There's some irony here. Aragorn was feigning weakness and ensnarement in a ploy to deceive Sauron. This is similar to the way Sauron feigned weakness and exploited his ensnarement by Ar-Pharazon. One of many instances where the history of middle earth exhibits rhyming or cyclical recurrence.
In my book on Tolkien (found on the Valar Guild Website) I discuss Tolkien's penchant for cyclicity in the development of his themes within the LoTR. At one point, I consider the possibility that Tolkien was familiar with the work of Cesar Franck, the master of the cyclic idiom within French symphonic music. Frank's symphonic work was more popular in Tolkien's time than it is now, but I wondered if the idea of repetitive development of theme within a larger body of work was something that resonated with Tolkien. I cannot be sure, of course, but I believe that Tolkien, a professor of English for over 20 years at Oxford (1925-45) probably attended concerts at the University, or other places, and heard some of Franck's music, and Franck's use of the cyclic form resonated with Tolkien. You can find this discussion on the Valar Guild Website, under my penname of Sandalf13.
Also reminds me of the First Age, because Morgoth didn't understand forgiveness, he couldn't imagine it in others. Sauron would never sacrifice himself for another so he could never image Aragorn doing it.
Sauron's greatest fear would be Aragorn using the ring of power and realizing Boromir's great dream - a great empire composed of a great confederation of peoples: "The Ring would give me power of Command. How I would drive the hosts of Mordor, and all men would flock to my banner!’ Boromir strode up and down, speaking ever more loudly. Almost he seemed to have forgotten Frodo, while his talk dwelt on walls and weapons, and the mustering of men; and he drew plans for great alliances and glorious victories to be; and he cast down Mordor, and became himself a mighty king, benevolent and wise." But Aragorn is so honored and of such high presence that he won the alliance with Rohan, united Gondor, brought the Dúnedain from the North, and made the ghosts of Dunharrow fulfill their oath. All this with diplomacy, courage and honor. And without the One Ring!
Sauron's biggest weakness was the deadly sin of pride. It made him underestimate Huan the hound, underestimate the Númenoreans, thinking Eru wouldn't sink Númenor and that he could overpower the last alliance. He thought after six thousand years of attrition and wittling down elves, men and Dwarves. He would be on the cusp of conquering Middle Earth. He constantly thought things were impossible, eg someone making it to the gate of Mount Doom. Had he been less overconfident, he might of got back his greatest weapon and bane.
There was a lot of personal hatred involved, Sauron has long and personal grudge against Aragorn's family going way back. Aragorn is the descendant of Beren and Luthien who defeated him in the First Age. He is also descendant of Elendil the leader of the faithful who stood against Sauron when he was corrupting Numenor and helped defeat him in the War of the Last Alliance during the Second Age. Further more Aragorn is the descendent of Isildur who cut the ring from Sauron's hand and was High King of Gondor and Arnor, the two kingdoms Sauron spent centuries trying to destroy in the Third Age. In all three ages Aragorn's family has defied Sauron in some way so when Aragorn revealed himself it probably had an effect on him.
I recently reread the books (finished last week) and one thing that confuses me is the bit with the Watchers. You would think the Watchers crying several times as the Hobbits slip through would alert Sauron, especially when the Watchers shattered the final time and the Nazgûl arrived. Kind of a very big obvious warning to blatantly ignore
The way to explain this is the Orc that escaped and brought the mithril coat and sword to Sauron (Shagrat?) suspected there was either a High Numenorean or Elflord on the loose, either of whom could in theory have beaten the Watchers. But either would have been very obvious wandering through Mordor spying, so Sauron assumed they would turn up eventually. At this point he was convinced Aragorn had the Ring.
