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Nazgûl
Dec 30, 2004 21:01:27 GMT -6
Post by Desi Baggins on Dec 30, 2004 21:01:27 GMT -6
In the poll section a good discussion topic came about so I will start it here and see if we can gather any information...
The thought was based on getting to know more about the Witch-king of Angmar. From what I know the nine Nazgûl were men of Middle-earth that Sauron gave the nine rings to. So who were these nine men before they became Ringwraiths?
All I can find (which is limited because I don't have the Sil or HoMe series) is at Anals of Arda under the others-Ringwraith section they mention a Murezor which I think is another name for the With-king of Angmar.
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Nazgûl
Dec 30, 2004 21:38:34 GMT -6
Post by illadria on Dec 30, 2004 21:38:34 GMT -6
I'm glad you started this thread Desi. It would be great if we could dig something up, but I'm not sure there has ever been much of their past written. I did stumble upon this great article from The Thain's book at tuckburough.net... www.tuckborough.net/witchking.htmlIt seems almost every mention of the nazgul, or at least certainly the witchking, is quoted here. Unfortunately the past seems to be unknown. Now I'm compelled to just make one up. lol
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Nazgûl
Jan 8, 2005 3:52:36 GMT -6
Post by Fredeghar Wayfarer on Jan 8, 2005 3:52:36 GMT -6
I've heard that Murezor name before but if I recall correctly, it was just a name someone made up for an RPG Sourcebook. It's not actually from any Tolkien text. I would have to double-check that though.
My theory on the Nazgul is that they were Numenoreans who were seduced by Sauron's power. I don't recall if Tolkien ever mentioned this but if the Nazgul were ON Numenor when it sank, that would explain their fear of water. The sinking of their old homeland would be quite a traumatic experience, especially if their original undead bodies were destroyed in the event. The power of the Nine Rings would reconstitute them eventually (as it did in Lord of the Rings) but this would have to leave psychological scars.
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Nazgûl
Jan 9, 2005 2:19:11 GMT -6
Post by Andorinha on Jan 9, 2005 2:19:11 GMT -6
Concerning the Nazgul -- they do seem to be more of a psycho threat than a physical one in the early sections of LotR. In fact, they appear decidedly clumsy and disoriented in the Shire, capable of scaring the Hobbits, geese, and dogs but really DOING very little to any one. They ride through and over the guards at the North Gate but Tolkien does not think the damage/ injuries to the Hobbit guards severe enough to warrant further comment.
The one time in Bree where the Nazgul seem intent on murder, "... Guests unable to sleep in their beds, and good bolsters ruined and all! What are we coming too?" as Barliman says to Aragorn, does not, I think, even refer to the Nazgul. Here the movie version mistakes the passage as meaning that the damage to the rooms (where the Hobbits were originally to sleep) was caused by the Nazgul -- but from the information in the closing pages of the preceding chapter, "Strider", Aragorn predicts an attack -- not by the Nazgul but by the Southerners -- the half-gobblin looking agents of Saruman.
So, other than running over the gate-guards, the Nazgul do not "physically" attack anyone until Weathertop when they only strike Frodo with any effect. Five Nazgul against one ranger and four Hobbits... hmmm, I would expect more damage than just Frodo's wound IF the Nazgul had much of a physical presence. Maybe they were too far from their source of power (Sauron, I think, held the Nine Rings in Mordor) to be all that effective on the physical plane. Certainly their abilities will increase, even their physical powers, the closer they get to Mordor.
But then this begs the following question: if the Nazgul were only threat and menace, more psycho-bullies than bloody-handed brutes, how did the Witch King gain such a reputation as a fierce warrior when he was stationed long at Angmar and engaged in frequent combats with the northern rangers? He did not have his own ring back then (did he?), 1300 - 1975 Third Age, yet he figures prominently on the battlefield until he is finally "seen-off" by Glorfindel.
