Could Sauron Sense Bilbo Using the One Ring? Middle-earth Explained

We know that the Nazgûl were drawn to Frodo when he used the One Ring… so why wasn’t Bilbo caught in all the time he had it? Could Sauron sense his use of the Ring? Let’s take a look! Thank you all so much for watching, let me know your thoughts on this in the comments below! As always, a great thanks to the online artists whose visual works made this video possible! If you are one of the artists, please let me know and I will post your name and a link to your work in this description!

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[SekuACDC]

I don’t think Sauron was able to passively sense the Ring. He had to actively search for it, bending his will towards it. The only times when Sauron really senses the Ring are:
1) when Frodo wears at Amon Hen and then looks directly at Barad-dur while sitting on the Hill of Vision
2) when Frodo claims the Ring for himself at the crack of doom. So while he is at the centre of Sauron’s reign and at the source of his power, Frodo not only wears the Ring but claims it, declaring himself as a rival Lord of the Ring which immediately draws the attention of the true Lord of the Rings.
Before and during the events of the Hobbit Sauron was looking for the Ring in the vales of the Anduin because he knew that’s where historically Isildur had been ambushed and perished. There are even times when Sauron receives misinformation on the location of the Ring, like when he thought that Saruman had captured the halfling carrying it or when Aragorn challenged Sauron through the Palantir of Orthanc.
Why Sauron doesn’t sense Sam, is stated by the narrator, the borders of Mordor are protected by a veil of darkness that Sauron made to prevent others to spy on his land and this shadow blocks view from both sides (“oft evil will shall evil mar”).
Similarly I don’t think the Nazgul know every time that the Ring is used or worn, they are drawn to it and when they are close to it they can sense that “something is wrong”, like when Frodo is at the gate of Minas Morgul. At Bree it was probably the squint-eyed southerner, Bill Ferny and the gatekeeper that told the Nazgul where to go, while at the Tower of Cirith Ungol it was the Watchers and the bell to summon the winged Nazgul.
I know, I have written an unnecessary long comment, but if I weren’t such a big LotR dork I wouldn’t be here watching this video.

[Jayjay-qeum]

Smaug: There is something about you. Something you carry, something made of gold... but far more PRECIOUS...

[kaidorade]

Because he was thin..like butter stretched over too much bread. But seriously! Thank you! I’ve wondered this for decades

[socialaccount]

If Sam could resist the temptation of the ring, I imagine, with Sauron weaker during the events of The Hobbit, that Bilbo may have just considered the whispers in his head to be simple selfish thoughts and nothing magical. Something along the lines of:
"You're a simple Hobbit, not a burglar! We should flee, leave this Dragon's den and return home to a nice cup of tea. Keep the ring, it's a worthy souvenir in of itself!"

"No no, I mustn't do that. My home will be there when I return, I must be brave even if for a moment."

[nicodemusedwards]

I mean… Bilbo and Golumn never got shanked by a magic knife that turns people into ghosts.

And while yeah, said Morgul Knife got removed, it still affected Frodo in the anniversary of the stabbing. So it’s POSSIBLE that the power woven into the blade somewhat “aggravated” the effects of the One Ring on Frodo.

[FantasticExplorers]

Man I love that you've never changed the name of your channel! So many YouTubers have now... I hope you stay Men of the West forever!

[istari]

Gandalf said that Sauron first believed the Elves had destroyed the One Ring and even once he realized, like Saruman, that it had been lost when Isildur was slain, thought it lost in the Anduin. Sauron may have never known Bilbo had possessed the One Ring until Gollum was captured and tortured into revealing what he knew and by then Bilbo had given it up. As far as Sam's use of the Ring goes, Sauron may have sensed something unusual but not realized what it was; this would fit with his belief that the Free Peoples would use the Ring against him.

[oscca]

I think it comes down to tactics. If the ring has a will of it's own, that will aligns with the will of Sauron, and the ring wants to get back to its master, it would probably bide its time until an opportunity arises. It wouldn't want to risk being found by someone who could dominate it, so Sauron would need to be strong enough.

Gollum kept it *safe* for an immense period of time, hidden from the istari and the elves, and it left him when Sauron was getting back some power as the Necromancer. It didn't pull its full influence on Bilbo, because doing so would have revealed it to Gandalf too early, when Sauron was still rebuilding his power in Mordor.

But then Bilbo leaves and gives the ring to Frodo, and Gandalf figures out what it is, and Sauron is getting ready to rise. So it chooses to reveal itself, to the extent it is able to do so.

So this is at least how I've always understood it. The ring works to get back, with what means it has, but sometimes that only means "wait".

[AndrewCarlisleB]

Thanks for featuring my question, Yoystan! Working on my Masters degree is keeping me busy but I'm sick right now and able to catch up on videos.

[orrointhewise]

"Never put it on."

Interesting; so the knowledge or cognitive realization of knowing that it's the one ring further affects the bearer and when they wear it it makes them more easily detected. Makes sense to me, the evil u know holds a weight on your mind and heart more so than one u do not.
I accept this explanation 😂

[OtherWorldExplorers]

Always chalked it up that sauron was only getting stronger as the story went along. While gollum had it he was barely hanging in there. When Bilbo found it a little bit stronger but not enough. And so forth.
Also being distracted by the war that was going on may have distracted a momentarily from the exact knowledge of where the ring was or how close it may have been.

Just my theory.
But I would hope not I'm a little sick so I didn't proofread this any mistakes I hope we're humorous.

[slicerneons]

Maybe if Sauron hasd two eyes he would have noticed! 😅

[upschutt]

That is one of the questions that really makes one think. Thank you for your awesome work :) God bless you

[CybeleCotter]

Sauron's Eye was not like that of Randall Flagg in Stephen King's "The Stand"; it did not "travel" to spy on others at a distance, but was more limited to its location in either Dol Guldur or Barad-dur.

[Comicnut]

Excellent video Yoystan I’ve wondered this myself

[Sleepy.Time.]

without Gollum giving away the location of the Shire it didn't seem like Sauron had any clue of the Rings whereabouts

[saladinbob]

I think a better question is why did Tolkien not attempt to square the circle between the two books? Given the man was such a perfectionist in all aspects of the lore its strange how he never attempted to provide an explanation for this very question.

[ajsmusic]

fantastic vid :) love that you’re still going strong

[gregdingel]

I don't think Sauron knew that the ring had been found until Gollum was captured and tortured in Mordor. And distance must certainly play a part. The Nine were all in the Bree area when Frodo used it there. And we know that Sauron, although very powerful, could not pay attention everywhere at once. That was the whole point of the battle of the Black Gate - to distract Sauron and give Sam and Frodo a chance to get to Mount Doom.

[ApolloV]

Unlike in the movies, Sauron never actually perceived Frodo and those who wore the Ring until it was too late. He verily nearly caught Frodo when Frodo gaze was drawn to Barud dur. The Ring sent out a homing like signal to nearby agents of Sauron when it was worn. When Frodo wore the ring in Bree, some of the Nazgûl detected its usage, leading to try to ambush Frodo on Weatherop. When Bilbo used the Ring before Frodo set out, Sauron was unaware about the Ring being in the Shire nor did he know where the Shire was. During the Hobbit, Sauron was in the position to be looking for it yet.