The Evil Characters in J.R.R. Tolkiens Books. Transfiguring the Evil

Term Paper , 2020 , 9 Pages

English Language and Literature Studies - Literature

The study provides its reader to have knowledge about J. R. R. Tolkien’s personality. After that, it helps his reader to understand the creation of Arda meaning the earth involving Middle-Earth. Moreover, the study mentions Tolkien’s sane solutions to the readers who have not read his books, offering the reader something familiar. It should be stated that Sauron and Melkor have different personalities and Tolkien differentiates the evil within it.

Tolkien, one of the most prominent authors of English literature, adds subtle details into his books to make the reader read his books more persuasively. He uses elementary pontifications about literature to go beyond the standard depictions without not crossing the boundaries. In this study, it is pointed out that Tolkien amasses lots of elements into his books. To illustrate, he includes a number of Christian elements in his book. It is highlighted that Tolkien pays attention to the depiction of his evil characters because of the fact that not only he does not want to create something unusual but he also wants to achieve the reader’s undivided attention. It is mentioned that Sauron and Melkor have different personalities and Tolkien uses different approaches for each of them. In addition, this study puts the One Ring and Man King’s into his aim to highlight Tolkien’s style.

Contents

Contents

Abstract

Introduction

Ainulindalë and The Creation of The Middle-Earth

Tolkien’s Stylistic Approach to the Evil

Sauron’s and His Servants’ Analysis

Conclusion

Works Cited

Thesis Statement: J. R. R. Tolkien, with using rudimentary approaches, transcends the known evil figures by respectively depicting them from a sophisticated to simplified view and meddling into the plot via a great quantity of implications

Abstract

J. R. R. Tolkien, one of the most prominent authors of English literature, adds subtle details into his books to make the reader read his books more persuasively. He uses elementary pontifications about literature to go beyond the standard depictions without not crossing the boundaries. In this study, it is pointed out that Tolkien amasses lots of elements into his books. To illustrate, he includes a number of Christian elements in his book. It is highlighted that Tolkien pays attention to the depiction of his evil characters because of the fact that not only he does not want to create something unusual but also he wants to achieve the reader’s undivided attention. It is mentioned that Sauron and Melkor have different personalities and Tolkien uses different approaches for each of them. In addition, this study puts the One Ring and Man King’s into his aim to highlight Tolkien’s style. The study provides its reader to have knowledge about J. R. R. Tolkien’s personality. After that, it helps his reader to understand the creation of Arda meaning the earth involving Middle-Earth. Moreover, the study mentions Tolkien’s sane solutions to the readers who have not read his books, i.e. offering the reader something familiar. It should be stated that Sauron and Melkor have different personalities and Tolkien differentiates the evil within it.

Keywords: J. R. R. Tolkien, Melkor, Sauron, The Lord of The Rings, stylistic

Introduction

J. R. R. Tolkien, the author of the most prominent book of English literature, is an Anglo­Saxon professor at Oxford University. He is a keen disciple of Christendom doctrinaires; thus, the effect of Christianity can easily be seen in his works (Robbins, 2018, p.172). Elongating the Trilogy’s and the Silmarillion’s fame by writing will be excrescence. Therefore, in the study, it is tried to focus on the evil characters per se. Treolar (1988) describes the evil concept in the Lord of The Rings as the force to accept someone's will. In other words, every evil character in the book tries to make the other characters follow his lead or acknowledge his will (p.57). Bodaciously exploiting the privative and apocalyptic approach, Tolkien gives rise to his evil characters or intensifies them with that power.

Firstly, the study aims to make the reader has knowledge about the evil characters in the book. Mostly, the study analyzes Tolkien’s format of creating his evil characters and on which sources he uses while he is writing the book. It must not be forgotten that Tolkien coddles his good character coterie; nevertheless, he pays unique attention to his depiction of evil characters.