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Nazgûl
Jan 10, 2005 12:06:34 GMT -6
Post by Fanuidhol on Jan 10, 2005 12:06:34 GMT -6
So, other than running over the gate-guards, the Nazgul do not "physically" attack anyone until Weathertop when they only strike Frodo with any effect. Five Nazgul against one ranger and four Hobbits... hmmm, I would expect more damage than just Frodo's wound IF the Nazgul had much of a physical presence. Maybe they were too far from their source of power (Sauron, I think, held the Nine Rings in Mordor) to be all that effective on the physical plane. Certainly their abilities will increase, even their physical powers, the closer they get to Mordor. But then this begs the following question: if the Nazgul were only threat and menace, more psycho-bullies than bloody-handed brutes, how did the Witch King gain such a reputation as a fierce warrior when he was stationed long at Angmar and engaged in frequent combats with the northern rangers? He did not have his own ring back then (did he?), 1300 - 1975 Third Age, yet he figures prominently on the battlefield until he is finally "seen-off" by Glorfindel. I re-read the appropriate section of "A Knife in the Dark". Before the Nazgul actually get on the scene Aragorn tells the Hobbits to get close to the fire and "get some of the longer sticks ready". Since Aragorn used "a flaming brand of wood in either hand" later in the sequence I think it likely that the Hobbits also had burning sticks in their hands, even if they were frozen with terror. Unfortunately, Frodo either didn't listen to Aragorn to begin with or chucked his stick away so he could put on the Ring. Perhaps the Nazgul retreated from fire knowing that if their robes burned away, they would be physically ineffectual. Sauron seems to have wanted the Ringbearer alive. And if the plan had gone right, Frodo would have come under the Witchking's domination after being stabbed in the heart. I don't think they thought anybody would put up a fight. I think the Witchking was just a bully even long ago. I don't think he was a great warrior. As long as he had a larger force, he would win battles. The Witchking miscalculated due to pride when Earnur from Gondor and Cirdan's army joined together to defeat the Witchking's forces at the Battle of Fornost in 1975 Third Age. Thanks, Fan
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Nazgûl
Jan 11, 2005 5:22:14 GMT -6
Post by Andorinha on Jan 11, 2005 5:22:14 GMT -6
Fanuidhol:
The Nazguls' "pyrophobia" is a characteristic that ironically balances their other elemental fear, hydrophobia. I wonder if they also shun both earth and air to complete the four elements? Do the Nazgul require sustenance? Do they eat, drink, breathe? Does the weather ever become so cold that they need insulation or even a warming fire? Even Buffy's Vampiric Undead still take some form of nourishment from time to time, but is this what JRRT had in mind when he created his Undead Nazgul?
However do these Undead Wraiths exist! LOL! Are they still flesh at all?
Being a sort of "undead-dead" who are forced yet to walk upon a living planet, I suppose their continued "existence" would be filled with many contradictions. But still, they do function in the living world of Middle-earth. Despite their hydrophobia, they do approach water. In fact they had to cross many bridgeless streams to move from Mordor to the Shire and back; and surely they had rainy days as they coursed northwestward to Hobbiton. After some hesitation they did enter the clean, flowing stream of the Elven-magicked Bruinen. So, despite their aversion to water, they can at need deal with that substance. Does the same hold true for fire?
The Nazgul certainly must see, or even approach fire almost daily back in the citadels of the Morgul Vale and Mordor, and their servants carry torches, light tapers etc in the deep but public places of their dungeons... They do not like well-lit areas, and Aragorn seems certain that fire can be used to some advantage against them, yet still they do rush eagerly upon the Hobbits and the ranger once Frodo dons the Ring and gives them a visible target.
The "highly flamable" nature of the Nazgul and/ or their robes is not found in the book, though that image is prominent in the movie version. I'm not certain JRRT was writing with such a scene in mind, though for a cinematic effect it was impressive. At any rate, in the book, Aragorn does not engage the wraiths in sword play (I think his only "stated" steel weapon on Weathertop was his broken heirloom sword, Narsil) nor does he ignite any Nazgul. He does "appear" after the Witch King has done his deed and stabbed poor Frodo, and with brands of fire in both hands he finally "leaps" out of the darkness -- too late. Merry and Pippin do not mount any real effort to protect Frodo, and Sam merely "shrank to Frodo's side" ("Knife in the Dark," p. 211).
