And the Valar drew unto them many companions, some less, some well nigh as great as themselves, and they laboured together in the ordering of the Earth and the curbing of its tumults. Then Melkor saw what was done, and that the Valar walked on Earth as powers visible, clad in the raiment of the World, and were lovely and glorious to see, and blissful, and that the Earth was becoming as a garden for their delight, for its turmoils were subdued. His envy grew then the greater within him; and he also took visible form, but because of his mood and the malice that burned in him that form was dark and terrible. And he descended upon Arda in power and majesty greater than any other of the Valar, as a mountain that wades in the sea and has its head above the clouds and is clad in ice and crowned with smoke and fire; and the light of the eyes of Melkor was like a flame that withers with heat and pierces with a deadly cold.
–J.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion, “Ainulindalë”
My name is growing all the time, and I’ve lived a very long, long time; so my name is like a story. Real names tell you the story of things they belong to in my language, in the Old Entish as you might say. It is a lovely language, but it takes a very long time saying anything in it, because we do not say anything in it, unless it is worth taking a long time to say, and to listen to.
This occurred to me and I feel it’s worth posting since I’ve never seen any talk on this?
The One Ring doesn’t make you invisible.
Why would it? Seriously, what purpose on Eru’s green earth does that serve? Sauron forging his ring of power in the heart of a volcano, thinking to himself, ah yes, invisibility would be a good trick to build into this thing! No. Cause you know what? Sauron’s ring does not make him invisible. And he certainly did not intend for anyone else to ever have it. So what’s it really doing?
Two words: Dimensional shift.
I believe that when mortals put on the ring, they experience a dimensional shift in which they are pulled (stretched, transported) into a higher dimension, the plane on which the true spirit forms of the Ainur (and wraiths) exist. This would effectively render them invisible to those on lower dimensions, but the wearer would be able to view them with altered enhanced perception. Such as the effects we witness as described by those who have worn the ring. Especially well portrayed in the films is the ability to see the souls of others, particularly the ringwraiths (the battle on Weathertop is a good example, as well as even in Battle of the Five Armies when Bilbo is in Dale), black and white shadowy souls clear as day but invisible to the naked eye, as they exist on a different dimensional plane. It’s quite possible to me that the
ëalar of the Ainur are in a higher dimension than that of mortal
fëar, but that’s beside the point. They’re at least a couple dimensions removed from our reality, and thus invisible until one puts on the ring.
Now, why would the ring have this power? I think, if I recall correctly, that Tolkien at one point did state that it was not intentional, that it was a byproduct of its making. Again, it does not turn Sauron invisible – it wouldn’t, he already exists on that plane. Mortals are bound to their bodies and so would not be able to perceive that higher dimension, but Ainur are not. I think most plausibly, this effect exists because Sauron infused a piece of his own soul into the one ring. The consequences of this are not well understood (it’s not like it’s a common practice) and we know in other ways, it is so strong in its desire to hearken back to its master, it can even influence the wills – a product of the souls – of those around it. I would not be surprised in the slightest if having a piece of Ainur
ëala
in an all-powerful object would result in the ability to bend reality to attempt to match the wearer to the properties of the owner. It would bring the wearer closer to Sauron, and allow him to perceive them, thus furthering its purpose to return to the whole from which it is a part.
Just a theory, obviously, but I find it odd that I’ve never seen anyone question the rather absurd notion of ‘magic evil ring makes you invisible!’ Tolkien set up so many intriguing questions, concepts, and possibilities with underlying scientific principles – or at least, consistent rules – that I am sure this fits into his framework.
Hot diggity! I was about halfway to this conclusion myself and you’ve laid it all out wonderfully! Ainur Physics, man…Good stuff.
// I’m nearly done with my reread of the trilogy and part of me so desperately wants to do Science to the Ring because I have so many questions.
Like, I am -convinced- that the reason why Gorbag and Shagrat + crews start murdering each other over the mithril shirt is because Sam, who has the Ring on at the time, thought that’s what they were doing.
Like, how much of the bearer’s expectations tint reality at any given time? Especially the behavior of orcs, who are the most susceptible to control by the Ring.
What is the radius of its effects? Presumably it grows stronger the closer to Mordor it gets, and of course, it will probably have a much greater effect on things that are naturally in its wheelhouse, that it wants to effect and not necessarily what is beneficial to the bearer– at least not directly. Causing chaos and bloodshed amongst orcs is super easy, and if the bearer had a particularly strong belief that that’s what orcs DO, or ought to do, it would explain a lot of the useful coincidences that occur during Sam and Frodo’s hike to Orodruin. Literally every time they encounter orcs, they manage to escape them because they start killing each other or swarming in confusion. Probably not useful for Sauron, but definitely easy enough to make true by the power of suggestion, even for an inexperienced Ring-user.
