Power Corrupts
R.J.J. Tolkien’s “The Fellowship of the Ring”
Power has a great nature of influence on people. People have been fighting for power, even when the power seems far from them. At most times, such individuals lose focus on the humanity of the entire society. It further deprives the morality and cultural values. The worst of all is the adverse effect of power in one’s mind. Once power gets a better part of its pursuer’s mind, the reverse gear may fail to apply. Astonishingly, even weak people, become powerful by clinching on the power throne. It is worthy to note that power may run riot of whoever bears it, hence affecting the whole vicinity.
Moreover, even the wisest people may get corrupted by power. Henceforth, there remains doubt on who should be trusted with power. R.J.J. Tolkien’s fictional book “The Fellowship of the Ring; Books I and II” carves characters who are corrupted by the power of the symbolic Ring.
The ‘Ring’ in the story symbolizes power. There must be a particular power to which people are struggling to acquire. The author presents a Middle-Earth setting, which consists of characters who are greedy for power. Dark Lord Sauron created the Ring, and it has been passed from one creature to another. Significantly, people work hard to make sure that power falls to the people they wish to take over power without considering the capabilities of who should handle it. That is the highest degree of corrupt nature of power. Tolkien says, “One Ring to rule them all …to find them …to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them” (Tolkien, 49). The role of power in corrupting the whole society and its individuals who cannot even understand it rationally. It is beyond their imaginations and beliefs.
Power corrupts even the wisest people. With uttermost disgrace, the power can also influence the people who society believes can rule prudently within the authorized guidelines. However, the case is different since such persons get drunk with power and losing its control. Gandalf is the wisest person who has been corrupted by the power of the Ring. He goes too far from humanity and civilization to the extent of staying with it for a long time. People develop hatred towards him due to his unlimited evil deeds, hence calling him ‘Gollum.’ However, the Ring later torments him psychologically. The author says, “He hated the dark, but hated light more. He hated everything, but he hated the Ring most of all” (Tolkien, 54). Consequently, Gandalf losses in the Ring’s control, and he is busy working for the Dark Lord in an attempt to regain it. That is how power destroys humanity.
The power corrupts the minds of those who greedily seek it. Boromir is corrupted by the power that he is secretly seeking to take from the Ring. At the council, he says that the Ring should not be destroyed, but used as a defensive tool against their enemies. His intentions are clear that he needs it for personal gain, despite understanding the evil it possesses. Even after months, Boromir pleaded with Frodo to hand it over to him. He excuses the reality by saying that “true-hearted men, they will not be corrupted” (Tolkien, 389). That’s why when his treason tricks for power backfires, he becomes furious and angry. Power corrupts minds to the extent of covering evil with cheap good.
Some people recognize the adverse effects of power. Lady Galadriel believes that the Ring will, in return, affect them if they continue using it to benefit them. She says, “the evil that was devised long ago works on in many ways” (Tolkien, 366). The influence of power lures such people to fall in the traps of power. Furthermore, great people like Saruman is corrupted by power by carrying out treason. He convinces Gandalf to play treason, and side with Sauron for the greedy for the power. Saruman tells Gandalf, “As the Power grows, its proved friends will also grow; and the wise, such as you and I, may with patience come at last to direct its courses and control it” (Tolkien, 259). This statement confirms how people can turn to be victims of power.
In conclusion, Tolkien successfully draws a story that has significance in today’s world. Power is not a bad thing, but its addiction and influence corrupt people. Like in the book, people lose the good in themselves to clinch on the evil side of power. Humanity dictates the ultimate control of power. Nonetheless, power becomes poison when the evil overwhelms the good; if greed for it becomes an uncontrollable phenomenon.