For me, this scene was a effective way to measure just how terrifying the Nazgul were. Their mere appearance was enough to render three of the Hobbits useless, and apparently they even forced Frodo to reveal the Ring, and himself against his own will: "but his terror was swallowed up in a sudden temptation to put on the Ring. ...something seemed to be compelling him to disregard all warnings... he simply felt that he must take the Ring and put it on his finger." (p. 212) Frodo does try to defend himself, even draws his Barrows-blade, a genuine threat with its magic-spells and its fire-flames, but he cannot stand before the Witch King's final charge and his unaimed blow misses the target altogether. Here, the blade of Westernesse is both sharp steel and magic fire, probably a more potent flame than regular fire, yet the Witch King still charges Frodo.
The text is not explicit on whether or not Aragorn's sudden arrival, bearing two torches had any effect on the Nazgul. I get the feeling they had accomplished their task for the night, wounding Frodo with a Morgul knife, and were already withdrawing when the ranger showed up.
So, from my reading of the FotR text -- where much is left unanswered and open to debate/ interpretation -- I don't get the feeling that the presence of fire really had much impact on the Nazguls at all. At least it was no more of an impediment than was flowing water?
Fanuidhol: "And if the plan had gone right, Frodo would have come under the Witchking's domination after being stabbed in the heart. I don't think they thought anybody would put up a fight."
Here I think you've got the probable cause for the Nazgul leaving Weathertop so easily, they were not out to kill the entire company, just render Frodo manageable so they could later take both the hobbit and the Ring back to Mordor. But this bothers me, because it seems so unnecessary. Why "subdue" Frodo, when they could simply have killed him and taken the Ring right there? Is there some compulsion laid upon the Nazgul to keep them from touching the One Ring? Did Sauron fear what might happen if one of his Nazgul actually took the Ring and claimed it?
Fanuidhol: "I think the Witchking was just a bully even long ago. I don't think he was a great warrior."
Yeah, great point, Fanuidhol! The Witch King is listed as a mighty sorceror of old, a great king of Men, a Numenorean -- but was he ever a real warrior? At least he faced Eowyn and Merry, on foot and all alone, and he was ready to enter the Gate of Minas Tirith facing an aroused Wizard, Gandalf... Hmmm, but I'm not sure how powerful, as a single fighter he may have been?
LOL, as usual, I end with more questions than answers! Thanks, Fan!
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Nazgûl
Jan 11, 2005 6:07:27 GMT -6
Post by Fanuidhol on Jan 11, 2005 6:07:27 GMT -6
Good points, Andorinha. But, I think Aragorn must have thought fire to be useful against the Nazgul. He didn't tell the Hobbits to draw their "swords" which he must have known they had or even to give him one of the knives. You may be right that the Nazgul were already drawing off by the time Aragorn got to the invisible Frodo's side, but, it doesn't state it either way in the text. Totally by accident, while flipping through the "Knife in the Dark" chapter I just found this from Strider: "Sauron can put fire to his evil uses, as he can all things, but these Riders do not love it, and fear those who wield it."
If the Witchking was a great warrior, and I guess I also mean "military strategist", he would have been prepared for resistence. I think he always counted on terror; more of a terrorist than a warrior.
Though he drew his sword and made it flame (plot hole?), I'm not sure that the Witchking was actually going to physically fight Gandalf. They might have used magic against one another.
We know that the Witchking considered Dernhelm a fool....