@@ciaranirvine I mean still that’s a big threat to flat out ignore, and not actively pursue. An enemy has pierced your defenses. “Turn up eventually” is just bad military doctrine when internal sabotage or worse can happen. And sure he assumed Aragorn had the Ring but this event takes place March 14-15, which is when the Battle of Pelennor Fields happen. Aragorn is still a ways off before he and his Host comes to the Black Gates. Also aren’t the Nazgûl always drawn to the Ring and doesn’t Sauron or the Eye look for it when someone uses it? Sam uses the Ring several times very close to Mordor, once in Shelob’s Lair and again throughout Cirith Ungol. I would’ve thought the Nazgul always being drawn to it would’ve sensed someone wearing the Ring in their home turf, especially when it slipped quite literally under it’s nose when the Watchers broke
@@Lawrence_Talbot Yeah but Aragorn revealed himself to Sauron in the Palantir in Rohan. It's subtle but there's a night after Isengard where there are strange lights in the (Hornburg?) tower and Aragorn looks very haggard the next morning after seizing control of the Orthanc palantir. That's why Sauron panics and attacks Minis Tirith early. And still almost won that battle, if it wasn't for the Rohirrim and Aragorn pulling the Army of the Dead out of his back pocket to take the Corsair fleet. So after the events of Cirith Ungol all Sauron knows is there is probably a High Numenorean of Gondor or an Elf wandering around. What can one spy do? The orcs will stumble across them eventually, or if it is an Elf of power like Glorfindel he himself will eventually sniff them out if they reveal their power. It's just one spy, no big deal. When he is focused on Aragorn - and shortly after Cirith Ungol Sam sees one of the Nazgul bringing tidings of the death of the WitchKing, so that's around the same time as Pelennor. Some random spy sneaking around the Morgai isn't an issue when Sauron thinks he has a Ringbearer to deal with. Nobody noticing Sam using the Ring - or Frodo using the power of the Ring to curse Gollum on the slopes of Mt Doom - are definite plotholes though, I agree with you there. It seems like use of the Ring gets detected at the speed of plot :)
Short answer becose pipin and aragorn used palantir and sauron was thinking that only men influenced by the ring would march on moramon (he also was thinking that nobobody would want to destroy the ring)
Both Aragorn and Gandalf knew Sauron did not have the Ring when the Mouth of Sauron confronted them. If Sauron had the Ring, the Mouth would have boasted about it. Since he did not, Frodo and Sam were still free and still had the Ring. If one had been captured, Sauron would have quickly found out their plan and been search Mordor for the Ring and not bother with the tiny army at the Gates.
He thought Aragorn had the ring. Sauron couldn't imagine anyone refusing it, or anyone being foolish enough to march on Mordor with such a disadvantaged force.
Sauron really should have included a "Find My Ring" feature in the One Ring, even if he never intended to ever take it off. Having designed it solely for his own use, he had never anticipated losing it. So, when he did lose it, the result was millennia of wondering where the heck it was. Also, he knew nothing of Hobbits other than that they were short. So it would have seemed logical to him that Saruman, and then Aragorn, could have simply taken the Ring from the Hobbit ringbearer. In Sauron's worldview, the strong take what they desire from the weak.
Because when Sauron created the ring he never believed that a hobbit from The Shire could have the ring, walk towards Mordor, reach mt Doom and destroy it. He was too much confident about his power.
What an emotional rollercoaster for Aragorn to think he has failed, only to notice victory, but also for Gandalf. Gandalf had been in Middle-Earth for 2,000 years, and had been carefully lining up Sauron's defeat as best as he could during that entire time. But after talking with the Mouth of Sauron, he must be thinking 2,000 years of work was now up in smoke, and all his efforts were meaningless. Then Sauron gets defeated, he must have gone from insane depression to unbelievable joy in less than a second.
