As a long-time gamer and Tolkien enthusiast who has spent countless hours immersed in Middle Earth, I must say that the recent revelations about the Unseen world in “The Rings of Power” series have truly piqued my interest. The concept of mortals being able to access this spiritual realm through powerful rings is a fascinating twist on the original lore.
Warning: This article contains spoilers for “The Rings of Power” Season 2, Episode 5
During its second season, “The Rings of Power” has gained momentum. Unlike the first season where the creation of the rings was slow and out of sequence, halfway through the second season, all the Dwarven Rings of Power have been crafted, and it’s becoming apparent that the Nine Rings for mortal men, destined to bring death, are on their way. In Episode 5, as Celebrimbor’s blacksmiths work tirelessly to shape the rings under Annatar Lord of Gifts, a scene unfolds where Mirdania (played by Amelia Kenworthy) accidentally finds out that the ring she holds has made her invisible.
The apprentice elf-smith appears petrified upon removing the trinket, as she recounts a similar event. “I found myself somewhere like this,” she says, “but enveloped in mist and shadow.” Mirdania continues by describing a scene with flames reminiscent of a forge and a towering figure with flaming skin who approached her with merciless and timeless eyes. This unseen realm is directly linked to Tolkien’s lore and essentially represents the spiritual plane.
Immediately following her revelation, Mirdania finds herself conversing privately with Annatar. Although much of his speech is misleading, Annatar honestly explains that objects seem clear and real in this place, emphasizing the existence of beings ranging from pure light to deep shadow. This idea of a realm inhabited by radiant entities recurs frequently throughout Tolkien’s works, serving as a symbol for both virtuous and sinister forces. How about we delve into some illustrations, if you’re interested?
Good examples of the Unseen world of Arda
It’s not surprising that J.R.R. Tolkien, a devout Christian and man of faith, imbued his fictional world, Arda (or Middle-earth), with an air of the divine and spiritual. This transcendent aspect is frequently embodied as a realm beyond our tangible one, which is typically inhabited by most creatures. Remarkably, the Elves are capable of existing in both realms simultaneously.
For example, during the pursuit of Uruk-hai and Orcs across Rohan in “The Two Towers,” Tolkien describes that while Aragorn and Gimli are drained, Legolas moves as lightly as ever, barely making a mark on the grass with his footsteps. He also mentions that Legolas can rest even while running, suggesting he could almost be sleeping (though not in the human sense), letting his mind wander in the unusual paths of Elvish dreams, all while keeping his eyes open in this world’s light.
In J.R.R. Tolkien’s book “The Fellowship of the Ring,” we receive a clearer portrayal of this hidden world of radiance. As the Nazgûl pursue Frodo Baggins across the Ford en route to Rivendell, Frodo is inadvertently slipping into this unseen realm due to his dagger wound and the One Ring he possesses. Elf-lord Glorfindel is present as well. Later, the Ring-bearer recounts his experience to Gandalf, stating, “I believe I glimpsed a radiant figure that didn’t fade like the others. Could that have been Glorfindel?” To which Gandalf responds, “Indeed, you caught a fleeting glimpse of him as he exists beyond: one of the powerful among the Firstborn.” Just prior to this, Gandalf had mentioned, “They are unafraid of the Ringwraiths, for those who inhabit the Blessed Realm coexist in both worlds, and they possess considerable power against both visible and invisible forces.
In simpler terms, “The Blessed Realm,” also known as the “Undying Lands” beyond the seas, is where the spiritual overseers of the universe, the Valar, reside. These ethereal beings exclusively inhabit the realm of the unseen and must consciously manifest themselves in the physical world. In J.R.R Tolkien’s “The Silmarillion,” it is described that the Valar took on tangible forms but do not need them for their existence. They can walk among us, yet we may struggle to perceive them clearly. Characters like Gandalf are representatives of this spiritual race who have taken physical form.
Other instances of the Unseen world
In J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Silmarillion,” we find instances where both Elvish and Valar realms depict the unseen world, but there are also ominous examples that align with Mirdania’s experiences. For instance, it describes the fate of the Nazgûl as they lose control over their rings:
In the book “Two Towers,” when Sam dons the One Ring, he enters a world shrouded in a wraith-like darkness, much like being enveloped in fog. The text describes this as his sight becoming dimmed while his hearing is heightened. He doesn’t feel invisible but rather intensely visible and knows that he is being hunted. The orcs before him appear as spectral figures, distorted by mist, more like nightmares of fear wielding pale, flickering flames in their hands.
As I don the Ring atop Weathertop, standing before the Ringwraiths in “The Fellowship of the Ring,” Tolkien describes an unsettling transformation: “All remained as it was, dim and shrouded, but now the figures loomed terrifyingly clear. I could peer beneath their black shrouds. […] Their faces were bleak and merciless, revealing keen eyes that bore into me. Beneath their hoods, they wore long grey robes, silver helms adorned their grey locks, and in their bony hands, swords of cold steel gleamed.
In Tolkien’s tales, though he doesn’t explicitly explain the Elven spiritual hymns or the Ringwraith realms influenced by the Rings, these themes are consistently present beneath the narrative surface. The Rings of Power serve as an intriguing example because they grant mortals access to unseen worlds. It appears that we can expect further exploration of this theme as “The Rings of Power” series unfolds.
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2024-09-13 04:00