I really disliked the Weathertop scene in the movie. PJ created a plot hole, understood by the book fans at least: where did the Nazgul get new robes? The torch in the face part looked cheesy to me. I cringe every time I see it. Thanks, Fan
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Nazgûl
Jan 11, 2005 9:01:55 GMT -6
Post by Desi Baggins on Jan 11, 2005 9:01:55 GMT -6
So many points to ponder! The one that got me is what exactly is scary about the Nazgul? To me it seems you really only had to fear them if you were the one with The Ring. All they seemed to be good for was searching out The Ring.
I really think that Sauron did not want the Nazgul to have The Ring in fear that they would then turn on him (or at least the one that had it). This would make the most sense to me. I feel that The Ring would have the same effect on them as it does with everyone else. But as with that theroy up comes another thought...Frodo was stabbed by the Nazgul and he was then weak and turning into one of them. I think the Nagul then would of had to get him back to Sauron before he turned into a wraith fully. How would the Nazgul have done that, could they pick him up? Maybe they could since he was turning undead and becoming like him. It seemed to me that they didn't have much form and could not actually touch or grab living beings.
That is enough thinking out loud or is that typing out loud!
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Nazgûl
Jan 12, 2005 7:19:29 GMT -6
Post by Stormrider on Jan 12, 2005 7:19:29 GMT -6
The Black Riders were only intent on finding "Baggins" and getting The Ring. That was their assignment and they were not concerned with anyone else, unless, of course, they would get in their way.
The Black Riders were terrifying to all who came near them. The innocent people who did encounter them in the beginning of the story were so overcome by that fear that they told the Black Riders what they wanted to know so they would go away and leave them alone!
Desi: I don't think the Nazgûl had any trouble holding onto things. They wore black robes, carried weapons, and rode horses and fell beasts.
I thought that Fredegar's comment about the Nazgûl coming from Numenor and fleeing from it when it fell and their fear of water came from that was an interesting possibility for their fear of water. If they had been in the swirling aftermath and came close to drowning, that would be very logical.
I think fire is a terrifying element for anyone to come in contact with--whether you are dead or undead! It would have made more sense to try to stab all their opponents on weathertop once Frodo had been stabbed. Once Frodo was under the spell of the morgûl blade, why give up on taking him? They should have fought harder to get to him. Perhaps their undead bodies would not be destroyed by the fire, but they could still feel the pain from the flames and heat.
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Nazgûl
Jan 13, 2005 1:08:15 GMT -6
Post by Fredeghar Wayfarer on Jan 13, 2005 1:08:15 GMT -6
The one that got me is what exactly is scary about the Nazgul? To me it seems you really only had to fear them if you were the one with The Ring. All they seemed to be good for was searching out The Ring. True, you only HAD to fear them if you had the Ring. But fear is an irrational emotion. I would think that a faceless undead creature with a black hood and a raspy bone-chilling voice riding a demonic horse or a fell winged beast would be utterly terrifying, Ring or no Ring! My point is that whether or not the Nazgul were effective warriors or a genuine threat to non-Ring-bearers, they were masters at spreading terror. And that was surely part of their purpose. Like many terrorists and warmongers throughout history, Sauron would want to use fear as a weapon against his enemies.
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Nazgûl
Jan 13, 2005 9:25:37 GMT -6
Post by Desi Baggins on Jan 13, 2005 9:25:37 GMT -6
I am glad that the name Murezor waas looked into better. I found that name on the Anal of Arda website and most of there information is good with references. I will have to email them about it and see if they have a reference or just how they figured they could post it and think it correct.
Now I said that you only had to fear the Nazgul if you had the Ring, but I guess that came out wrong. I meant, How scary are they? Even though only the Ringbearer need to fear them everyone else did too!
