The Eye in LOTR
Why is the enemy, Sauron, represented as a great Eye? An eye represents sight, the ability to see. It represents attention and watchfulness. Of course, the enemy is ever watchful, ever searching, always seeking out and calling the Ring back to himself. Here, the imagery of a great Eye makes sense.
Yet, there is nothing about 'watchfulness', 'sight', or 'attention' that is inherently evil. The city of Minas Tirith could have just as easily had the symbol of an eye rathern than a white tree- an eye to be ever watchful of the enemy in Mordor, as their towers and fortresses of old were built for on the borders of those lands. Yet the enemy is intrinsically evil. Why, then, does he take the form of an eye?
Perhaps it has something to do with pride and power. One who covets power and control is ever wary of being usurped. Why were the Soviets so ruthless even to their own countryman? No dissent or originality of thought can be tolerated because such things pose a risk to the powers that be.
That Sauron is portrayed as a great eye for this reason would make sense of what we find in the book. It is because Sauron greatly fears a growing force that could overthrow him that he keeps his eye on Minas Tirith, and not on his own land. Gandalf says, "That we should wish to cast him down and have no one in his place is not a thought that occurs to his mind. That we should try to destroy the Ring itself has not yet entered into his darkest dream" (486).
Sauron's greatest fear is that one should surpass him in power- by finding and wielding the great Ring- and overthrow him. So, he is ever watchful, ever attentive, constantly insecure, constantly vigilant for any sign of one to challenge him. This, perhaps, is one reason why he takes the form of an eye. No doubt there may be others.
Source:
Tolkien. The Lord of the Rings. Harper Collins, 1991.
Yet, there is nothing about 'watchfulness', 'sight', or 'attention' that is inherently evil. The city of Minas Tirith could have just as easily had the symbol of an eye rathern than a white tree- an eye to be ever watchful of the enemy in Mordor, as their towers and fortresses of old were built for on the borders of those lands. Yet the enemy is intrinsically evil. Why, then, does he take the form of an eye?
Perhaps it has something to do with pride and power. One who covets power and control is ever wary of being usurped. Why were the Soviets so ruthless even to their own countryman? No dissent or originality of thought can be tolerated because such things pose a risk to the powers that be.
That Sauron is portrayed as a great eye for this reason would make sense of what we find in the book. It is because Sauron greatly fears a growing force that could overthrow him that he keeps his eye on Minas Tirith, and not on his own land. Gandalf says, "That we should wish to cast him down and have no one in his place is not a thought that occurs to his mind. That we should try to destroy the Ring itself has not yet entered into his darkest dream" (486).
Sauron's greatest fear is that one should surpass him in power- by finding and wielding the great Ring- and overthrow him. So, he is ever watchful, ever attentive, constantly insecure, constantly vigilant for any sign of one to challenge him. This, perhaps, is one reason why he takes the form of an eye. No doubt there may be others.
Source:
Tolkien. The Lord of the Rings. Harper Collins, 1991.
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