Why did the Barrow Wight not use the ring?

osszie · 08-12-2002, 01:02 PM

Does anyone else find it strange that when the Barrow Wight has the hobbits (and more importantly the ring) captive that the Wight did not claim or even use the ring itself?

I had always believed that the wight(s) were sent from Mordor by either the Nazgul or the Witch King...........anyone have any advice on this? .......... or thoughts on why the ring seemingly did not interest the Wight?

BeardofPants · 08-12-2002, 04:58 PM

I thought the wights were always there from the time that region was corrupted with warfare and evil. I have no idea why the wights didn't attempt to take the ring though. I'm guessing they didn't expect Frodo to regain consciousness, and were undergoing some kind of ritual first - hence the sword covering Merry, Pippin & Sam, and the garb that they were wearing. Perhaps the wight planned to take the ring afterwards?

osszie · 08-12-2002, 05:04 PM

Hmmm it is a little confusing........I've been having a read-up and found 2 pieces

LotR Appendix A says "It was at this time [1636, the year of the Great Plague] that an end came to the Dunedain of Cardolan, and evil spirits out of Angmar and Rhudaur entered into the deserted mounds and dwelt there."

In Unfinished Tales, where we are told that the Lord of the Nazgul is responsible for waking the Willow and arousing the Barrow-wights. Sorry I don't have the exact page reference.

Confusing......

The ritual definitly explains how Tom B gained time to rescue the hobbits....although as to the nature of this ritual I have no Idea

but if the Nazgul had the power over the wights then surely the ring would be the primary goal, and the hobbits second

olsonm · 08-12-2002, 06:52 PM

The wights were stirred up by the Witch King in order to hinder Frodo should he attempt to cross the Barrows. It's unclear what the wights knew or what they were able to know about the Ring. It's possible that the Barrow-wight would have just killed the Hobbits and left them laying there, allowing the Nazgul to discover the Ring and take it.

BeardofPants · 08-12-2002, 08:21 PM

Little Mr. Know-it-all.

olsonm · 08-12-2002, 08:30 PM

I could be wrong.

BeardofPants · 08-18-2002, 07:45 PM

Dang. Osszie: I see you already found the reference to the spirits coming out of Angmar during the period of war against the Northern kingdom of Gondor...

BeardofPants · 08-18-2002, 07:48 PM

Well, as far as I can gather, the witch king of Angmar was responsible for the evil spirits coming out of that region (which happened many years prior to the war of the ring), and settling in the barrow downs --- this doesn't necessarily mean, however, that they were working for the Nazgul. And as somebody has already said, perhaps they didn't know of the ring.

osszie · 08-18-2002, 07:49 PM

aaarrggh.........didn't know u were looking

any other thoughts on this out there?

Celebrian · 08-18-2002, 09:23 PM

I don't know if dead people CAN use the ring. besides, would they know Frodo had it?

Renille · 08-18-2002, 11:30 PM

Well, they placed him away from the other hobbits. Maybe that has significance? They probably, even if they knew about the ring, didn't know how to use it or what it REALLY did. What can dead people want with the power of the world, anyway?

BeardofPants · 08-18-2002, 11:55 PM

Well Frodo WAS found in a dead kings tomb. I wonder if that has significance?

08-12-2002, 01:02 PM	#1
osszie Elven Warrior Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 409	Why did the Barrow Wight not use the ring? Does anyone else find it strange that when the Barrow Wight has the hobbits (and more importantly the ring) captive that the Wight did not claim or even use the ring itself? I had always believed that the wight(s) were sent from Mordor by either the Nazgul or the Witch King...........anyone have any advice on this? .......... or thoughts on why the ring seemingly did not interest the Wight?

08-12-2002, 04:58 PM	#2
BeardofPants the Shrike Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA <3 Posts: 10,647	I thought the wights were always there from the time that region was corrupted with warfare and evil. I have no idea why the wights didn't attempt to take the ring though. I'm guessing they didn't expect Frodo to regain consciousness, and were undergoing some kind of ritual first - hence the sword covering Merry, Pippin & Sam, and the garb that they were wearing. Perhaps the wight planned to take the ring afterwards? __________________ "Binary solo! 0000001! 00000011! 0000001! 00000011!" ~ The Humans are Dead, Flight of the Conchords

08-12-2002, 05:04 PM	#3
osszie Elven Warrior Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 409	Hmmm it is a little confusing........I've been having a read-up and found 2 pieces LotR Appendix A says "It was at this time [1636, the year of the Great Plague] that an end came to the Dunedain of Cardolan, and evil spirits out of Angmar and Rhudaur entered into the deserted mounds and dwelt there." In Unfinished Tales, where we are told that the Lord of the Nazgul is responsible for waking the Willow and arousing the Barrow-wights. Sorry I don't have the exact page reference. Confusing...... The ritual definitly explains how Tom B gained time to rescue the hobbits....although as to the nature of this ritual I have no Idea but if the Nazgul had the power over the wights then surely the ring would be the primary goal, and the hobbits second Last edited by osszie : 08-12-2002 at 05:08 PM.