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Nazgûl
Jan 13, 2005 14:14:40 GMT -6
Post by Andorinha on Jan 13, 2005 14:14:40 GMT -6
Desi: I tried looking up the Nazgul entry at "Annals of Arda," and it has a brief exposition that gives no names at all until you look at the far right hand side of the text. There they have an active list with two names only, Khamul* and Murezor (a mis-spelled version of I.C.E.'s Murazor?). Unfortunately they do not give a Tolkien source for Murezor. Others who use Murazor/ Murezor say that the name is found in "The Letters of Tolkien," but both DaleAnn and I have never found it there, nor have several other Tolkien fans who worked on this problem themselves. Nor has anyone one, to my current knowledge, found Murazor/ Murezor in any of the volumes of HOME. If you could find out from Annals of Arda just where this name occurs in Tolkien literature it would be great! But I suspect they just got it wrong... For general purposes, I think the alternate site "The Encyclopedia of Arda" ( www.glyphweb.com/arda ) is a better source, they are more careful with their data and more frequently give the actual Tolkien sources for their entries. They have only Khamul listed as an authentic Tolkien name. Apparently there has been so much confusion over the names of the Nazgul that the Encyclopedia set up a special section for this problem under their hard to find FAQ topic. To locate the correct screen click on SITE FAQ & E-MAIL in the upper left hand corner under SITE SERVICES. Then shift to the right hand side of the new screen under "About Tolkien's World." The 6th entry here is the relevant one: "What were the names of the Nazgul?" I'll quote part of this here: Nazgûl? The Encyclopedia of Arda FAQ What were the names of the nine Nazgûl?<br> "One of them, the second in rank after the Lord of the Nazgûl himself, was named Khamûl, and also known as the Black Easterling. This is the only one of the nine Nazgûl explicitly named by Tolkien.This may come as a surprise if you've come across one of the many sources that list a set of names of the other eight: Murazor (the Witch-king himself), Dwar, Ji Indur, Akhorahil, Hoarmurath, Adunaphel, Ren and Uvatha. These names are common across the Web, and often have detailed biographies to go with them. They're also consistent with what Tolkien had to say about the origins of the Nazgûl: in the Akallabêth it is stated '...among those whom he ensnared with the Nine Rings three were great lords of Númenórean race', and indeed three of these names are Númenórean in form: Murazor, Akhorahil and Adunaphel. None of these eight names, though, have their origins in Tolkien's own work. Instead, they come from a series of role-playing and trading card games produced by Iron Crown Enterprises. The names of Murazor, Dwar and the rest emerged from the unavoidable need for these games to develop and expand Tolkien's universe to meet the needs of the gaming fraternity. The games' popularity accounts for the regular appearance of the names, to the extent that they're now frequently presented as the 'true' names of the remaining eight Nazgûl." ... "Things become a little more problematic where the names are published without explanation: we receive plenty of e-mail from puzzled readers trying to work out which of Tolkien's books the names come from (hence this entry in the FAQ). As for The Encyclopedia of Arda, this site is very specifically aimed at exploring Tolkien's own works, so it really isn't appropriate to include names or biographical details that we know did not come from Tolkien himself. Indeed, the same principle applies to characters who appear only in the recent movies, so it's not our intention to provide entries for (say) Hoarmurath, Uvatha or - for that matter - Lurtz from Peter Jackson's movie of The Fellowship of the Ring." __________________ *Khamul occurs in Unfinished Tales, "The Hunt for the Ring," pp 338 - 339. This chapter in UfT is crucial for getting to know how much scope for independent action was left to the Nazgul. Apparently the Witch King still had a great deal of initiative left to him in ordering the course the Nazgul would take on their hunt for hobbits and the Ring. Here they seem much more individualized and much less like the automatons presented in LotR. ******** On to other Nazgul matters! Were any of the Nazgul ever on the island of Atalante/ Numenore where the collapse of that fair land could have induced their hydrophobia? Only Three of the Nine are stated to be of Numenorean origin, and they were certainly in Middle-earth long before Numenor sank. Exactly when these High Men left Numenor is unclear, but they had to be in mainland Middle-earth some time before 2251 SA (see appendix B LotR) when