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Roheryn
Tol Eressea
Feb 16 2013, 10:02am
Views: 627
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Douglas Anderson gives a great explanation. I had been wondering this same thing myself, and was pleased to run across this note a few days ago when I was working on an SAST quiz. I've typed out below (in boldface) Anderson's note 12, p. 188 (of the second edition); he gives a less complete explanation in the first edition as note 10, p. 149.
The reintroduction of the Necromancer here was originally quite casual; his function, as Tolkien wrote in a letter to Christopher Bretherton on July 16, 1964, was “hardly more than to provide a reason for Gandalf going away and leaving Bilbo and the Dwarves to fend for themselves, which was necessary for the tale” (Letters, No. 257).
A necromancer is (generally) a wizard or conjurer who communicates and has dealings with the dead. In the essay “Laws and Customs Among the Eldar,” published in Morgoth’s Ring, volume ten of the History [i.e., The History of Middle-earth, or HOME], we see an explanation as to why Sauron is called a necromancer. In discussing what happens to the Elivsh spirit (or fëa) after the death of the body, a wicked fëa may seek friendship with the living and attempt to house itself in a living body, either to enslave its host or to wrest from the other fëa its rightful body. Tolkien continues: “It is said that Sauron did these things, and taught his followers how to achieve them” (p. 224).
So of course I had to go look up page 224 in HOME, wherein lies a rather fascinating discussion of what happens to a fëa after the death of its body. They are summoned to Mandos, yet the summons can be refused, and those that refuse are called the Unbodied, and wander the world bodiless. But by the very act of refusing the summons, a fëa is tainted -- already essentially tending towards evil. Tolkien writes: "They [i.e., the Unbodied] will not speak truth or wisdom. To call on them is folly. To attempt to master them and to make them servants of one own's will is wickedness. Such practices are of Morgoth; and the necromancers are of the host of Sauron his servant" (HOME, p. 224).
Interestingly, at least with regards to necromancy, only Elves have fëar; men and other beings do not have them. So, Sauron is corrupting Elvish spirits, but not those of Men (or other races), though he could be rehousing those corrupted spirits in the bodies of Men (or other races). Although with his ability to ensnare other beings with rings, he's got more tricks up his sleeve than just necromancy!
Anyways, that's what I understand of Tolkien's take on Sauron's necromancy. To what extent this will be used in the movies, obviously we have no idea yet; PJ and co could make something completely up (like Sauron bringing dead Orcs back to life), or they could give no explanation (which I sort of doubt).
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Subject
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User
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Time
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Necromancy
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Hamfast of Gamwich
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Feb 14 2013, 9:43pm
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Perhaps it was misdirection by Sauron.
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Ataahua
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Feb 14 2013, 11:06pm
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RTD names him that when he gives G-man the Morgul Blade...///
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Bombadil
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Feb 14 2013, 11:48pm
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It's a bit of a cross-medium discussion.
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Ataahua
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Feb 15 2013, 12:43am
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The ability to "summon the spirits of the dead"
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Lio
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Feb 15 2013, 12:18am
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That's how I've always understood his necromancy.
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Macfeast
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Feb 15 2013, 12:56am
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I like this explanation
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Ziggy Stardust
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Feb 15 2013, 1:50am
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maybe its
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imin
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Feb 15 2013, 1:05am
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It was an evil place holder
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stoutfiles
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Feb 15 2013, 3:48am
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That's it.
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Elizabeth
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Feb 15 2013, 7:42am
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Manipulating spirits
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Fredeghar Wayfarer
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Feb 15 2013, 10:38am
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My thoughts
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RalphDamiani
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Feb 15 2013, 5:11pm
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Place Holder
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IdrilofGondolin
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Feb 15 2013, 6:29pm
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In The Annotated Hobbit
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Roheryn
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Feb 16 2013, 10:02am
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Thank you Ro
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Brethil
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Feb 16 2013, 7:01pm
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Thanks for looking this up!
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Lio
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Feb 16 2013, 10:51pm
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fea
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Brethil
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Feb 17 2013, 1:47am
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