Oh, I love Celeritas' story for you! Did you see the one a little further down the list, where post-Grey Havens Bilbo has tea with Finrod? I hooted over that one!
Would everyone steal if they knew they wouldn't get caught, or just those who had some weakness in their character? (Neither Frodo nor Bilbo go off like Gollum when they first inherited the ring.)
I don't think everyone would steal if they knew they wouldn't get caught, but I am uncertain that very many would be able to leave such a thing alone, as Frodo appeared to do for 17 years. How tempting would it be to use it for OTHER things besides theft? Such as hiding from unwanted company (as Bilbo did); playing jokes; spying on friends or foes; or even using it to perform secret acts of philanthropy. And of course, Bilbo did steal some when he used it to survive in the Elf King's caverns, and when he took the Arkenstone-- but that was under particular circumstances. It did not actually turn him into a habitual thief!
And that last-- just shows how nasty Sauron really was, and also that he understood the value of propaganda!
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2011-07-30 12:58 pm (UTC)Would everyone steal if they knew they wouldn't get caught, or just those who had some weakness in their character? (Neither Frodo nor Bilbo go off like Gollum when they first inherited the ring.)
I don't think everyone would steal if they knew they wouldn't get caught, but I am uncertain that very many would be able to leave such a thing alone, as Frodo appeared to do for 17 years. How tempting would it be to use it for OTHER things besides theft? Such as hiding from unwanted company (as Bilbo did); playing jokes; spying on friends or foes; or even using it to perform secret acts of philanthropy. And of course, Bilbo did steal some when he used it to survive in the Elf King's caverns, and when he took the Arkenstone-- but that was under particular circumstances. It did not actually turn him into a habitual thief!
And that last-- just shows how nasty Sauron really was, and also that he understood the value of propaganda!