they appear in their final forms as Ringwraiths. Numenor is overwhelmed by the Great Wave in 3319 SA, so the Nazgul would have been around as wraiths for some 1068 years or more before this cataclysm. I assume their characters would have been fully developed by then, including their hydrophobia/ pyrophobia. I am not certain that any of the Nine ever went to Numenor after they became Ringwraiths in 2251 of the Second Age, certainly Tolkien never mentions any Nazgul visiting the island kingdom. JRRT tells us only that Sauron allowed Himself to be taken to Numenor, his fortresses were never surrendered, his Nazgul never captured. Sauron, ostensibly as a captive, but really as a subverter, went to Numenore without actually engaging the Men of the West in combat (see "Akallabeth," in The Silmarillion, pp 334 - 337). The whereabouts of the Nine at this time, 3262 SA - 3319, is not clearly stated in the Akallabeth. But I can only assume it would be more than likely for Sauron to have left them in Middle-earth to control his empire. Sauron at this time could still appear in his plesant form as Annatar, "The Lord of Gifts," and so might be a "respectable looking" house guest, but the Nazgul were already nasty, spooky characters by 3262 SA, scaring dogs, geese, and Men alike by their very presence. I doubt the Nine Shriekers would have made companionable guests even if Ar-Pharazon had captured them (which he never did). So they did not participate, seemingly, in the Downfall of Atalante, an event which stripped the flesh from Sauron Himself so that never again could he appear in a physical form that was pleasing to the human eye. What would have happened to the Nazgul in that great storm? Sauron survived it only in spirit as all "mortal flesh" seems to have perished in the cataclysm (Sil. p. 347) so I guess the Nazgul, (still enfleshed?) would have perished utterly in that Great Storm had they been there. I think a more likely origin for the Nazgul hydrophobia would be the general dictum of European folk lore and magic that states that Evil cannot cross running water. JRRT, when he first conceived the Nazgul, seems to have thought along these lines. Later, as he wrote "The Hunt for the Ring," (Unfinished Tales, 337-354) he was forced to modify the absolute nature of the hydrophobia of the Nazgul because they had to cross so many unbridged, flowing streams to move from Mordor to the Shire. By the time the final version was published in 1954, the Nazgul are no longer bound by "absolute phobias." They cannot abide easily the full light of the day, but they can walk through it (even though they cannot keep themselves fully invisible in the noon sun, just as Bilbo, with his Ring on, still cast a noonday shadow). They fear fire, but can approach it, they fear water, but can approach it, even enter flowing water at great need.
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Nazgûl
Apr 29, 2007 7:41:30 GMT -6
Post by Stormrider on Apr 29, 2007 7:41:30 GMT -6
The houses of lamentation? Flesh devoured? Shrivelled mind left naked to the Lidless Eye! That is a very horrifying image and I can see how this is a large part of the Nazgûls' terror which inspires the fear of humans. The humans may not know this could happen to them, but they must sense this.
You can see that the Nazgûl did not even consider women any threat at all and completely overlooked them...until he is challenged and then wonders if there could be any danger to himself. Then the fell beast makes a move and the Witchking has to react...
This is an excellent quote that should go into the Éowyn discussion thread! Look how strong she is (like Hervor) and yet fair and dainty (not manly like Hervor). Éowyn fulfils her promise and duty to protect Théoden. What she did was out of love and honor. It sounds like Hervor just wanted to fight and kill for adventure and excitement.
Nazgûl can feel pain...the stab of a blade, the flames of a fire, the suffocation of drowning...so they are vulnerable to some extent from humans who do stand up and try to protect themselves or try to kill the Nazgûl.
So why could a woman and a hobbit have such a deadly effect on the Nazgûl when other men, elves, etc. could not? Or were the words that the Witchking spoke "Hinder me? thou fool. No living man may hinder me!" just something the Witchking used to put more fear and doubt into an attacker to place the seed of doubt which would cause them to fail?
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Nazgûl
May 2, 2007 6:26:13 GMT -6
Post by Desi Baggins on May 2, 2007 6:26:13 GMT -6
Was the Witch-king just using words to sway and attack or did his words have true meaning. Did Tolkien ever discribe any other attacks on the Witch-king, other than Weathertop....
