An adaptation can often become the most iconic version of a story. The number of people who have read J. R. R. Tolkien’sLord of the Ringsbooks pales in comparison to the number of those who’ve seen Peter Jackson’s movies. One of the unique side effects of this reality is that some elements of the books exist very differently in the cultural imagination. Sauron is one of the strongest examples. Many simply picture the Great Eye or Eye of Sauron, but that iconic symbol is more complicated in the source material.
One of the things that helpedLord of the Ringssurvive the ageswas its grasp of poetry. It isn’t anything like most fantasy novels. The prose is dynamic and unique, but often a bit non-specific. This leaves some fans frustrated, as they devote a ton of time trying to suss out specific details without much cogent evidence. Peter Jackson struggled against that reality while trying to depict the books in a visual medium. This caused several clashes that leave many details a little unclear.
What is the Eye of Sauron?
The Eye of Sauron is a complicated lore detail fromLord of the Rings. It has multiple definitions, but the films are much clearer about their presentation.
What is the Eye of Sauron in Peter Jackson’sLord of the Ringsfilms?
In the movies, the Eye of Sauronis a literal flaming eye that watches over the lands of Mordor. The films imply that Sauron lost all of his physical form in the War of the Ring. The burning eye is the worldly manifestation of his soul. At times, it casts a red spotlight over the land, like a floodlight searching for escaped prisoners in a jail yard. The Eye of Sauron sits in the Window of the Eye, which is the curved spire at the top of the topmost tower of Barad-dûr. The Eye appears in Frodo’s mind several times, tormenting him from hundreds of miles away. A scene in theextended edition ofThe Return of the Kingallows the camera to zoom deeply into the Eye of Sauron, revealing the Dark Lord’s humanoid form in the middle of the burning shape. This bizarre reveal counters the otherwise logical suggestion that the Eye is Sauron’s physical form. This leaves the question of its physical makeup open to interpretation.
What is the Eye of Sauron in J. R. R. Tolkien’sLord of the Ringsbooks?
The Eye of Sauron is more symbolic in the books. It refers generally to Sauron’s will, his network of spies, and his seemingly omnipotent vision.His minions, the Orcs, have shields emblazoned with a large red eye. That version of the eye is heraldry, demonstrating his power through his branding. The books rarely depict an actual flaming eye, but it does come up a couple of times. The difference is that the films exclusively use the flaming eyeball interpretation, while the books depict him as something like a phantom. The books describe his four-fingered hand at one point. He’s a shadowy, ghost-like remnant of his former body. The flaming eyeball primarily comes up in two scenes. Frodo and Sam see it peaking out of the Window of the Eye, which is an actual glass window on the aforementioned tower of Barad-dûr. The other notable example involves Frodolooking into Galadriel’s mirror. He saw the psychological manifestation of the mental warfare Sauron waged against his enemies, including Galadriel. The book describes it like this:
In the abyss there appeared a single Eye that slowly grew, until it filled nearly all the Mirror. So terrible was it that Frodo stood rooted, unable to cry out or to withdraw his gaze. The Eye was rimmed with fire, but was itself glazed, yellow as a cat’s, watchful and intent, and the black slit of its pupil opened on a pit, a window into nothing.
How was the Eye of Sauron formed?
There isn’t much of an origin story for the Eye of Sauron. He loses his physical form, becoming a wayward spirit without a physical shape. In the first film, his body dies whenIsildur hacks off his finger. The books depict his physical death by drowning when the god Eru IIlúvatar reshaped the world to defeat him. He sent Númenor into the sea, killing Sauron and everyone else nearby. Sauron’s violent drowning didn’t destroy him forever, but it did rob him of his body. This left him unable to take on new forms to disguise himself. Infiltration via new identities was his most popular tactic before Númenor fell. Without a body, he had to spend ages recovering from Eru’s attack. He would return some time later in the questionable form of the book. He would remain in Barad-dûr, but he gained the ability tocast shadows over Middle-earthduring the Third Age. His Eye was a representation of his malice and hatred.
What Is The Purpose Of The Eye Of Sauron?
The Eye of Sauron seems to be a mental weapon. Enemies of Sauron regularly describe the Eye constantly seeking to invade their minds.Gandalf does battle withthe Eye of Mordor at some point. The process wares him out, but he remains capable enough to resist. Frodo and Galadriel both feel the Eye peering into them. It’s always looking for them. The Eye strikes fear into the hearts of all those who experience it. Meeting its gaze can cause weakness and horror, but even those who don’t look at it can feel its intense hostility. It is a symbol that represents Sauron’s omniscience and almighty power. It creates an oppressive atmosphere of darkness, both by making armies more threatening and by digging into enemy minds.
The Eye of Sauron is a great image. Even in the films, it does exactly what Sauron wants it to do. After he lost his physical form, he decided to dispense with the effort it took to deceive others. Now, hewants to make his intentionsand abilities crystal clear. The Eye of Sauron is meant to see and be seen. The unease it creates in every onlooker is the point.