Ainulindalë and The Creation of The Middle-Earth

It can be said that Ainulindalë, the song of creation sung by Ainur whom the angels Iluvatar teaches singing, provides the essential foundation for the all Middle-Earth works because of the fact that it reveals three prominent elements: the armageddon between good and evil, Iluvatar's tendency to the good, and the evil derives from the good (Whittingham, 1998, p.212). Therefore, it is observed that the driving force is the unending battle between the good and evil in Tolkien’s works. The first orders of Iluvatar to Ainur are that each of them must say their own song due to the fact that they have been taught how to sing and Iluvatar wants to be the witness of their Secret Fire located in their very themselves (Kocher, 1985, p. 36). Therefore, magnificent physical earth can be created.

It must not be forgotten that Tolkien specializes in medieval studies. Treolar (1988) claims that medieval thinkers struggle to find an explanation to the perilous reign in the world created by a good God. Therefore, it is observed that Tolkien’s aim to revive imitatio dei which means the imitation of God in literary to feel the omnipotent unknown’s power thoroughly since he considers writing as a sacred event in the creation song (Davis, 1982, p. 6). On the other hand, it can be seen that cosmogony, meaning a scientific branch deals with the origin of the universe, is preferred by Tolkien to make his reader believe the naturality; nevertheless, it not only specialize in the creation of the world, but also it can refer to the tumult, creatures, and creature. Suffice to say, the world has the capability of hosting the evil.

Ainur, the first offspring of the beautiful beginning of the creation process, helps Iluvatar to create Arda meaning the earth. Nevertheless, one of Ainur called Melkor, whom Iluvatar bestows him the supremacy over all creations and the limitless knowledge, insinuates his villainy into the music. In the end, Iluvatar has to finish the creation song; however, it must be said that due to Iluvatar’s overprotector behavior to Melkor, God overlooks the changes at the song’s theme. Whittingham (1998) explains that Melkor wants to be the ruler of the created earth, everything must belong to him (p.214). However, this desire drives Melkor from his origins, he literally wants to be a second Iluvatar. Despite Melkor’s endeavor, he succumbs, and he tries to destroy and distort the earth.

It is mentioned that Melkor tries to insinuate his evilness into the creation song. What he is basically trying to do is to broaden his power and glory. Nevertheless, Iluvatar has no interest in such ornamentations. Melkor’s excessive pride and obstinateness makes the other Ainur leave the song. Therefore, Melkor has the ultimate power (Whittingham, 1998, p. 215). In Tolkien’s artificial language, Melkor means that arising from mightiness.

Tolkien’s Stylistic Approach to the Evil

The creations which are created by Tolkien always have a good origin and due to their free will, they choose a different path for them. This is because Tolkien believes that Christian God cannot catalyze evil; thus, Tolkien's god Iluvatar cannot catalyze evil. To portray, the Ainur, who is the first creations of Iluvatar, is pure creations thoroughly. Among them, Melkor, who is a truant, decides to go on his way. To illustrate the point that Sauron, who is the father of villainy, is represented to the reader as the form of an angel. In the other books, the reader starts the new details about him like he is the necromancer of Middle-Earth. In the end, he is nothing more than a lidless eye. To sum up, Tolkien portrays his characters firstly as a good being; however, they turn themselves into an evil creation. Tolkien does not create new characters, he just integrates a number of specifics to them (Treolar, 1988, p.58). However, what about the One Ring of Power? It has been discussed by critics that what is the origin of the One Ring. Up until now, it is stated that, according to Tolkien's works, mostly everything starts with a good origin because of good God. Therefore, if the ring is made by villainy per se, it must be evil in origin due to the fact that the ring is an extension of Sauron's power since he forges it. Moreover, a number of characters from the book emphasize the point that Sauron created the ring to reign over the control everything. (Treolar, 1988, p.59)

