There are so many examples across theLord of the RingsandThe Hobbitin which Sauron’s oneRing of Powerbrings out the worst in all who come into contact with it. It makesThorin fall to dragon-sickness more quickly, as it manipulates and twists emotions. It makes the members of the council of Elrond fight among themselves and brings up past conflicts. It turns Boromir against the fellowship and ends upgetting him killed. Even Frodo, the protagonist and the hero of the story, eventually succumbs to the cunning ring’s trickery. Its sole purpose, its very design, is there twist people, to control and manipulate them into making the most terrible choices with the most disastrous consequences. And then, once it has had its evil way with its current bearer, it will betray them, in search of a new person to command towards evil.
Having said that, there are definitely some beings and creatures of Middle Earth who are more easily able to resist the allure of the One Ring than others. It is said time and time again that hobbits are actually one of the best-placed peoples to encounter the ring, despite how unlikely that seems. They are not hungry for power, but are content with peace, good food, and good company. The fact that most hobbits have no interest in politics or great kingdoms works in their favor. But if an interest in looking after and preserving the natural world and a love of things that grow is a qualifying factor in being able to resist the One Ring’s power, what would happen if the Ring had fallen into the hands of an Ent?
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Ents, on the whole, are another type of creature within Middle Earth who are reluctant to involve themselves in the affairs of the world. They prefer to remain in their forests, looking after their trees and avoiding the wars, destruction and death that Man brings. This is seen in the Ent Moot, in which the great council of the elder Ents meet to discuss what part they will play in the War of the Ring. They ultimately decide that they will keep out of it, bide their time, and wait for the world to rectify itself.
However, the Ents are also one of the species who are most in touch with the changes of the world, and who feel its suffering most bitterly. They have been around since the early ages, and have seen the way the world has been shaped and changed since the start of time. This is why they ultimately do join in the war and help to take downIsengard and Saruman the white. They see the terrible things he has done to the surrounding forests, chopping down trees who had long been the Ents' friends, burning them, twisting them into vile orcs. The Ents know that they must make a stand, and they attack Isengard with the full force of their anger.
But this anger, this fury at the cruel treatment of nature at the hands of those who should know better, is what suggests that the One Ring in the hands of an Ent may actually be a very dangerous thing. Although the Ents are usually peaceful creatures, when it comes to the War of the Ring, they are so hurt and aggravated that they display incredible might and wrath, almost leaning towards revenge. Because the One Ring brings out the worst in everyone, it would be able to feed off this animosity, fuel the hatred within, and turn the Ents into a dangerous and terrible foe.
Treebeard may start out with thebest of intentions, like Gandalfor Aragorn would if they came into possession of the ring. He may start by waiting to help his forests grow, to reclaim land that had been taken from them long ago, to stretch and spread and rejuvenate the green places of the world. But eventually, it would result in the forests strangling and suffocating the land as their reach grew ever wider.
There are alreadyexamples in Middle Earth of sick forestslike Mirkwood. Here, the very air is poison and oppressive, the water is not safe to drink, and the spores of the plants are deadly. There are also examples inLord of the Ringsof trees who have grown restless and bitter, like those inthe Old Forestwho have a habit of trapping or killing anyone who tries to pass through. It is thus easy to see how, if an Ent had such a dark object as the Ring of Power at their behest, the world’s forests would become full of spiteful Huorns who come and trample people to death in the middle of the night. These huge and ancient creatures would quickly turn from gentle giants to Middle Earth’s worst nightmare.
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