–And I’m sure there is already ink spilled on this topic that I am excited to read, but: does the Ring make everyone invisible? Or only people who, for whatever reason, want to be invisible? Why would invisibility be the foremost trait of Sauron’s ring of power when worn by mortals? Would it have the same effect on, say, Boromir? Or a Man who was not hiding or trying to escape notice, who purposefully took it up in order to challenge the dark lord? Would he be made invisible too? And does it have something to do with being pulled into a bodiless, Maiar state?
For that matter, did ALL the rings Sauron made have a similar effect, and is that why the Nazgul have no visible shape? Or is simply because their physical bodies have long since been destroyed?
Now, I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t already been working on something similar, but I’ve had no cause to test it before now. All we need is a some sort of oxygen reservoir and a caustic solution– limewater or potash, which I have aplenty– to absorb the carbon dioxide from your exhalations, allowing you to reuse the air you take with you for a time. No system is perfect, by law of nature, but it should allow you to stay submerged for about, oh, three hours?
By Eru I wish we’d invent synthetic rubber already…
Whatever– put this on, and now, you’re ready to go on your father-daughter bonding dive! (Please take meticulous notes and record any malfunctions! <3)
There were a hundred thousand moments that it might have been; Maedhros, nimble fingered, picking twigs from Fingon’s hair and trying not to laugh after a disastrous attempt at amateur ornithology; sharing a horse after one came up lame upon a hunt, his cousin’s warm body pressed against his and an arm looped casually about his waist; swimming together naked in the chill waters of Elendë, the reflected ocean turning grey eyes almost blue.
It wasn’t any of them.
Would that it had been.
No, when Fingon first looked at his cousin and felt desire kindle in his heart and heat coil in his loins, though they did stand beside the water still, it was not the sea that was reflected in Maedhros’ eyes.
They were black from side to side, all pupil, and in the light of Fingon’s torch they burned.
“You came,” Maedhros said. He was panting, chest heaving, lips drawn back to show his teeth in what might have been a smile or a snarl or neither.
“I did.” Fingon bit his own lip against the sudden desire to kiss that fierce look from off his face. “What happened? Why did they turn on us?”
There was blood on Maedhros’ face, a long smear of it following the contour of one high cheekbone, more splattered across his surcoat, and the sword in his hands was dark with it from point to hilt.
Fingon’s pulse quickened at the sight of it and he stepped over the corpse that lay between them to touch the smudge upon Maedhros’ cheek.
“It’s not mine,” Maedhros said, turning his head to lean into the caress. “None of it is.” His voice was rough, from calling orders, Fingon thought.
“I know.”
“Fingon, you shouldn’t-”
What Maedhros thought he should not do, Fingon never did find out. The patter of booted and bare feet ran hollow upon the jetty as five sailors rounded the nearest hull and came racing towards them.
Maedhros leapt to meet them with all the grace of a stooping hawk, side stepping a thrust and slipping his own blade up beneath the lead fisherman’s guard to open up her throat.
Sauron’s a royal hostage, not a captive or a slave! “But Ar-Pharazôn was not yet deceived, and it came into his mind that,
for the better keeping of Sauron and of his oaths of fealty, he should be
brought to Númenor, there to dwell as a hostage for himself and all his
servants in Middle-earth” – Sauron swears to Pharazon as one of his vassals, he agrees “as one constrained” to go to Numenor but Pharazon does get his agreement, he doesn’t drag him there in chains.
Anyway it’s this kind of… parodic mirror of loyalty and service, I like to imagine it as Sauron playing really elaborate headgames with himself. Like, absently maneuvering Pharazon into increasingly bizarre and convoluted levels of lord-vassal roleplay to keep himself amused. Pharazon has the increasing suspicion he’s not actually in control of this situation, but between Sauron’s almost-fond gaslighting and the fact that it’s a bit late to do anything about it even if he isn’t, he manages to successfully avoid contact with reality right up until the point it buries him under a mountain.
Reblogging this for anyone interested in a recap of Shadow of Mordor’s lore and story
Thank you very much for this recap! I haven’t played the games yet, so I Embraced The Spoilers in order to know whether or not I’d be eating my own fingers in frustration at the lore-handling or not. XD I’m very interested in the dynamic they’ve created between Celebrimbor and Annatar for the purpose of the game; it seems like it exists in that liminal space between Tolkien’s canon and the not stated, but textually supportable. With orcs. Lots of orcs. I am pleased. ❤
Glad was Eärendel to greet Tuor, and Tuor most fain of his child; but said Eärendel: “I am thirsty, father, for I have run far – nor had Hendor need to bear me.” Thereto his father said nought, having no water, and thinking of the need of all that company that he guided; but Eärendel said again: “’Twas good to see Meglin die so, for he would set arms about my mother – and I liked him not; but I would travel in no tunnels for all Melko’s wolfriders.” Then Tuor smiled and set him upon his shoulders.
MisbehavingMaiar: Tumblr Archive 