The Third chapter of Shippey’s book delves deep into the elements of evil that appear in Tolkien’s writing. Shippey points out the three main characteristic of the ring, which has become Tolkien’s embodiment of evil. The ring is powerful to those who wear it, whether they are good or evil. The ring is dangerous, as it corrupts the wearer and the ring must be destroyed in the Cracks of Doom. These three principles create a simple plot for the story of the Lord of the Rings to follow. Within that frame, the reader is able to see how the ring affects Frodo and thus gives a first hand demonstration to the three principles. Characters like Gandalf, Galadriel and Tom Bombadil however, contradict the ring’s inevitable destruction and appeal. As readers, we wonder if Frodo’s corruption and even addiction to the ring is due to his inner weaknesses, and someone like Faramir has a stronger constitution. Or perhaps the ring itself can determine whom to corrupt.
Shippey also discusses highly interesting characters such as the Ringwraiths. Evidently, long term exposure to the power of the one ring causes individuals to become a specter-like entity that is neither fully dead nor alive. The wraiths are described as being composed of mist, yet their armor gives them form. These creatures of mist and mass are similar to poltergeists, bound with the fate of the ring and so are cursed to haunt the world until the ring’s destruction.
Also interestingly, Shippey makes the argument that Frodo’s journey is an “anti-quest” and does not qualify as a quest in which something is gained. Joseph Campbell’s monomyth formula states how an adventure ends with the hero struggling to obtain some new power. Frodo however, struggles to destroy an entity of power and gains nothing besides the destruction of an evil object.
