That the ring makes you invisible to yourself.
It is clear in the book that when you wear the ring you don't go invisible to yourself, just to everyone else - except Tom Bombadil who can still see you just as he could before you put on the ring. For instance when Tom Bombadil could still see Frodo, Frodo checked that the others couldn't 'see him.
He couldn't check for himself if he was invisible which obviously means he can see himself when wearing the ring.
Same with the dwarfs when Bilbo approaches the camp and sneaks in without them seeing it - he judges the effect of the ring from their reactions. And same throughout the Hobbit as he gradually understands the effects of the ring. Also with Gollum when he doesn't see him when he accidentally put on the ring while running away from him, then at first he is puzzled - if he had gone invisible to himself he'd have understood immediately.
It is clear in the book that when you wear the ring you don't go invisible to yourself, just to everyone else - except Tom Bombadil who can still see you just as he could before you put on the ring. For instance when Tom Bombadil could still see Frodo, Frodo checked that the others couldn't 'see him.
He waited for an opportunity, when the talk was going again, and Tom was telling an absurd story about badgers and their queer ways - then he slipped the Ring on.
Merry turned towards him to say something and gave a start, and checked an exclamation. Frodo was delighted (in a way): it was his own ring all right, for Merry was staring blankly at his chair, and obviously could not see him. He got up and crept quietly away from the fireside towards the outer door.
'Hey there!' cried Tom, glancing towards him with a most seeing look in his shining eyes. 'Hey! Come Frodo, there! Where be you a-going? Old Tom Bombadil’s not as blind as that yet. Take off your golden ring! Your hand’s more fair without it.
He couldn't check for himself if he was invisible which obviously means he can see himself when wearing the ring.
Same with the dwarfs when Bilbo approaches the camp and sneaks in without them seeing it - he judges the effect of the ring from their reactions. And same throughout the Hobbit as he gradually understands the effects of the ring. Also with Gollum when he doesn't see him when he accidentally put on the ring while running away from him, then at first he is puzzled - if he had gone invisible to himself he'd have understood immediately.
About the Author
Robert Walker
Writer of articles on Mars and Space issues - Software Developer of Tune Smithy, Bounce Metronome etc.Studied at Wolfson College, Oxford
Lives in Isle of Mull
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