In the earlier part of this study, it is stated that Tolkien’s ultimate aim is to make people believe in his work. He believes that if the coherence once broke, the words will have no meanings at all. Suffice to say, Tolkien tries to preserve continual believability. While making people commit to the work, enough explanation to understand the structure thoroughly is prominent. Tolkien makes extra-textual references to strengthen his structure. Chandler and Fry (2017) say that the more a backstory is provided, the more impression will be created (p.96). Nevertheless, the Trilogy is the first one that is published, and it can be said that readers manage to understand the Trilogy without needing any background. Moreover, Upstone (2002) states that one of the reasons why people do not need backstory at the beginning is the reader is familiar with what is going on in the book (p.180). In other words, Upstone (2002) claims that people feel a sympathy about the book’s myth and the symbols used in the book.

Another view on people’s understanding without background, Chandler and Fry (2017) call “allusive backstory” which means describing something without its background (p.97). In that case, Morgoth is not mentioned in the Trilogy, and in The Hobbit, he is barely mentioned: “ Great Enemy, of whom Sauron of Mordor was but a servant” (Chandler & Fry, 2017, p.98). Another example for this matter, in the Trilogy, Sauron’s name is not stated at all. Metaphorical usages preponderate the Trilogy like the Lidless Eye, the Necromancer. In addition, Croft (2009) claims that Tolkien does not refer to his evil characters too often because of the fact that he wants to make people read his other books like the Hobbit and the Silmarillion. To sum up, Tolkien mostly abstains from telling his evil characters’ primary aims and repeating their names.

Sauron’s and His Servants’ Analysis

J. R. R. Tolkien’s life span does not allow him to complete the Silmarillion; however, he manages to complete the Trilogy. Therefore, Melkor is not promoted as Sauron because of the fact that we come across Melkor in an unfinished book, of course, the book is completed; nevertheless, by Christopher Tolkien, his son. Sauron, as it is mentioned earlier, forges the One Ring and the man kings become his slaves due to their strong connection to the One Ring. They turned invisible and they can only be seen via their black clothes. They are so black that when one sees them fall into doom. Their greatest weapon is terror. Robbins (2018) says that according to the Bible, darkness is associated with evil. In addition, Robbins (2018) finds a connection about man king’s deception, in the Bible, that man has a tendency to select the evil and darkness (p.9). Therefore, Tolkien uses religious precepts to establish a connection between his book and the Bible. It should be mention albeit it is mentioned earlier part of this study that Tolkien refuses to explain or confront evil, this is called neophobia (Upstone, 2002, p. 52).

In the subtitle of this research study, it is said that this study involves Sauron’s analysis. Nevertheless, one cannot complete a study about The Lord of The Rings without mentioning the One Ring due to the fact that it completes Sauron’s power and mightiness. In other words, it functions him. The ring is connected to its creator; however, anyone capturing the ring can have powers. Croft (2017) says that the ring adheres to the physical reality but it should not be forgotten that when Frodo wears the ring, Sauron becomes aware of the ring’s and Frodo’s existence (p.86). Croft (2017) compares Melkor and Sauron. She says that Melkor characterizes sheer nihilism meaning not care anything but himself (p.87). On the other hand, Sauron cares about everything as long as it is made for his interest. Melkor wants to destroy everything; nevertheless, Sauron wants to control everything. Sauron wants subjects to dominate them; however, Melkor wants to annihilate. Croft (2017) also claims that Sauron is wiser than Melkor albeit he is mightier than Sauron. Melkor’s desire cannot be done and it cannot be stopped. In the end, this desire paves the way of his own destruction as well as the earth’s. Croft (2017) states that Sauron does not take things so far to lead nihilistic madness (p. 88) .

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• Author: Serhat Kahyaoglu (Author)
• Publication Year: 2020
• Pages: 9
• Catalog Number: V956538
• ISBN (eBook): 9783346297501
• ISBN (Book): 9783346297518
• Language: English
• Tags: characters, tolkiens, books, transfiguring, evil