It’s called reserves. One does not send everything. There were 3 theaters of war happening at the same time. Gondor, Lothlorien, and Erebor. One needs also to defend a home base in case of betrayals, uprisings, or ambushes
There was the Minas Morgul army that attacked Minas Tirith, described by Gandalf as only one finger of the black hand - and which would have won if they were only up against Denethor. The army from Rhun that attacked Dale & Erebor, and almost won (probably would have won the siege, eventually). The repeated assaults on Lorien and Thranduil from Dol Guldur (same, especially if he'd regained the Ring later). And still Sauron had massive reserves in Mordor, with endless reserves in the East. There was no eventual military victory
Reserves. He probably spent the last couple centuries breeding up massive armies in Mordor, Minas Morgul and Dol Guldur. He also had control of large armies of Easterlings and Haradrim. So he sent out armies to battle his foes while keeping reserves ready to deal with unexpected outcomes. Also of all the armies the only pure Orc army was the one that attacked Lothlorien and the Mirkwood Elves from Dol Guldur. The army attacking Erebor and Dale was primarily Easterling, and the army that besieged Minas Tirith was a mixed force of Orcs, Easterlings, Haradrim and (as planned) the Corsairs of Umbar(likely Black Numenoreans) With his allies he could afford to keep significant forces in reserve, which he then used on Aragorn. Further the armies weren't really getting pounded. The Easterlings had basically driven the Men of Dale and the Dwarves into Erebor and were laying siege to it. The Elves were able to repel the assaults from Dol Guldur, however they kept them occupied and their resistance would've been for naught if the Ring hadn't been destroyed. Yes he did lose an army in the Battle of Pelennor Fields, yet he had plenty of forces in reserve that he could just shrug off the loss of the army and its commander as painful but ultimately survivable.
The thing I don't get is that, when Frodo claims the Ring at Sammath Naur, Sauron instantly knows what is going on. The Ring is part of him, tied to his soul. Why wouldn't he know if Aragorn had actually claimed the Ring back in Rohan? Sure you can say Frodo is much closer geographically but - if someone claims ownership of half your soul and you are a Maiar, wouldn't you know despite the distance? That always seemed the main plothole to me. Sauron should have known Aragorn was bluffing, because nobody had actually Claimed the Ring yet. Willing to hear counter-arguments :)
It's difficult to make arguments about one way or another, as the "rules" are left mostly unexplained by Tolkien. The only thing I'd say is that it's not implausible to me that Sauron would know almost nothing about the Ring being taken up outside of Mordor, and almost everything about it being taken up inside Sammath Naur. YMMV.
@@tiltskillet7085 OK but... Sam used it a little bit a few times at Cirith Ungol, and Frodo explicitly used it when he cursed Gollum half-way up Mt Doom. So maybe he can only sense it when someone explicitly claims it and lays claim to its power. But that does not explain why he would have been distracted by Aragorn. Unless the Ring had passive effects that would allow Aragorn to be a threat without actively claiming it...? I realise we are filling in plot holes in an 80-year-old book, it is fun to speculate though :)
Apart from Sauron's increased awareness in Mordor and the special nature of Sammath Naur as a place tied to Sauron and the Ring, there's also the issue of Sauron's unclear knowledge. I don't think Sauron would necessarily know how mortals claiming the Ring would go, if he would be alerted or not. And there's a difference between using the Ring and claiming it as your own - the latter would likely require wresting it from Sauron's ownership to work. Tolkien mentioned in a letter that Gandalf might be able to defeat Sauron by claiming the Ring successfully, severing Sauron's connection to the power in the ring and thus making him fall as if the ring was destroyed.
@@ciaranirvine I suspect distance is a factor. Furthermore, Aragorn never tried to claim the One Ring like Frodo did; which of course would have been impossible for Aragorn to do. Sauron concluded Aragorn had the One Ring based on Aragorn's other actions, such as taking control of the Orthanc Stone and leading a small army out from Minas Tirith to the Black Gate.
