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tolkiens legendarium - Would the One Ring created by Sauron make a mortal creature immortal?


The One Ring extended Gollum/Sméagol's life and vitality by 478 years and Bilbo's vitality by 60 years. Did it have the power to make them truly immortal if they had kept it, or did it just grossly slow down the aging process? The ring was made by a Maia for a Maia (spirit), not a mortal.



Answer



A mortal wearing a ring of power does not age, nor can he die of natural means (Gandalf says this in FOTR when he tells Frodo of the rings of power)


For evidence see the Nazgul, who were men that lived in the middle centuries of the 2nd age, they survived until the end of the 3rd age after being gifted rings of power, a period of around 4-5 thousand years.


Also see Gollum who lived 500 years after taking the ring.


However, whether the rings were capable of immortality without corruption is debatable, I find it hard to believe that the rings were ever created with the intention of corrupting men to evil (Sauron was involved in their creation (except the 3 elven rings)) but I think that it was the creation of the One that corrupted the mortals wearing the rings.


That said the dwarves were originally made by Aule to be resistant to corruption and the devices of Melkor, and as such they resisted the rings more than men, and did not recieve immortality from them. However the Dwarven rings corrupted them with their specific weakness (Gold lust).


Finally any mortal wearing a ring could still be killed, and regardless of how long they lived and their power they would still go to their respective fate. Men (hobbits as well) would go to "Mans Doom" and leave Arda, and Dwarves would be gathered by Mandos.



The fact that a man with a ring of power can be killed is evidenced in several places:



  • Isildur's death at the Gladden Fields

  • Deagol's death in the same place

  • Gollum's death in Mt.Doom

  • Angmar's death at the battle of the Pelennor Fields


So in answer to your question:



  • Men with a ring of power do not age


  • Men with a ring of power can be killed

  • Dwarves with a ring of power age normally

  • Maia and Elves are of course immortal anyway and therefore Rings have no effect in that regard.


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