Something Else at Work

Symbolic Expression in the Works of J.R.R. Tolkien

9/18/2K6

"Behind that there was something else at work"

-- Gandalf, on it being Bilbo who found the Ring (Fellowship, p. 65)

One of the powers at work in the transfer of the Ring from Gollum to Bilbo was the Ring itself.

Illustration by Alan Lee

Sauron had let a great part of his power pass into the Ring when he made the Ring, giving it a will of its own.

The Ring itself was responsible for Gollum losing the Ring.

However, it was not the Ring that made the discoverer of the Ring be Bilbo. "'Behind that there was something else at work" (Fellowship, p. 65).

What was this something else? Tolkien doesn't say.

Could the One. Could be one or more of the powers.