Power Corrupts The Ring

There is a famous quote by David Brin which states: “It is said that power corrupts. But actually it’s more true that power attracts the corruptible. The sane are usually attracted by other things than power.” This quote means that not everyone can be corrupted, but sometimes, people are too weak to handle the pressure. Additionally, power comes in many forms, but one way that really stands out is when it boils down to influence on other people. Furthermore, in real life and in novels, power often corrupts people and characters. In both the novels Lord of the Flies by William Golding and Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger, power has the ability to bring out the worst qualities in human nature in the antagonists, a concept that can be also be applied.

“All power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” is a quote from Lord John Dalberg-Acton, explaining that any amount of power can corrupt the mind, but absolute power will take over. This is represented throughout history: in politics, monarchies and times like the french revolution. Many writers have used this theme in their works. One work that includes this theme is William Shakespeare's Macbeth. The play Macbeth follows Macbeth, a brave warrior as he gains power from his deeds both good and bad. By killing the Duncan, the former king, Macbeth rises to power and takes control of his country. With every bit of power that the Macbeth’s gain, they become more and more corrupt.

It is very clear that The Fellowship of the Ring is about good and evil and how power affects and causes evil acts. This has been explained in your writings, where you have stated and I quote “You can make the Ring into an allegory of our own time, if you like: and allegory of the inevitable fate that waits for all attempts to defeat evil power by power” (Tolkien and Tolkien 121) as well as “Power is an ominous and sinister word in all these tales” (152). By reading the Fellowship of the Ring and watching the movie, I can see that you have

Lord Acton once said, "Power corrupts, but absolute power corrupts absolutely." He was probably referring to the powerful kings and queens who held power over many people. But, we could see how power is something many of the characters in Tolkien's story are trying to have and hold onto in some form or another. In The Fellowship of the Ring J.R.R. Tolkien tells us a story about Frodo Baggins who is ordered by Gandalf to destroy the powerful ring discovered accidentally by his older cousin, Bilbo. Like the rest of the hobbits, Frodo has lived quite peacefully and well, not having to worry about how dark and dreary the rest of Middle Earth was becoming under Sauron's growing power. Now, Frodo,

Power, despair, corruption, all are conceived by the ring of power, the one ring that’s sole purpose is to bring evil to the world and destroy the race of man. In the epic novel “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” by J. R. R. Tolkien, the author uses the ring as a symbol of evil that corrupts almost every soul it encounters. Tolkien carefully uses the ring to symbolize how even the smallest objects can cause so much pain and death and bring fear to the hearts in Middle Earth (setting in the book). The ring lies in the heart of the story, giving temptation to almost every character it crosses or has crossed and even transforming once thought to be harmless folk into the most twisted and sinister villains. The separation

It isn't true that power corrupts automatically. In Shakespeare's play Macbeth, Macbeth rises to power. However he does this in a corrupt fashion, and when he achieves his power he must maintain it was by killing any that could take it from him. However, Malcom son of king Duncan, takes away Macbeths power but instead of killing others to keep his power Malcom rewards his companions. It is not power itself that corrupts, but the method that you use to achieve it.

Many would say that power corrupts. The phrase penned by John Dalberg, “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely,” has become a cliché idiom thrown about when discussing power. Does it really though? Does power really corrupt every man it touches? Power is merely a tool, neither inherently good nor bad. Power, similar to “magic”, is subject to the one who wields it. If something wicked wields power, the power will lead to wicked things. However, power in the hands of good will lead to good things – it is a reflection of the heart. In J.R.R. Tolkien’s book The Fellowship of the Ring his characters exhibit different reactions to power. Some crave it, others lust for it, and one in particular shuns it. Power is a tool;

The way a society is run and how things are enforced also can cause negative feelings towards power. It can cause many to rebel if they feel that a leader has too much control, and it can also make people covet and desire such strength leaders have. In Julius Caesar, Cassius

Power and corruption are concepts that are difficult to fully understand. Several controversies occur within these topics. There are both conventional and unconventional ways of viewing power. In an attempt to make a claim contrary to common belief, David Brin stated, “It is said that power corrupts, but actually it’s more true that power attracts the corruptible.” This statement is not accurate because power is the corrupting device responsible for a plethora of downfalls leaders have experienced.

A symbol in “The Hobbit” is the One Ring. Rings normally symbolise eternity, and longevity because a circle has no ending, but the One Ring symbolised both good and evil characteristics, like power and commitment, but temptation and having no control. In the story, one example of someone who had no control was Gollum, the corrupted hobbit. Gollum started out as a nice hobbit named Sméagol, but he inadvertently found the One Ring and became addicted to it. He had no control over what he was doing, and was tempted by the ring’s power and kept on using it.

In the beginning of the Fellowship of the Ring it tells of how Bilbo came upon the cursed ring of Sauron. It also shows how immediately the bearer of the ring becomes corrupted. Although Bilbo had found the ring by luck, he tells others of how he “won” the ring in the game, which is a way of justifying that the ring was rightfully his. There are many instances throughout the book that shows this corrupting influence of power.

Gollum, previously known as Smeagol, is one of the first bearers of the ring of power, and when he comes into the ring’s presence for the first time, the power makes him so corrupt that to get his hands on it he kills his friend Deagol. “‘ Smeagol had been watching him from behind a tree, and as Deagol gloated over the ring, Smeagol came softly up behind. “Give us that, Deagol, my love,” said Smeagol, over his friend’s shoulder. “Why?” said Deagol. “ Because it’s my birthday, my love, and I wants it,” said Smeagol. “I don’t care,” said Deagol. “I have given you a present already, more than I could afford. I found this, and I’m going to keep it.” “Oh, are you indeed, my love,” said Smeagol; and he caught Deagol by the throat and strangled him, because the gold looked so bright and beautiful. Then he put the ring on his finger’” (Tolkein Pg. 52). This text shows that Gollum, or Smeagol, is corrupt due to the rings power only by being around it. The need for the ring was so great that it pushed him to kill, a devastating act on its own, but he kills his own friend. This proves that with the power of the ring Gollum becomes immensely corrupt. After Gollum first obtains the ring he grows to feel a great hatred

The Ring of Gypes' Myth says that man, by nature, is unjust and with such a power of no repercussions will continually do unjust. It is said that if everyone knew of such power that they would internally feel as if the person containing that power were an idiot if they did not do injustice. The only reason that anyone for that matter continues to obey the laws is that they are afraid of the punishment or they lack the power to do otherwise. I am not to sure if I agree with this theory but am in more agreement with the philosophical thinking of Socrates that man is not necessarily unjust but has the tools to be naturally just and do right. I feel this is more correct but I do also feel as if there is a median between the two because if one is

Sauron, enemy of the free peoples of Middle-Earth, was defeated. The Ring passed to Isildur, who had this one chance to destroy evil forever, but the hearts of men are easily corrupted. And the ring of power has a will of its own. It betrayed Isildur, to his death.

Absolute power tends to corrupt absolutely. Absolute power corrupts absolutely in many ways. Firstly, having too much power could change your actions in many ways. Secondly, having a lot of power could also change your thoughts or ways of thinking.Thirdly, it can also get out of hand or out of control if you have too much power. Some people,with too much power, use it to do bad things. On the other hand, others use it to do good.Absolute power corrupts absolutely.