Contents of this entry
From Morgoth's servant to the Lord of the RingsDefeat, recovery and the limits of the EyePrimary referencesRelated encyclopedia entries
From Morgoth's servant to the Lord of the Rings
In the First Age, Sauron is a servant of Morgoth associated with sorcery, deception and the stronghold of Tol-in-Gaurhoth. His encounter with Beren, Finrod, Lúthien and Huan places him within the earlier mythology, long before the hobbits’ journey.
During the Second Age he presents himself to the Elven-smiths as a benefactor and shares knowledge used in the forging of Rings of Power. The One Ring is his attempt to place the bearers of the others under his control. The conflict that follows devastates Eregion and eventually draws the Númenóreans into a wider struggle. In Númenor, Sauron uses the king’s fear of death and desire for supremacy to help bring about the Downfall.
Defeat, recovery and the limits of the Eye
The Last Alliance overthrows his bodily power, but the Ring survives. In the Third Age, Sauron’s return is concealed for a time behind the identity of the Necromancer at Dol Guldur before he openly rules from Mordor. The quest depends on a blind spot in his judgement: he expects opponents to use the Ring, making its voluntary destruction difficult for him to imagine.
The Eye is a powerful image of scrutiny and menace; it should not be treated as proof that Tolkien’s Sauron is literally nothing but a floating eyeball. The book also preserves evidence of bodily form, including Gollum’s recollection of a missing finger. His final ruin follows the destruction of the power invested in the Ring, leaving him unable to rebuild his former dominion.
Primary references
The Silmarillion, “Of Beren and Lúthien”, “Akallabêth” and “Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age”; The Lord of the Rings, Book II, “The Council of Elrond”; Book V, “The Black Gate Opens”; Book VI, “Mount Doom”.