08-12-2002, 06:52 PM	#4
olsonm Elf Lord Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: minneapolis MN Posts: 920	The wights were stirred up by the Witch King in order to hinder Frodo should he attempt to cross the Barrows. It's unclear what the wights knew or what they were able to know about the Ring. It's possible that the Barrow-wight would have just killed the Hobbits and left them laying there, allowing the Nazgul to discover the Ring and take it. __________________ Gandalf lives...oh and Frodo too. Haldir Lives!!!

08-12-2002, 08:21 PM	#5
BeardofPants the Shrike Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA <3 Posts: 10,647	Little Mr. Know-it-all. __________________ "Binary solo! 0000001! 00000011! 0000001! 00000011!" ~ The Humans are Dead, Flight of the Conchords

08-12-2002, 08:30 PM	#6
olsonm Elf Lord Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: minneapolis MN Posts: 920	I could be wrong. __________________ Gandalf lives...oh and Frodo too. Haldir Lives!!!

08-18-2002, 07:45 PM	#7
BeardofPants the Shrike Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA <3 Posts: 10,647	Dang. Osszie: I see you already found the reference to the spirits coming out of Angmar during the period of war against the Northern kingdom of Gondor... __________________ "Binary solo! 0000001! 00000011! 0000001! 00000011!" ~ The Humans are Dead, Flight of the Conchords

08-18-2002, 07:48 PM	#8
BeardofPants the Shrike Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA <3 Posts: 10,647	Well, as far as I can gather, the witch king of Angmar was responsible for the evil spirits coming out of that region (which happened many years prior to the war of the ring), and settling in the barrow downs --- this doesn't necessarily mean, however, that they were working for the Nazgul. And as somebody has already said, perhaps they didn't know of the ring. __________________ "Binary solo! 0000001! 00000011! 0000001! 00000011!" ~ The Humans are Dead, Flight of the Conchords Last edited by BeardofPants : 08-18-2002 at 07:53 PM.

08-18-2002, 07:49 PM	#9
osszie Elven Warrior Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 409	aaarrggh.........didn't know u were looking any other thoughts on this out there?

08-18-2002, 09:23 PM	#10
Celebrian Enting Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Calgary Posts: 75	I don't know if dead people CAN use the ring. besides, would they know Frodo had it? __________________ All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost. Tall ships and tall kings, three times three. What brought they form the foundered land Over the flowing sea? Seven stars and seven stones and one white tree.

08-18-2002, 11:30 PM	#11
Renille Elven Lady of Speed-posting Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the cheese state Posts: 988	Well, they placed him away from the other hobbits. Maybe that has significance? They probably, even if they knew about the ring, didn't know how to use it or what it REALLY did. What can dead people want with the power of the world, anyway? __________________ Oh the thinks you can think! Think and wonder and dream...far and wide as you dare! When your thinks have run dry, in the blink of an eye, there's another world there... (from Seussical the Musical. Listen to it...watch it...really.)

08-18-2002, 11:55 PM	#12
BeardofPants the Shrike Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA <3 Posts: 10,647	Well Frodo WAS found in a dead kings tomb. I wonder if that has significance? __________________ "Binary solo! 0000001! 00000011! 0000001! 00000011!" ~ The Humans are Dead, Flight of the Conchords

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
What All Was Wrong with PJ's LOTR	Wally	Lord of the Rings Movies	425	08-14-2016 08:43 AM
How to take a Ring from an unwilling Ring-wielder? - crazy ideas	Gordis	Middle Earth	217	10-03-2013 03:43 PM
Ring's sentience and Ring detection	Gordis	Lord of the Rings Books	17	01-04-2008 09:37 AM
Why did the Ring betray Isildur?	Nurvingiel	Middle Earth	138	12-24-2007 01:52 PM
They'd never say that!	Samwise Gamgee	Lord of the Rings Books	1001	07-01-2006 12:12 PM