Samwise Gamgee
Ring-bearer from March 14 to March 15, TA 3019
The youngest member of the Gamgee household, Sam, serves because the gardener for the Baggins and has a fascination with the elves. When Frodo Baggins set out on his quest to destroy the One Ring, Sam was his most stalwart companion and journeyed alongside him into the center of Mordor. After defending Frodo’s physique from the monstrous spider-demon Shelob, Sam feared that his grasp had died, and so took the ring.
The ring shortly tried to seduce Sam with the concept of conquering Mordor and reworking the barren panorama into a wonderful backyard, however due to Sam’s humble nature, he resisted its provide of energy. He later gave the ring again to Frodo after rescuing him from orcs, who collected him from Sheelob’s lair. Except for solely having the ring for sooner or later, the explanation Sam was ready to take action was as a result of, in contrast to Sméagol, he didn’t purchase the ring by way of violent means, so its maintain on his will was lesser. That is but one more reason why Sam is usually ranked amongst the very best characters in Center-earth.
2
Bilbo Baggins
Ring-bearer from July, TA 2941 to September 22, TA 3001
As soon as a decent member of Hobbit society, Bilbo Baggins’ life modified perpetually when he set off with the wizard Gandalf and an organization of dwarves on a quest to retake their dwelling from a dragon. Whereas evading goblins within the Misty Mountains, Bilbo discovered the One Ring after it left Gollum, and found that sporting it might make him invisible. As he adopted behind Gollum to exit the mountains, the ring tried to coax Bilbo into killing Gollum, however he selected mercy as a substitute.
As with Sam, Bilbo’s mercy meant that the ring did not have a powerful maintain of him, and he used it very sparingly within the 60 years he held it. It was solely when Sauron started returning to energy on Bilbo’s 111th birthday that he felt compelled to maintain the ring reasonably than depart it for Frodo with the remainder of his possessions. But, with Gandalf’s assist, Bilbo turned the primary confirmed character to surrender the One Ring, as soon as once more demonstrating that easy acts of kindness can have profound impacts on the combat in opposition to evil. He may not have been the one to hold the ring to Mount Doom, however his triumph within the combat to depart it behind reinforces why Bilbo is one of many best Hobbits.
1
Frodo Baggins
Ring-bearer from September 22, TA 3001 to March 25, TA 3019
When his dad and mom drowned in a boating accident, Frodo was taken in by his closest relative, Bilbo, with whom he shared a birthday. Bilbo left all the things he owned to Frodo when he departed to spend his closing years in Rivendell, together with the One Ring. But by this time, Sauron had mustered sufficient energy to launch his warfare of conquest, and Frodo accepted the unattainable job of carrying the ring to Mordor and destroying it.
It can’t be understated how each step of the journey from Bag Finish to Mount Doom was a battle of will that threatened to tug Frodo into darkness. The nearer he obtained to Mordor, the extra the ring weighed down on Frodo’s thoughts and physique, enjoying up his despair and providing an escape if he would solely give in. But, the younger hobbit saved preventing and urgent forward as a result of he knew that no person else might make this journey, and to provide in could be to doom all that he likes to demise and tyranny. Whereas his will lastly gave manner on the Crack of Doom, the truth that he made it to the top can’t and shouldn’t be discredited. Had Frodo not made the journey or proven Gollum kindness, the ring by no means would have been destroyed.
