# LOTR Question - Who else could have carried the ring? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 15, 2006, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-question-who-else-could-have-carried-the-ring/352810 "2006-04-15T21:47:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2006, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-question-who-else-could-have-carried-the-ring/352810/1 "2006-04-15T21:47:29Z")
I’m not sure if this is answered in the books at all, and I read them a good while back. Who else would have been able to carry the ring as far as Frodo did without being corrupted? ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/57b2e6/32.png) [@Quasimodal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodal)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2006, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-question-who-else-could-have-carried-the-ring/352810/2 "2006-04-15T21:55:43Z")
> [@Revenant Threshold](#): > > I’m not sure if this is answered in the books at all, and I read them a good while back. Who else would have been able to carry the ring as far as Frodo did without being corrupted? Probably only Hobbits, Bilbo carried it for quite awhile. ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2006, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-question-who-else-could-have-carried-the-ring/352810/3 "2006-04-15T21:55:46Z")
I bet Tom Bombadil could have done it. But he wouldn’t accept the assignment. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2006, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-question-who-else-could-have-carried-the-ring/352810/4 "2006-04-15T22:03:10Z")
Sam carried it part of the way. Faramir knew better than to carry it, so he’s out. Ditto Gandalf and Galadriel. A younger Bilbo would have managed. ---
**Author:** ![Operation\_Ripper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/34f0e0/32.png) [@Operation\_Ripper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Operation_Ripper)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2006, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-question-who-else-could-have-carried-the-ring/352810/5 "2006-04-15T22:21:37Z")
Cripes, there has to be someone else worldwide, than the ultimate who did wasn’t worth a flip, Frodo, aren’t there any athletes in Middle Earth, or true believers better physically and mentally equipped than a friggin’ hobbit? Come on! GoB reference ---
**Author:** ![NicePete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ee7513/32.png) [@NicePete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NicePete)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2006, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-question-who-else-could-have-carried-the-ring/352810/6 "2006-04-15T22:51:34Z")
> [@Operation Ripper](#): > > Cripes, there has to be someone else worldwide, than the ultimate who did wasn’t worth a flip, Frodo, aren’t there any athletes in Middle Earth, or true believers better physically and mentally equipped than a friggin’ hobbit? Come on! > > GoB reference No. That’s the whole point of the story. A stronger more powerful person (e.g. a warrior or a king) would be more likely to succumb to the ring. What was needed was spiritual strength. Moral fiber. Inherent vitality. Nobody had more of that than the hobbits, and Frodo in particular. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2006, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-question-who-else-could-have-carried-the-ring/352810/7 "2006-04-15T23:19:20Z")
I wouldn’t call it moral fiber so much as an entirely different value structure. Frodo did not want power–he was not very ambitous. IMO, only someone who recognized the Ring’s power but did not desire it could successfully carry it. Even that is not quite accurate, but I am off to a party now. (sorry!) Perhaps Merry and Pippin could have. There were Hobbits who were power hungry-Bagshotts(?) and others who would do you down in a heartbeat for material things. Maybe Legolas? He seemed more interested in learing about Middle Earth than in proving Elves above all. Aragon could have, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2006, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-question-who-else-could-have-carried-the-ring/352810/8 "2006-04-15T23:44:44Z")
The eagles? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2006, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-question-who-else-could-have-carried-the-ring/352810/9 "2006-04-16T00:45:22Z")
No, I don’t think even Aragorn could have done it. The One Ring commands control over it’s bearer in direct proportion to the powers of the bearer. For a person of power and influence to carry it would mean even greater temptation to use it (and be overcome) than Frodo faced. And remember, he eventually fell to the Ring. It was precisely BECAUSE Frodo was such a bit-player that he was a suitable bearer. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2006, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-question-who-else-could-have-carried-the-ring/352810/10 "2006-04-16T01:42:30Z")
> [@Jonathan Chance](#): > > It was precisely BECAUSE Frodo was such a bit-player that he was a suitable bearer. Which reminded me of this: > [@Bored of the Rings](#): > > “Someone [said Goodgulf] must take the ring to the Zazu Pits of Fordor, under the evil nose of the wrathful Sorhed, yet appear so unsuited to his task that he will not be soon found out.” > > Frito shivered in sympathy for such an unfortunate. “Then the bearer should be a complete and utter dunce,” he laughed nervously. > > Goodgulf glanced at Dildo, who nodded and casually flipped a small, shining object into Frito’s lap. It was a ring. > > “Congratulations,” said Dildo somberly. “You’ve just won the booby prize.” ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2006, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-question-who-else-could-have-carried-the-ring/352810/11 "2006-04-16T02:32:22Z")