I personally prefer the film's destruction of the ring where frodo and gollum fall together while fighting for the ring rather than gollum being just a clumsy silly little fellow that just trips over
Both are fitting in their very different takes on what hold the Ring actually has on you. Tolkien's version is the Ring empowering all you most prideful, tyrannical and self serving impulses, book Frodo never trusted Smeagol/Gollum for a second but did pity him in understanding what evil the Ring twisted you into while at the same time ordering Gollum to cast himself into the fire if he touched him ever again... right before Gollum bit his finger off... so the One Ring largely destroyed itself by 'holding' Gollum to that. Jackson's version is like every addictive drug turning you into a strung out wastrel and clouding your thinking at the same time, hence why Frodo trusted Gollum over Sam and after getting his finger bitten off goes to wrestle Gollum for his Happy Ring like two j*nkies going after the last needle.
in the thumbnail hat sword looks WAY too long. Sauron couldn't understand people not acting solely for others. he only understood motivations like greed and self aggrandizement and in all honesty there was a lot of evidence to back that view BUT he couldn' understand self sacrifice for a high cause. He had to ask 'what was in it for them?' and couldn't understand giving of themselves for others.
Because he only has one eye, thus being unable to keep an track of what's happening in other parts of the world when he's also keeping an eye on Aragorn
Sam had the ring and accidentally used it unknowingly to clear the skies above the battle. This confirmes saurons incorrect suspicion that aragorn had the ring at the battle.
“All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when we are able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must appear inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.” Quoted by Sun Tzu in Sun Tzu's The Art of War Nuff said.
Ok so everyone pretty much nails it here.. Since he thought so highly of himself and justified himself killing and enslaving others for himself, he could never imagine that others were any different from him, and would do the same as he did in his place. "..that we would wish to cast him down and have NO ONE in his place, is not a thought that occurs to his mind." And a good thing too, or the ring would have been found by Sauron, as he pretended when his "mouth" presented Frodo's things at the black gate.
Sauron sensing people wearing the ring was only a movie thing. It wasn't in the books. In the books, wearing the ring makes you light up like a beacon to the ring wraiths, making you easy to spot with their eyes
@@hebercluff1665 Well but it's more complicated; In the books sauron was going to know (And knew) right away if sam or frodo put on the ring in mordor. And while sauron can't see frodo immediately if he puts on the ring outside mordor there is still numerous scenes where it seems clear that putting on the ring would draw his attention. When frodo put on the ring and claimed it and used its power in mount doom sauron obviously knew but I think he would have some sense if aragorn were using the ring forcefully in gondor as well. Even the nazgul had a sense when the ring was near and they didn't have that sense when shadowing aragorn's march to mordar. I think the only argument for it all working is if Sauron is somehow not really aware of what he should be able to detect.
Honestly, I love all your videos and your style, but this is one of the most obvious/boring topics that seem pretty clear in both books and movies. I wonder if we could do more “hypothetical” videos here, to explore and go down a rabbit hole? I feel the 10 minute videos and your style would be great at that, especially since you know the more obscure stuff and other factors.
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There's some irony here. Aragorn was feigning weakness and ensnarement in a ploy to deceive Sauron. This is similar to the way Sauron feigned weakness and exploited his ensnarement by Ar-Pharazon. One of many instances where the history of middle earth exhibits rhyming or cyclical recurrence.
In my book on Tolkien (found on the Valar Guild Website) I discuss Tolkien's penchant for cyclicity in the development of his themes within the LoTR. At one point, I consider the possibility that Tolkien was familiar with the work of Cesar Franck, the master of the cyclic idiom within French symphonic music. Frank's symphonic work was more popular in Tolkien's time than it is now, but I wondered if the idea of repetitive development of theme within a larger body of work was something that resonated with Tolkien. I cannot be sure, of course, but I believe that Tolkien, a professor of English for over 20 years at Oxford (1925-45) probably attended concerts at the University, or other places, and heard some of Franck's music, and Franck's use of the cyclic form resonated with Tolkien. You can find this discussion on the Valar Guild Website, under my penname of Sandalf13.
