Would a Dwarf have been better as the Ring bearer?

[Beren3000]

Originally Posted by Fenir_LacDanan

Merry and the Witch King was, entertaining, not helpful...

I respectfully disagree, if the Witch King went unchecked, the battle may have turned out differently. I mean, we don't know for sure that Gandalf could take on the Witch King, do we?

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

I don't think that Gandalf would have been able to take on the Witch-King even though he was a Maia.

[Kirinki54]

Originally Posted by brownjenkins

no one could do that... dwarf, hobbit or maia... gandalf and elrond knew this, their goal was to get it there and trust in 'fate'

Yes. And I wonder if the wise like Elrond and Gandalf did not realize what Tolkien explained in one of his Letters: even if someone had claimed the ring at Mt Doom, he would (with the new-found powers of reasoning brought by the ring) have seen with great clarity that Sauron would get it anyway and soon - unless he cheated Sauron by jumping into the abyss and destroy both himself and the ring. Tolkien thought Frodo would have done that, had not Gollum interfered.

[BeardofPants]

The witchking went down because of the acts of both Merry AND Eowyn. Merry unknit the spells binding the witchking, and Eowyn made the killing blow.

Dwarves would have been most unsuitable because of their susceptibility to gold, and greed, as mentioned by several posters, but nobody has mentioned a certain feat that hobbits specialise in... creeping around, and not being seen. Can you imagine a dwarf crashing around in Mordor? There's no way he could have gotten as far as Frodo and Sam did.

[Valandil]

Good point BoPper... I don't think a Dwarf would lower himself to putting on Orc pants! He would insist on charging forth to make war on the foul orcs.

[Attalus]

Originally Posted by BeardofPants

The witchking went down because of the acts of both Merry AND Eowyn. Merry unknit the spells binding the witchking, and Eowyn made the killing blow.

Dwarves would have been most unsuitable because of their susceptibility to gold, and greed, as mentioned by several posters, but nobody has mentioned a certain feat that hobbits specialise in... creeping around, and not being seen. Can you imagine a dwarf crashing around in Mordor? There's no way he could have gotten as far as Frodo and Sam did.

Good point, BoP. Elven cloaks aside, Hobbits were best at stealthy actions. They also seem to be similar, in size, at least, to certain Orcs. Treebeard was momentarily fooled, and he certainly knew his Orcs.

[trolls' bane]

I agree as well. Dwarves, who are usually imprudent when it comes to how to fight, would probably blow their cover within a day of dressing up like an orc, I mean by slaying a few orcs in the host that Frodo and Sam accidentally got caught in. Not that I'm not saying an army of dwarves would've been a bad idea .

[BeardofPants]

Yeah, I don't think they would've put on ork pants, but then I can't say I blame them there! I wouldn't touch them, and that's saying something! Plus, those lil' blue beards might be a bit of a give-away... can't see 'em shaving it off either. Can you imagine? A dwarf with no beard?!

[trolls' bane]

Originally Posted by BeardofPants

Can you imagine? A dwarf with no beard?!

Impossible! Nos such thing exists .

[Haradrim]

Well the reason a hobbit could carry it for so long was because they didnt care for power, gold, luxury, or to dominate. It wasnt in them. Thats why Frodo could carry it for so long before failing. I mean eventually the ring was able to corrupt him but what about a dwarf. A dwarf cares about power just lik men. They would like to be higher up in the food chain if they could be. They care very much for gold and luxury. So dwarf has ring for a week and then becomes corrupt. hehe

[trolls' bane]

Originally Posted by Haradrim

Well the reason a hobbit could carry it for so long was because they didnt care for power, gold, luxury, or to dominate. It wasnt in them. Thats why Frodo could carry it for so long before failing. I mean eventually the ring was able to corrupt him but what about a dwarf. A dwarf cares about power just lik men. They would like to be higher up in the food chain if they could be. They care very much for gold and luxury. So dwarf has ring for a week and then becomes corrupt. hehe

Another good point. I agree with this one too.

[Haradrim]

YEAH! Someone finally agrees with me!!! Also I agree dwarves would have been to clunky to get in there. They wouldnt have been able to sneak around well, they lusted too much for gold and power and I am sure there are other reasons.

[trolls' bane]

Someone finally agrees with you!? . YOu mean to say no one has complimented you on such good ideas (i've counted three in the last ten minutes). adn good point in the thread I had that was closed.

[Haradrim]

yeah I knoiw I was having what we HAradrim call a joke. just kidding. Also at the council of elrond if the dwarves had gotten the ring then they wouldnt have gotten a long with the elves cuz they would have held themselves higher than them and then Lorien wouldnt have happened meaning they dont get their gifts meaning they dont go down ricver and they are ambushed by orcs earlier on. No one goes into Fangorn. Ents dont rise against Sauruman and Sauruman would have still lived. Ah my crazy train of thought....

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

Ah, crazy but true. A dwarf would have stayed in Moria for longer get an orc name written on his head and then there would be a big battle again.

[Haradrim]

I can see it now. Durin comes and seees it and just walks away in disgust and decides its not worth his time anymore. lol

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

In the hobbit Billbo puts it best. 'All the dwarvish racket'

[Fenir_LacDanan]

Originally Posted by Haradrim

Well the reason a hobbit could carry it for so long was because they didnt care for power, gold, luxury, or to dominate. It wasnt in them. Thats why Frodo could carry it for so long before failing. I mean eventually the ring was able to corrupt him but what about a dwarf. A dwarf cares about power just lik men. They would like to be higher up in the food chain if they could be. They care very much for gold and luxury. So dwarf has ring for a week and then becomes corrupt. hehe

I disagree that hobbits had no desire for gold, luxury, or to dominate.

At the scouring of the shire, It is not just Ruffians that are the enemy, although in the battle of Bywater, they are. Sandyman the Miller has thrown in his lot with the "Boss", and the Sackville-Baggines have a sure desire for Luxury Gold and to dominate. Hobbits are just as suceptable to the temptation of the ring as anyone else.

[Sister Golden Hair]

I think a Hobbit was the best choice for a very simple reason: all the other races of Middle-earth, including Dwarves, had been formidable enemies of Morgoth and Sauron throughout the ages, whereas Hobbits were a quiet, peaceful people who lived a simple existance and did not venture far from home. Gandalf said something to Frodo that perhaps the enemy would not hear the quiet footsteps of Hobbits venturing into Mordor. Sauron had no thought or care of Hobbits, and therefore did not see them as a threat. It was a choice of strategy.

[Attalus]

Agree that the urge for power existed in Hobbits, (Sackville-Bagginses at any rate) but it was unusual enough to cause comment, like the comments about Lotho, "own everything and order folk around." But, as SGH says, it was stealth, not power, even "an army of Elves clad in the armour of the Elder Days." Great mental picture, that, though.