It’s not a matter of geometric proximity. What’s relevant is things like claiming it as your own, attempting to exert control over it, attempting to use its powers, understanding its powers, and so on.
The ring has a malevolent animus all its own. Isildur wore it on his finger and it was still able to betray him. Frodo’s keeping it on his person wasn’t a great idea but it was better than any of the alternatives.
i got the idea that Frodo, through simply having it on his person, was slowly being subjected to the Ring’s influence though he initially had no intention of claiming it. if however, distance was not an issue, then Gandalf would be subject to its influence simply by being in the group, or that Sam would have been the perfect ring bearer instead.
Here it is:
It’s not a case of proximity, it’s a case of ownership. Whether you carry it in your pocket or in your glovebox, the Ring is yours, it’s under your direct control. You can use it any time that you wish. That’s where the temptation comes from. Physical proximity isn’t the issue. Ability to use it is.
Using the Ring, even just wearing it, certainly increases the effects, but aside from that there’s no evidence that physical proximity makes any difference. I guess that in theory if you left it at home and went a hundred miles away, the influence would diminish, simply because your ability to use it is effectively nil.
But once you know, or believe, that it is yours to use, the influence takes hold. That’s why Boromir was influenced simply by being alone with Frodo. He thought he could claim the ring. Galadriel and Gandalf, OTOH, weren’t tempted despite having much more ability to take the ring, because they never saw it as theirs. They only became tempted when Frodo told them they could have it, at which point it effectively came under their control.
This,
in the master’s own words,
*I’m guessing that the “him” referred to here is the Witch-king?
CMC fnord!
Well, the Professor might roll in his grave but I think he’s wrong.
The ruling ring would not tempt the Nazgul. Okay then. Whatever, Professor. Of course, Faramir was too noble to consider it. And Aragorn never really showed signs of being “tempted.”
So everyone from the Maiar to Elves to Boromir. But not the Witch King. Okay then.
If the Witch King truly has no will of his own, he’s less likely to be tempted by the ring than Bill the pony. There would be nothing there for the ring to work on.
The Nazgul are total slaves to the nine rings, which are held by Sauron. The nine are not wearing their rings at the time LotR is set.
In the book, Denethor asks Gandalf if he is overmatched, and Gandalf replies ‘It might be so’. In other words, it could go either way.
if that is true, then my idea of sending a million homing pigeons* into Mordor might work, amongst them one trained to drop its burden over the lava.
- yeah, yeah. that’s not how homing pigeons work. but in a land of talking trees, the birds will know where to fly!
The “him” there refers to Frodo- he is discussing what the Nazgul would do if they caught Frodo at Mt. Doom, and if Frodo would be able to command them.
Gandalf’s “It might be so” might also be read as “I’m not going to discuss this with you.” He might have been quite certain in his own mind (either way, and rightly or not), but didn’t want to get into it with Denethor.
…what? I don’t think it really matters what you think.
The Nazgul couldn’t be tempted by the Ring. It was Sauron’s will in the Ring and Sauron’s will which completely dominated them. And even if they had it, they still couldn’t beat the Big Bad himself.
Faramir refused it, true. He also wasn’t around it long, nor had (unlike Galadriel) he long stewed over its power and the possibility of saving his people. Aragorn resisted for a while, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to stave it off forever.
Not exactly. Most people of strong will could have resisted for a while, but their strong will was also their undoing. Once the Ring got its hooks into them, they simply couldn’t let it go. And some beings simply ignored it. Bombadil, for instance, thought it quite absurd: it had no way to get at him, nothing he wanted. Hence, why the Hobbits were so important. They were small, unambitious, but understood the importance of the mission and would never compromise. A man, even the noblest and greatest, would want use the ring to destroy Sauron’s forces. Same for a dwarf, and elf, or even a Maiar.
Well, I apologize for hijacking the thread. Thanks for the responses. I concede the point and figure it won’t be the last time I’m wrong. 
Ahh, I thought “their nine rings” was indicating someone other than the Witch-king, just wasn’t certain.
So, “Yes bearer of The One Ring, whatever your name is, we can stop for burgers . . . but only if there’s a drive-thru and BTW special orders do upset us.”
CMC fnord!
Tolkien also wrote in a letter to a fan that, had Frodo kept the One Ring on his finger and actually spoken to the Ringwraiths, they would have pretended to obey him only long enough to make sure he couldn’t throw the ring into the Cracks of Doom. They would then have taken him to Sauron, who would’ve seized the Ring. Not a word about any of the Ringwraiths being tempted to hang onto the Ring themselves - they were totally in thrall to the Dark Lord.