Also reminds me of the First Age, because Morgoth didn't understand forgiveness, he couldn't imagine it in others. Sauron would never sacrifice himself for another so he could never image Aragorn doing it.
Sauron's greatest fear would be Aragorn using the ring of power and realizing Boromir's great dream - a great empire composed of a great confederation of peoples:
"The Ring would give me power of Command. How I would drive the hosts of Mordor, and all men would flock to my banner!’ Boromir strode up and down, speaking ever more loudly. Almost he seemed to have forgotten Frodo, while his talk dwelt on walls and weapons, and the mustering of men; and he drew plans for great alliances and glorious victories to be; and he cast down Mordor, and became himself a mighty king, benevolent and wise."
But Aragorn is so honored and of such high presence that he won the alliance with Rohan, united Gondor, brought the Dúnedain from the North, and made the ghosts of Dunharrow fulfill their oath. All this with diplomacy, courage and honor. And without the One Ring!
Sauron's biggest weakness was the deadly sin of pride. It made him underestimate Huan the hound, underestimate the Númenoreans, thinking Eru wouldn't sink Númenor and that he could overpower the last alliance. He thought after six thousand years of attrition and wittling down elves, men and Dwarves. He would be on the cusp of conquering Middle Earth. He constantly thought things were impossible, eg someone making it to the gate of Mount Doom.
Had he been less overconfident, he might of got back his greatest weapon and bane.
I don't think anyone realized how powerful the Númenoreans had become, including the Númenoreans themselves.
There was a lot of personal hatred involved, Sauron has long and personal grudge against Aragorn's family going way back.
Aragorn is the descendant of Beren and Luthien who defeated him in the First Age.
He is also descendant of Elendil the leader of the faithful who stood against Sauron when he was corrupting Numenor and helped defeat him in the War of the Last Alliance during the Second Age.
Further more Aragorn is the descendent of Isildur who cut the ring from Sauron's hand and was High King of Gondor and Arnor, the two kingdoms Sauron spent centuries trying to destroy in the Third Age.
In all three ages Aragorn's family has defied Sauron in some way so when Aragorn revealed himself it probably had an effect on him.
I recently reread the books (finished last week) and one thing that confuses me is the bit with the Watchers. You would think the Watchers crying several times as the Hobbits slip through would alert Sauron, especially when the Watchers shattered the final time and the Nazgûl arrived. Kind of a very big obvious warning to blatantly ignore
The way to explain this is the Orc that escaped and brought the mithril coat and sword to Sauron (Shagrat?) suspected there was either a High Numenorean or Elflord on the loose, either of whom could in theory have beaten the Watchers. But either would have been very obvious wandering through Mordor spying, so Sauron assumed they would turn up eventually. At this point he was convinced Aragorn had the Ring.
@@ciaranirvine I mean still that’s a big threat to flat out ignore, and not actively pursue. An enemy has pierced your defenses. “Turn up eventually” is just bad military doctrine when internal sabotage or worse can happen. And sure he assumed Aragorn had the Ring but this event takes place March 14-15, which is when the Battle of Pelennor Fields happen. Aragorn is still a ways off before he and his Host comes to the Black Gates.
Also aren’t the Nazgûl always drawn to the Ring and doesn’t Sauron or the Eye look for it when someone uses it? Sam uses the Ring several times very close to Mordor, once in Shelob’s Lair and again throughout Cirith Ungol. I would’ve thought the Nazgul always being drawn to it would’ve sensed someone wearing the Ring in their home turf, especially when it slipped quite literally under it’s nose when the Watchers broke
@@Lawrence_Talbot Yeah but Aragorn revealed himself to Sauron in the Palantir in Rohan. It's subtle but there's a night after Isengard where there are strange lights in the (Hornburg?) tower and Aragorn looks very haggard the next morning after seizing control of the Orthanc palantir. That's why Sauron panics and attacks Minis Tirith early. And still almost won that battle, if it wasn't for the Rohirrim and Aragorn pulling the Army of the Dead out of his back pocket to take the Corsair fleet.
