The Mythical Villains of Tolkien’s World
Summary
In this article, we explore the various mythical villains in J.R.R. Tolkien’s world, including Glaurung, werewolves, wargs, hobbits, trolls, giants, giant spiders, Sauron, and tormented spirits.
Table of Contents
- Glaurung and Morgoth’s Army
- Werewolves and Evil Wolves
- Wargs and Intelligent Wolves
- Hobbits and Little People
- Trolls and Animated Stone Creatures
- Giants and Treebeard’s Transformation
- Giant Spiders and Ungolian
- Sauron and the Rings of Power
- Tormented Spirits and the Ringwraiths
Glaurung and Morgoth’s Army
Glaurung was one of the top commanders of Morgoth’s army and played a significant role in the early mythology wars. Morgoth, the ultimate villain of Tolkien’s world, was the first Dark Lord who sought to dominate all of Middle-earth.
Werewolves and Evil Wolves
Werewolves were a minor but interesting villain in Tolkien’s world. They are evil wolves created by Morgoth to serve in his army.
Wargs and Intelligent Wolves
In The Hobbit, the wargs are encountered as intelligent wolves and allies of the goblins. They are a formidable enemy to the dwarves and Bilbo.
Hobbits and Little People
Hobbits are the iconic race in Tolkien’s world, and they emerged when he started writing The Hobbit. Their culture remains the same throughout the story, but their role becomes essential as they represent the little people accomplishing big things. Tolkien never explained the origin of hobbits, but they may be a subspecies of men that became small.
Trolls and Animated Stone Creatures
Trolls are another villainous race in Tolkien’s world, and they turn into stone when sunlight falls on them. The trolls in Tolkien’s world are animated stone creatures made by the enemy in mockery of Ents.
Giants and Treebeard’s Transformation
Giants were also a part of the early mythology, but Tolkien never wrote stories about them. Treebeard, originally a Jack and the Beanstalk style giant, was transformed into a sentient tree called an Ent. The Hooorns are a middle stage between trees and Ents.
Giant Spiders and Ungolian
Giant spiders, like Ungolian, were one of Tolkien’s favorite villains and were allies of Morgoth. The giant spiders of Mirkwood are bitter enemies of the wood elves.
Sauron and the Rings of Power
Sauron was originally a servant of Aul, the god of craftsmanship, and he became the one who forged the Rings of Power. The story of the forging of the Rings of Power comes later in the mythology. Sauron creates nine Rings of Power to ensnare the leaders of all the good races, but it fails, and he gives them to nine kings who become enslaved to him. They become tormented spirits, which are the Ringwraiths.
Tormented Spirits and the Ringwraiths
There are two other categories of tormented spirits, the Barrow-wights and the Oathbreakers. The latter are the lingering spirits of people who swore allegiance to Isildur but did not fulfill their oath. Aragorn gives them a second chance, and they help save Middle-earth in the War of the Ring.
Conclusion
Tolkien’s world is filled with mythical villains that add depth and complexity to the stories. From Morgoth’s army to the tormented spirits, each villain has a unique role to play in the mythology. Tolkien’s attention to detail and world-building created a rich tapestry of characters and creatures that continue to captivate readers today.
