The 2 Reasons Gandalf Took So Long To Realize Bilbo Had The One Ring In The Lord Of The Rings

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In The Lord of the Rings, Gandalf didn’t realize Bilbo Baggins had the One Ring for a long time, but he had two good reasons for the delay. Bilbo had originally taken the ring from Gollum during The Hobbit, and Gandalf quickly found out about his friend’s new possession.

It takes 77 years for the wizard Gandalf to definitively confirm that a particular ring is the One Ring, originally created by Sauron. He begins to suspect this during the events of The Hobbit, and his concerns increase over the next 60 years as Bilbo Baggins seems to age much slower than his fellow hobbits. Bilbo’s strange behavior at his birthday celebration raises further red flags. After thorough investigation, Gandalf returns to the Shire, throws the ring into the fire, and urges Frodo to begin his journey.

The reason Gandalf seems unsure of things in The Hobbit is likely because J.R.R. Tolkien hadn’t fully developed the story of Middle-earth yet, particularly the significance of Bilbo’s ring. In fact, Tolkien revised the “Riddles in the Dark” chapter after The Hobbit was published to ensure Gollum and the ring’s portrayal aligned with the later events in The Lord of the Rings.

It’s a bit tricky to find a direct explanation within the story itself, but Gandalf’s journey to understanding things feels logical.

Reason #1: The “Other” Rings In Middle-earth

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J.R.R. Tolkien’s works detail the creation of many Rings of Power in Middle-earth: three for the Elves, seven for the Dwarves, and nine for Men. By the time of The Lord of the Rings, the Elven rings are safe, most of the Dwarven rings have been lost or taken back by Sauron, and the nine rings remain under his control.

The wizard would have understood how Sauron created the Rings of Power, so even if he only suspected Bilbo’s ring was one of the lost Seven, he couldn’t have let Bilbo keep it. If this was the only magical ring in Middle-earth, Gandalf should have been immediately worried when he saw Bilbo with it.

However, Middle-earth also contained smaller rings created by the elves as practice pieces, or experiments in crafting. Bilbo’s ring looked simple enough to appear as one of these lesser rings. Since most of the nineteen powerful Rings of Power have been found or accounted for, Gandalf is left with two main possibilities:

Bilbo may have discovered an incredibly powerful artifact, or simply one of the many smaller, less significant rings hidden in the mountains – rings typically used for invisibility and mischief. Gandalf reasonably assumes it’s one of the lesser rings, but even so, his wisdom allows him to stay watchful of its influence and potential.

Reason #2: Saruman Lies About The One Ring

Gandalf would have been more open to the possibility of Bilbo Baggins finding the One Ring if Saruman hadn’t interfered. After the events of The Hobbit, when Gandalf began to suspect something was wrong, the White Council gathered to discuss the return of Sauron and the Ring’s location. Saruman, considered the most knowledgeable wizard about rings, falsely claimed to his fellow wizards that the One Ring had been lost in a river and swept out to sea, making it impossible for Sauron’s forces to recover.

Gandalf had every reason to believe Saruman was trustworthy. Saruman was considered incredibly wise, powerful, and knowledgeable about their enemy, and Gandalf never suspected he would betray him. Saruman secretly planned to manipulate the council, find the One Ring before Sauron, and seize power for himself. If Saruman hadn’t been deceitful, Gandalf would have investigated Bilbo’s ring much earlier.

The story of The Lord of the Rings truly starts when Gandalf realizes Bilbo Baggins might have the One Ring. This realization comes about because Sauron is frantically searching for the Ring, and Gandalf and Aragorn piece together clues from Gollum. It’s only after understanding this that the events of the epic tale begin, decades after Bilbo first found the Ring.

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2026-01-27 00:30