So after the events of Cirith Ungol all Sauron knows is there is probably a High Numenorean of Gondor or an Elf wandering around. What can one spy do? The orcs will stumble across them eventually, or if it is an Elf of power like Glorfindel he himself will eventually sniff them out if they reveal their power. It's just one spy, no big deal. When he is focused on Aragorn - and shortly after Cirith Ungol Sam sees one of the Nazgul
bringing tidings of the death of the WitchKing, so that's around the same time as Pelennor. Some random spy sneaking around the Morgai isn't an issue when Sauron thinks he has a Ringbearer to deal with.
Nobody noticing Sam using the Ring - or Frodo using the power of the Ring to curse Gollum on the slopes of Mt Doom - are definite plotholes though, I agree with you there. It seems like use of the Ring gets detected at the speed of plot :)
Sauron didn’t ignore it he just assumed they were a stealth /spy mission and important but not that important.
He did have scouts looking for the spy, recall the two orcs that were arguing before one shot the other.
Short answer becose pipin and aragorn used palantir and sauron was thinking that only men influenced by the ring would march on moramon (he also was thinking that nobobody would want to destroy the ring)
Both Aragorn and Gandalf knew Sauron did not have the Ring when the Mouth of Sauron confronted them. If Sauron had the Ring, the Mouth would have boasted about it. Since he did not, Frodo and Sam were still free and still had the Ring. If one had been captured, Sauron would have quickly found out their plan and been search Mordor for the Ring and not bother with the tiny army at the Gates.
He thought Aragorn had the ring. Sauron couldn't imagine anyone refusing it, or anyone being foolish enough to march on Mordor with such a disadvantaged force.
Excellent video! You answered a question I had. Thank you!
Sauron really should have included a "Find My Ring" feature in the One Ring, even if he never intended to ever take it off. Having designed it solely for his own use, he had never anticipated losing it. So, when he did lose it, the result was millennia of wondering where the heck it was. Also, he knew nothing of Hobbits other than that they were short. So it would have seemed logical to him that Saruman, and then Aragorn, could have simply taken the Ring from the Hobbit ringbearer. In Sauron's worldview, the strong take what they desire from the weak.
Sauron thought Aragorn had the Ring, so he was on a timecrunch. The longer he lets Aragorn keep the ring, the more powerful he will get.
Because when Sauron created the ring he never believed that a hobbit from The Shire could have the ring, walk towards Mordor, reach mt Doom and destroy it. He was too much confident about his power.
Best video you’ve done and best explanation of the ending of the lotr over seen.
What an emotional rollercoaster for Aragorn to think he has failed, only to notice victory, but also for Gandalf. Gandalf had been in Middle-Earth for 2,000 years, and had been carefully lining up Sauron's defeat as best as he could during that entire time. But after talking with the Mouth of Sauron, he must be thinking 2,000 years of work was now up in smoke, and all his efforts were meaningless. Then Sauron gets defeated, he must have gone from insane depression to unbelievable joy in less than a second.
Let's talk about troop numbers, why was such a large army at Mordor when the other orcs groups were getting pounded at the other battles.
It’s called reserves.
One does not send everything. There were 3 theaters of war happening at the same time. Gondor, Lothlorien, and Erebor.
One needs also to defend a home base in case of betrayals, uprisings, or ambushes
There was the Minas Morgul army that attacked Minas Tirith, described by Gandalf as only one finger of the black hand - and which would have won if they were only up against Denethor. The army from Rhun that attacked Dale & Erebor, and almost won (probably would have won the siege, eventually). The repeated assaults on Lorien and Thranduil from Dol Guldur (same, especially if he'd regained the Ring later). And still Sauron had massive reserves in Mordor, with endless reserves in the East. There was no eventual military victory
Reserves and supplies
Reserves. He probably spent the last couple centuries breeding up massive armies in Mordor, Minas Morgul and Dol Guldur. He also had control of large armies of Easterlings and Haradrim. So he sent out armies to battle his foes while keeping reserves ready to deal with unexpected outcomes.
