Gyges' Ring
Now you see me; now you don't.
What would you do if you had a ring that made you invisible? Would you go round saying "Yesss my preciousss" and falling into rivers of lava?
Gyges was shepherd who found a magic ring and abused its power, which culminated in the murder of the king and the usurpation of his throne. I should note that Mrs King was in on the plot and had put out to the invisible man.
How easily could we be tempted to do wrong if we had such a ring (provided, of course, Sauron – bit thick if you ask me – hadn't put much of his power into it)? My inclination would be to keep the ring secret for a start. What would I do with such a ring? I don't know. I'm not inclined to larceny; I'm not a stalker; I couldn't use such a thing to eavesdrop because I don't understand Chinese well enough. I couldn't sneak into and out of the airport because I'd still give off a heat signature and thus register on the cameras that check people's temperatures. Besides, I wouldn't be able to get a seat on the plane. I'd have to stand, and no one would serve me lunch. I doubt whether being invisible would spare me from being savaged by mosquitoes.
Hmmm. I'm beginning to think that there are too many practical drawbacks to rings of invisibility. Also, it's hard to think of any practical use for it without some sort of concomitant moral decline.
I'm inclined to conclude, on reflection, that Gyges was already a rather evil little bastard, but until he had the ring, he had no means of acting out his true impulses. The queen clearly liked a bit of rough. Or perhaps preferred what she could not see.
What would you do if you had a ring that made you invisible? Would you go round saying "Yesss my preciousss" and falling into rivers of lava?
Gyges was shepherd who found a magic ring and abused its power, which culminated in the murder of the king and the usurpation of his throne. I should note that Mrs King was in on the plot and had put out to the invisible man.
How easily could we be tempted to do wrong if we had such a ring (provided, of course, Sauron – bit thick if you ask me – hadn't put much of his power into it)? My inclination would be to keep the ring secret for a start. What would I do with such a ring? I don't know. I'm not inclined to larceny; I'm not a stalker; I couldn't use such a thing to eavesdrop because I don't understand Chinese well enough. I couldn't sneak into and out of the airport because I'd still give off a heat signature and thus register on the cameras that check people's temperatures. Besides, I wouldn't be able to get a seat on the plane. I'd have to stand, and no one would serve me lunch. I doubt whether being invisible would spare me from being savaged by mosquitoes.
Hmmm. I'm beginning to think that there are too many practical drawbacks to rings of invisibility. Also, it's hard to think of any practical use for it without some sort of concomitant moral decline.
I'm inclined to conclude, on reflection, that Gyges was already a rather evil little bastard, but until he had the ring, he had no means of acting out his true impulses. The queen clearly liked a bit of rough. Or perhaps preferred what she could not see.
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