The Fellowship of the Ring journeys through a world called Middle Earth. Not only do humans inhabitant this land, but dwarves, elves, wizards, hobbits, and many other fantastic creatures. The heroic quest revolves around a symbol of power that brings evil and destruction to all whom possess it - The One Ring. This all-ruling ring was the greatest of nine created by the evil Lord Sauron, and was infused with his evil magic. The symbiotic relationship between the Dark Lord and his prized ring was broken after his defeat in battle, and the ring was lost. However, as long as the ring remained in existence, his soul would remain forever in search of his treasure. Now in the age of our saga, the ring has been found, and Sauron will stop at nothing to reclaim the One that will complete his inescapable domination. The only way to prevent this from occurring is to cast the Ruling Ring from whence it came - the fiery depths of Mount Doom. Fate has placed this grueling burden into the hands of a young hobbit, Frodo Baggins, our main protagonist. The novel illustrates how the omnipotent One Ring shapes the lives of all who are exposed to it. .
The Ring turns even good hearts with the best of intentions into its evil servants. .
The Fellowship incorporates the binary opposition of good versus evil. The Ring's power appeals and is attractive to everyone, and even those who aspire to use it for good are ignorant to its only true purpose- to be employed as an instrument of evil. Although good ultimately prevails, the fallibility of the mortals in the Fellowship allows for corruption within.
None of the wise in the story will accept the ring, even with intentions of good. The wizard in the Fellowship, Gandalf the Grey, sets Frodo on his journey to destroy the Ring. When Frodo offers Gandalf the Ring, he refuses possession of it: "With that power I should have power too great and terrible Yet the way of the Ring to my heart is by pity, pity for weakness and the desire and strength to good.