Also of all the armies the only pure Orc army was the one that attacked Lothlorien and the Mirkwood Elves from Dol Guldur. The army attacking Erebor and Dale was primarily Easterling, and the army that besieged Minas Tirith was a mixed force of Orcs, Easterlings, Haradrim and (as planned) the Corsairs of Umbar(likely Black Numenoreans) With his allies he could afford to keep significant forces in reserve, which he then used on Aragorn.
Further the armies weren't really getting pounded. The Easterlings had basically driven the Men of Dale and the Dwarves into Erebor and were laying siege to it. The Elves were able to repel the assaults from Dol Guldur, however they kept them occupied and their resistance would've been for naught if the Ring hadn't been destroyed. Yes he did lose an army in the Battle of Pelennor Fields, yet he had plenty of forces in reserve that he could just shrug off the loss of the army and its commander as painful but ultimately survivable.
The thing I don't get is that, when Frodo claims the Ring at Sammath Naur, Sauron instantly knows what is going on. The Ring is part of him, tied to his soul. Why wouldn't he know if Aragorn had actually claimed the Ring back in Rohan? Sure you can say Frodo is much closer geographically but - if someone claims ownership of half your soul and you are a Maiar, wouldn't you know despite the distance? That always seemed the main plothole to me. Sauron should have known Aragorn was bluffing, because nobody had actually Claimed the Ring yet. Willing to hear counter-arguments :)
It's difficult to make arguments about one way or another, as the "rules" are left mostly unexplained by Tolkien. The only thing I'd say is that it's not implausible to me that Sauron would know almost nothing about the Ring being taken up outside of Mordor, and almost everything about it being taken up inside Sammath Naur. YMMV.
@@tiltskillet7085 OK but... Sam used it a little bit a few times at Cirith Ungol, and Frodo explicitly used it when he cursed Gollum half-way up Mt Doom.
So maybe he can only sense it when someone explicitly claims it and lays claim to its power. But that does not explain why he would have been distracted by Aragorn. Unless the Ring had passive effects that would allow Aragorn to be a threat without actively claiming it...?
I realise we are filling in plot holes in an 80-year-old book, it is fun to speculate though :)
Apart from Sauron's increased awareness in Mordor and the special nature of Sammath Naur as a place tied to Sauron and the Ring, there's also the issue of Sauron's unclear knowledge. I don't think Sauron would necessarily know how mortals claiming the Ring would go, if he would be alerted or not.
And there's a difference between using the Ring and claiming it as your own - the latter would likely require wresting it from Sauron's ownership to work. Tolkien mentioned in a letter that Gandalf might be able to defeat Sauron by claiming the Ring successfully, severing Sauron's connection to the power in the ring and thus making him fall as if the ring was destroyed.
@@ciaranirvine I suspect distance is a factor. Furthermore, Aragorn never tried to claim the One Ring like Frodo did; which of course would have been impossible for Aragorn to do. Sauron concluded Aragorn had the One Ring based on Aragorn's other actions, such as taking control of the Orthanc Stone and leading a small army out from Minas Tirith to the Black Gate.
I personally prefer the film's destruction of the ring where frodo and gollum fall together while fighting for the ring rather than gollum being just a clumsy silly little fellow that just trips over
Both are fitting in their very different takes on what hold the Ring actually has on you. Tolkien's version is the Ring empowering all you most prideful, tyrannical and self serving impulses, book Frodo never trusted Smeagol/Gollum for a second but did pity him in understanding what evil the Ring twisted you into while at the same time ordering Gollum to cast himself into the fire if he touched him ever again... right before Gollum bit his finger off... so the One Ring largely destroyed itself by 'holding' Gollum to that.
