The epic fantasy novel “The Lord of the Rings” was accurately translated to the big screen, and it surprisingly introduced Tolkien’s first significant villain from the series, albeit differently than readers might expect. The beloved children’s book “The Hobbit” hit shelves in 1937, while “The Lord of the Rings” was published in three parts between 1954 and 1955, both penned by J.R.R. Tolkien, a pioneer in English high fantasy literature. By adapting one book of “The Lord of the Rings” per movie, Peter Jackson’s trilogy brought this story to global recognition, despite numerous changes from the books. Remarkably, Jackson also incorporated references to Morgoth into his adaptation.
In the grand tapestry of Middle-earth, I find myself captivated by a shadowy figure who played a pivotal role in the making of the world’s history – Morgoth, the original antagonist in J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic saga, “The Lord of the Rings.” Though he was scarcely mentioned in “The Hobbit” and subtly alluded to within the pages of “The Lord of the Rings,” Morgoth looms large in the legendarium, Tolkien’s expansive body of work set in this enchanting realm. It is truly a testament to Peter Jackson’s dedication to his craft that he was able to breathe life into such an influential character in his film adaptations, reflecting both his reverence for Tolkien and the depth of his research on the subject matter.
Sauron’s Design In The Lord Of The Rings Movies Is Heavily Based On Tolkien’s Morgoth Description
Movie Sauron Looks Like Book Morgoth In Lord Of The Rings
In the New Line Cinema adaptations of Lord of the Rings, there’s a subtle connection between the portrayal of Sauron and Morgoth, a character from Tolkien’s legendarium. The design of Sauron’s costume is heavily influenced by Morgoth, as depicted by Tolkien in his works. Interestingly, one of Tolkien’s sketches of Sauron resembles Peter Jackson’s interpretation, but the Sauron costume in the movies is even more akin to John Howe’s illustration of Morgoth for an edition of Morgoth’s Ring. In “The Lay of Leithian” (a poem found in The Lays of Beleriand), Tolkien leaves no doubt about Morgoth’s character.
Black-armoured, towering, iron-crowned
In “The Silmarillion,” Morgoth, who is not typically depicted as larger than Elves in Tolkien’s writings, is shown with a shield and mace, and there are hints about his size. Morgoth placed a foot on Fingolfin’s neck, nearly crushing him, suggesting that Morgoth was larger, but not by much compared to an entire Elf. Howe, in his creative interpretation for the “Killing of the Trees” illustration, and later for sketches of Sauron’s armor in the movies, drew inspiration from these descriptions of Morgoth, even though Sauron was never explicitly described this way by Tolkien himself. In essence, the design of movie’s Sauron is based on the depictions of Morgoth found in Tolkien’s writings.
How Sauron Is Supposed To Look In The Lord Of The Rings
Sauron Had A Body In The Lord Of The Rings
In J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings,” Sauron had a physical form during the Third Age, despite appearing as a giant, spectral eye in the movies. According to Tolkien’s depiction, Sauron was known as the “Black Hand” – this descriptor was confirmed by Gollum. While Gollum may have used metaphor, Tolkien’s illustration lends credence to the idea that the Black Hand was a literal part of Sauron. Furthermore, the fact that Sauron had a hand capable of tormenting Gollum suggests his corporeal nature. His gaze was intolerable, his touch seared Isildur, and his laugh caused pain to Pippin.
| Tolkienian Age | Event Marking The Start | Years | Total Length In Solar Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before time | Indeterminate | Indeterminate | Indeterminate |
| Days before Days | Ainur entered Eä | 1 – 3,500 Valian Years | 33,537 |
| Pre-First Age Years of the Trees (Y.T.) | Yavanna created the Two Trees | Y.T. 1 – 1050 | 10,061 |
| First Age (F.A.) | Elves awoke in Cuiviénen | Y.T. 1050 – Y.T. 1500, F.A. 1 – 590 | 4,902 |
| Second Age (S.A.) | War of Wrath ended | S.A. 1 – 3441 | 3,441 |
| Third Age (T.A.) | Last Alliance defeated Sauron | T.A. 1 – 3021 | 3,021 |
| Fourth Age (Fo.A) | Elven-rings left Middle-earth | Fo.A 1 – unknown | Unknown |
Gollum additionally verified that Sauron possessed only four digits on a single hand. Isildur severed the ring finger from Sauron during the Second Age, which led to the demise of his physical form. Similar to Morgoth, who walked with a limp after being wounded by Fingolfin even while having the ability to transform, Sauron’s amputated finger failed to heal, even after being reborn. Over time, their wicked actions weakened their skill at concealing themselves through shape-shifting. Both Morgoth and Sauron were taller than humans but not of colossal size, as stated by Tolkien in his letters (The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien)). The fair visage of Sauron depicted in Lord of the Rings did not resurface after the fall of Númenor.
Where Else The Lord Of The Rings Movies Mention Morgoth
Morgoth Is Mentioned By Various Characters In The Lord Of The Rings
Characters within “The Lord of the Rings” often spoke about Morgoth, either directly or indirectly. In the extended version of “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring”, Legolas referred to the Balrog that clashed with Gandalf as a Balrog belonging to Morgoth. Scattered hints about Middle-earth’s world were found throughout the book and movie, contributing significantly to the richness of its world-building. This complex world was fully unveiled in “The Silmarillion”, J.R.R. Tolkien’s posthumous compilation of Elvish myths, as well as in his posthumous series “The History of Middle-earth”, which served as an expansion on “The Silmarillion”.
Gandalf referred to the Balrog as “the flame of the hidden valley,” with the hidden valley being Udûn, a fortress in Mordor originally named after one of the toughest strongholds of Middle-earth, Morgoth’s first fortress. The name Udûn is derived from an ancient Elvish word “utupnu,” which means to hide. Another derivative of this word was used to refer to Utumno, another name for the fortress. In Middle-earth’s history, this fortress was second only to Valinor (the residence of the demigod Valar) in strength, power, and impregnability. The dark fire that Gandalf said would not help the Balrog is a reference to Morgoth’s powerful and ominous forces.
Morgoth & Sauron Looking Alike Does Make Sense
There Is Logic Behind Sauron’s Character Design
Since Sauron and Morgoth were allies, it’s plausible that they bore a resemblance to each other. Initially, John Howe created some sketches of Sauron’s armor, but a larger group, including Warren Mahy and Alan Lee (a renowned Tolkien illustrator who knew the intricacies of Middle-earth), took over this task. This team was well aware of how Sauron came to power following Morgoth’s final defeats in “The Lord of the Rings”. It appears that Sauron harbored fear from Morgoth’s retributive anger in “The Lay of Leithian”, suggesting their relationship wasn’t always harmonious. However, Sauron remained loyal throughout.
During the First Age, Sauron rose to become Morgoth’s right-hand figure, a position he held until Morgoth was banished to the Void for his wrongdoings against Middle-earth as depicted in “Lord of the Rings.” Afterward, Sauron concealed himself from the world. It would have been beneficial for him, given his past relationship with Morgoth, to follow in his master’s footsteps and strive to fill his role, thereby taking charge of Morgoth’s forces. Sauron is believed to have created the One Ring using a ritual devised by Morgoth himself, and likely adorned armor in a style reminiscent of Morgoth, following the Úmaiar tradition, as suggested in “The Lord of the Rings.
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2025-05-26 17:29