Nazgul's Rings
John Ireland
First off, were the Nazgul's actually wearing the rings after they were
drawn to Sauron by them eventually. I was always under the impression
that Sauron was holding the nine rings of Men and the remaining 4 or 5 of
Dwarves in the dark Tower. the Nazguls had already faded over so they
didn't need the rings to be on the other side.
Even if the Lord of the Nazgul's was wearing his ring it would have been
destroyed or "inactivated" when the One Ring was destroyed in Mount Doom,
considering they were link together.
John Ireland
jire...@umr.edu
University of Missouri-Rolla
Doug Elrod
wrote:
> In article <3h37at$k...@hptemp1.cc.umr.edu>
> jire...@rocket.cc.umr.edu (John Ireland) writes:
>
> >First off, were the Nazgul's actually wearing the rings after they were
> >drawn to Sauron by them eventually. I was always under the impression
> >that Sauron was holding the nine rings of Men and the remaining 4 or 5 of
> >Dwarves in the dark Tower. the Nazguls had already faded over so they
> >didn't need the rings to be on the other side.
>
> But how did they stay alive? They were just mortal men, so I would think
> that they would die if they took off their rings.
>
> Anyway, that is what I thought when I first read the story. This was
> many years ago, and I always wondered whether Tolkien himself ever said
> anything about what happened to the Chief Nazgul's ring after Merry killed
> him. There are lots of plausible things we could make up, but did JRRT
> himself ever say anything that would clarify this?
>
> Joe Stella
It seems to be clear that the life-stretching properties of the
rings weren't dependent on wearing them. After all, Gollum (and
Bilbo) hardly wore their rings at all (in the later stages) and yet
their lives were extended. So perhaps it is the bearing of the rings,
having them in ones possession that matters. But I would bet that given
the
nature of the rings (and especially the One Ring) that a bearer is also
under their thrall. So we see that Gollum, even though he has
"lived many lives of his small kind" still living even after he
has lost the Ring. I think it is only because he is a slave to it
that he lives (until it is destroyed). Doubtless the same
considerations apply to the Nazgul.
-Doug Elrod (dr...@cornell.edu)
Hochart
land) writes:
|>
|> First off, were the Nazgul's actually wearing the rings after they were
|> drawn to Sauron by them eventually. I was always under the impression
|> that Sauron was holding the nine rings of Men and the remaining 4 or 5 of
|> Dwarves in the dark Tower. the Nazguls had already faded over so they
|> didn't need the rings to be on the other side.
|>
|> destroyed or "inactivated" when the One Ring was destroyed in Mount Doom,
|> considering they were link together.
|>
|> John Ireland
|> jire...@umr.edu
|> University of Missouri-Rolla
What I suppose, is that the nine must wear the rings to stay alive, and to
be under Sauron's control.
Sauron has touch the Nine Rings, and a part of him is alive in it. By this
way he is able to control the Black Riders and to known (at every moment) what
happens ...
Without ring (and by consequence a part of Sauron power), the Nazgul would
be like a Wight ....
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SAVOIE M
>From: hoc...@clamart.wireline.slb.com (Hochart)
>Subject: Re: Nazgul's Rings
>Date: 7 Feb 1995 22:59:16 GMT
> Sauron has touch the Nine Rings, and a part of him is alive in it. By this
>way he is able to control the Black Riders and to known (at every moment) what
>happens ...
I don't think Sauron knew immediately what was going on with the Nazgul,
they still had to report back didn't they? Also, I don't think he even
controlled them directly. They still had decision making abilities,
constrained only that these decisions were made with Sauron in mind. After
all, why have a Nazgul in charge of the Nine (the former Witchking) if all
thoughts are coming directly from Sauron?
Cheers,
Mark
Joe Stella
>First off, were the Nazgul's actually wearing the rings after they were
>drawn to Sauron by them eventually. I was always under the impression
>that Sauron was holding the nine rings of Men and the remaining 4 or 5 of
>Dwarves in the dark Tower. the Nazguls had already faded over so they
>didn't need the rings to be on the other side.
But how did they stay alive? They were just mortal men, so I would think