Jackson's version is like every addictive drug turning you into a strung out wastrel and clouding your thinking at the same time, hence why Frodo trusted Gollum over Sam and after getting his finger bitten off goes to wrestle Gollum for his Happy Ring like two j*nkies going after the last needle.
The trap was set primarily by Gandalf not Aragorn.
When you're a dark lord and you dont know exactly whats going on, just attack. Come out swinging and hope for the best baby!
Hi Darth!
*Me:* "At least I'm wiser than Sauron."
*Everyone else:* "At least we're wiser than Sauron."
*Sauron:* "At least I'm wiser than Morgoth."
in the thumbnail hat sword looks WAY too long.
Sauron couldn't understand people not acting solely for others. he only understood motivations like greed and self aggrandizement and in all honesty there was a lot of evidence to back that view BUT he couldn' understand self sacrifice for a high cause. He had to ask 'what was in it for them?' and couldn't understand giving of themselves for others.
It’s an appropriately sized sword for someone who is over 7 feet tall, as was the original wielder Elendil.
best tolkien lore cahnnel, very cool concept for a video.
Showing Anduril through the Palantir was a huge middlefinger to Sauron after that it was Personal.
Because he only has one eye, thus being unable to keep an track of what's happening in other parts of the world when he's also keeping an eye on Aragorn
So that's why Gandalf wanted Merry and Pippin in Fellowship - to be decoys to distract Sauron from focusing on Frodo. Mystery solved!
Pure effing hubris
Sam had the ring and accidentally used it unknowingly to clear the skies above the battle.
This confirmes saurons incorrect suspicion that aragorn had the ring at the battle.
This made me think, why didn't Sauron send a nazgul with, or after, Grishnak's team?
“All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when we are able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must appear inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.”
Quoted by Sun Tzu in Sun Tzu's The Art of War
Nuff said.
Gimli would have thrown the ring into Mount Doom; giving it to Frodo was Gandalfs biggest mistake
Ok so everyone pretty much nails it here.. Since he thought so highly of himself and justified himself killing and enslaving others for himself, he could never imagine that others were any different from him, and would do the same as he did in his place. "..that we would wish to cast him down and have NO ONE in his place, is not a thought that occurs to his mind." And a good thing too, or the ring would have been found by Sauron, as he pretended when his "mouth" presented Frodo's things at the black gate.
Or remains a little weird that Sauron didn’t wonder why he couldn’t sense Aragorn using the ring all those times.
Sauron sensing people wearing the ring was only a movie thing. It wasn't in the books. In the books, wearing the ring makes you light up like a beacon to the ring wraiths, making you easy to spot with their eyes
@@hebercluff1665 Well but it's more complicated; In the books sauron was going to know (And knew) right away if sam or frodo put on the ring in mordor. And while sauron can't see frodo immediately if he puts on the ring outside mordor there is still numerous scenes where it seems clear that putting on the ring would draw his attention. When frodo put on the ring and claimed it and used its power in mount doom sauron obviously knew but I think he would have some sense if aragorn were using the ring forcefully in gondor as well. Even the nazgul had a sense when the ring was near and they didn't have that sense when shadowing aragorn's march to mordar. I think the only argument for it all working is if Sauron is somehow not really aware of what he should be able to detect.
Anyone who needs this explained to them hasn't read the book.
Correction: Gandalf’s trap.
Honestly, I love all your videos and your style, but this is one of the most obvious/boring topics that seem pretty clear in both books and movies.
I wonder if we could do more “hypothetical” videos here, to explore and go down a rabbit hole? I feel the 10 minute videos and your style would be great at that, especially since you know the more obscure stuff and other factors.
Moral of the story: Never trust a half-ling who does not partake in the smoking of half-ling leaf 🍂
Well in the case of the Rings of Power, he got killed by his own Orcs so he set up a precedent for his own destruction...🤣
Cuz hes a dummy
First like And First comment.... Nice
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