What about Sam? I sometimes think he could have carried it even better than Frodo, except Frodo would not have been able to support Sam in the way Sam did Frodo. Sam had even less ambition than Frodo, and I wonder if Sam would have thrown it away in the end easier. Sam even carried it for a short while, albeit not on his finger. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2006, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-question-who-else-could-have-carried-the-ring/352810/12 "2006-04-16T02:49:22Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Sam even carried it for a short while, albeit not on his finger. Sam wore the ring, after Frodo was poisoned by Shelob. IMHO, Sam lacked the will to carry on for the sake of the quest. He had more than enough will to carry on for the sake of Frodo, and if not for Sam, Frodo would have failed many times, many ways, which weren’t probably redeemable like his final failure was. And Sam was probably the only other one who could have worn the ring within sight of Mordor itself and not succumbed to it. But it was only later that he grasped just what being a ringbearer truly meant, and he was not willing/able to bear that thought long. Besides, it seems that Frodo was destined to be ringbearer by Eru himself. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2006, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-question-who-else-could-have-carried-the-ring/352810/13 "2006-04-16T02:51:09Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > Sam wore the ring, after Frodo was poisoned by Shelob. yeah, you know, I couldn’t remember. I started to say “on the chain” then hesitated, then “on his finger”, then hesitated, then picked one. Chose wrong. > [@](#): > > IMHO, Sam lacked the will to carry on for the sake of the quest. He had more than enough will to carry on for the sake of Frodo, and if not for Sam, Frodo would have failed many times, many ways, which weren’t probably redeemable like his final failure was. And Sam was probably the only other one who could have worn the ring within sight of Mordor itself and not succumbed to it. But it was only later that he grasped just what being a ringbearer truly meant, and he was not willing/able to bear that thought long. > > Besides, it seems that Frodo was destined to be ringbearer by Eru himself. I dunno about the Eru thing, but I agree with you pretty much completely. I think he might have had a small chance at being another, but yeah, he might not have been able to stick to it. ---
**Author:** ![BMax](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bmax/32/4267_2.png) [@BMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMax)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2006, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-question-who-else-could-have-carried-the-ring/352810/14 "2006-04-16T02:53:43Z")
**Quadgop the Mercotan** could have carried the ring to Mount Doom. Hell, anyone could have carried it as long as there were a couple watching him, ready to shove him into the crevice of lava should he decide to keep the ring for himself. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2006, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-question-who-else-could-have-carried-the-ring/352810/15 "2006-04-16T03:00:15Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > The eagles? 😉 That sure would have made the journey a lot shorter, wouldn’t it? The Eagles could have made the trip in a day. Why didn’t Frodo ride and eagle and just fly over the mountain and drop in the ring??? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2006, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-question-who-else-could-have-carried-the-ring/352810/16 "2006-04-16T04:01:50Z")
> [@Quasimodal](#): > > Probably only Hobbits, Bilbo carried it for quite awhile. That’s not a specific enough answer, I’d say, as I don’t think all hobbits could have done so, or even MOST hobbits. Bilbo, were he younger and not already “stretched” from 60 years of bearing, could have; and I think Merry could have. Sam and Pippin, probably not. Lotho, definitely not. Oh, and Farmer Maggot, if he could have been persuaded. ---
**Author:** ![VegemiteMoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/df788c/32.png) [@VegemiteMoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VegemiteMoose)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2006, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-question-who-else-could-have-carried-the-ring/352810/17 "2006-04-16T04:09:15Z")
**Bill** the donkey. No one suspects a donkey. Stealth donkey. Give him an Elven cloak. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2006, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-question-who-else-could-have-carried-the-ring/352810/18 "2006-04-16T04:22:13Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > That sure would have made the journey a lot shorter, wouldn’t it? The Eagles could have made the trip in a day. Why didn’t Frodo ride and eagle and just fly over the mountain and drop in the ring??? Because the Nazgul would have noticed a bunch of big giant Eagles in a heartbeat. Or even one. The only advantage Frodo had was one of surprise. Whodathunk the good guys would hand over the Greatest Treasure ever to a 4 foot little man? Sauron certainly didn’t. Evil sows the seeds of its own destruction. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Pixiesnix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/898d66/32.png) [@Pixiesnix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixiesnix)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2006, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-question-who-else-could-have-carried-the-ring/352810/19 "2006-04-16T06:05:48Z")
> [@](#): > > **Zsofia** wrote: > The eagles? Not after _Hotel California_. ---
**Author:** ![Marlitharn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@Marlitharn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marlitharn)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2006, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-question-who-else-could-have-carried-the-ring/352810/20 "2006-04-16T06:18:35Z")
> [@VegemiteMoose](#): > > **Bill** the donkey. No one suspects a donkey. Stealth donkey. Give him an Elven cloak. Nitpick: Bill was a pony. A stealth pony. > [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > Besides, it seems that Frodo was destined to be ringbearer by Eru himself. I’m intrigued. Tell me more? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-question-who-else-could-have-carried-the-ring/352810.md?page=2)