As far as his words having true meaning...The Witch-king was under the spell of one of the nine rings and most spells have counter spells, so it could possibly be that a man couldn't kill him and only a woman could.
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Nazgûl
May 2, 2007 18:09:43 GMT -6
Post by Andorinha on May 2, 2007 18:09:43 GMT -6
Good post Stormrider! It leaves me thinking (which I like) even if I can do nothing more than speculate!
Hi Desi!
__________
RE: Stormrider: "So why could a woman and a hobbit have such a deadly effect on the Nazgûl when other men, elves, etc. could not?"
RE: Desi: "Was the Witch-king just using words to sway and attack or did his words have true meaning. Did Tolkien ever discribe any other attacks on the Witch-king, other than Weathertop...."
Hmmm, the only other specific time of an "attempted" attack being made on the Witch King, the assault was not pressed home by King Earnur in 1973 III A. But JRRT does tell us through Aragorn that all blades that pierce the Witch King perish, so someone, at sometime must have "stuck a pin" into the Chief Nazgul...
_______
It is interesting that JRRT sets up this episode in such a way that it is easy for all concerned (the characters as well as the readers) to "overlook" the presence of the hobbit, Merry. Tolkien made a big "to do" over the "quietness" of hobbits in general. Bilbo is written off as a total loss by the13 Dwarves, and has to prove his worth, something no one (not even Bilbo!) seemed sure of. At first Aragorn doubts whether Frodo and the three other hobbits are tough enough to take to the wilderness trail. At the Council of Rivendell Boromir (and no doubt many others) seem to find it a joke that the hobbits will go on the quest and that the Ring will be entrusted to Frodo -- they are, afterall mere "halflings." Only the very wise, like Elrond, Gandalf, and Galadriel can form more realistic opinions of the toughness and the likely value of the hobbits. Kindly Theoden feels that Merry can make no contribution on the battlefield, and forbids him to join the muster just as he forbade Eowyn. In this sense, I think JRRT presents both Eowyn and Merry as people who are "overlooked" and whose true courage and value in battle are ignored until both "prove" themselves. Halfling and woman are equally "undervalued," both are discriminated against because of their basic natures.
The prophecy spoken first by Glorfindel in 1973/ 74 III A., was " 'Do not pursue him [the Witch King]! He will not return to this land. Far off yet is his doom, and not by the hand of man will he fall.' These words many remembered..." (RotK, appendix A, hb version, p. 332)
I suppose, somehow, this statement eventually worked its way through to the Witch King, who seems to have taken it to heart and himself believed that he could never be killed by a man: "Hinder me? thou fool. No living man may hinder me!"
In the actual encounter, the Witch King takes pause when he learns that Eowyn is not a "man," he is sorcerously smart enough to know that prophecies have funny ways of coming true, and Eowyn just may fit the bill. But, even then, as he pauses, the Witch King still completely disvalues Merry, he simply does not recognize in our doughty Brandybuck a "mighty factor of doom" -- if he sees Merry at all, he is viewed only as a crawling, tiny, insignificant halfling.
Could either Eowyn or Merry have destroyed the Chief of the Nazgul by herself/ himself? Is it significant that Merry strikes the first blow? He is considered by almost everyone as being even less significant than Eowyn, who is a "mere woman," but his blade starts the destruction of the Witch King; Eowyn's thrust then finishes the action. Merry's blade is a magical one, specifically forged to bring about the end of such sorcerous things as the Nazgul, but was his blow sufficient to kill the undead creature? Could the Nazgul Lord have survived Merry's attack, taking a great wound, but "living" on? Would Eowyn's blow to the Nazgul's face have been sufficient in itself to kill the Dwimmerlaik? Without Merry's poisonous thrust through the Nazgul's knee, would Eowyn have ever had a chance to stab the Evil thing? Certainly her blade ends it all, but the narrative leaves us still some room for speculation -- these two undervalued, overlooked "halflings" become greater than most of the heroes of Middle-earth in their cooperative effort.
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