Lord of the Rings Why Ringwraiths Cant Cross Water Has a Pretty Weak Explanation
Lord of the Rings: Why Ringwraiths Can’t Cross Water Has a Pretty Weak Explanation
The Lord of the Rings universe is one of the most detailed in literature, but it seemingly drops the ball when it comes to the ghostly Nazgûl.
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As far as villains from the The Lord of the Rings go, few are as iconic as the Ringwraiths, also known as the Nazgûl. From their first appearance pursuing Frodo, Sam and Pippin in The Fellowship of the Ring, their eerie and phantom-like presence make it clear there is a great deal of dark magic behind their existence. However, although they go on to play a significant role in the iconic trilogy, at least one of their most prominent features — their fear of water — has never been adequately explained, even by Tolkien himself.
The first indication of the Ringwraiths’ reluctance to interact with water occurs when the Black Riders refuse to follow the Hobbits across the Brandywine River when they take the Bucklebury Ferry. In the Peter Jackson-directed movies, they are portrayed as actively stopping and refusing to continue, whereas in the books, this refusal is only inferred. A short while later, the Riders are reluctant to cross the Ford of Bruinen near Rivendell. In both the case of the film and the book, there is an implication that the Ringwraiths are at least partially deterred by Elvish magic, especially because they attempt to cross before being swept away by a magically summoned tide.
Based on these two examples, it would seem that the Nazgûl’s fear of water is a bit exaggerated, but at least one statement from the Tolkien estate proves it was actually meant to be an important, if underdeveloped, feature of these characters. Christopher Tolkien, who for years upheld the legacy of his father’s works, wrote in Unfinished Tales that “my father nowhere explained the Ringwraiths’ fear of water” and that the author conceded the notion was “difficult to sustain” going forward. Most likely, the idea was incorporated as a plot device to prevent the Hobbits from being captured, derived from European folklore, which portrayed unholy creatures, such as vampires, as being unable to cross running water.
Despite Tolkien’s own admission that a clear reason for the Ringwraith’s fear was never provided, some fans have attempted to conjure up an in-universe explanation. One of the more convincing theories centers on the role played by Ulmo, also referred to as the Lord of Waters. Ulmo was an Ainur, one of the original gods of the Lord of the Rings universe and held dominion over all bodies of water. Furthermore, he actively opposed Sauron’s master Morgoth in the First Age, suggesting he was similarly against the actions of Sauron himself. Even when the Ainur retreated from their active roles in the events of Middle-Earth after defeating Morgoth, Ulmo continued to be relatively involved in combating the forces of evil.
As the servants of Sauron, the Nazgûl were inherently tied to his power. It may be reasonable to assume that they would therefore attempt to avoid entering Ulmo’s domain, knowing he would still intervene against them if he so desired. Though somewhat convincing, this explanation is unofficial and should therefore be taken with a grain of salt.
Ultimately, it’s surprising that this major oversight was not only acknowledged but seemingly dismissed by Tolkien in his lifetime. The author is known for being one of the first to actively develop and explain the universe his novels took place in, even writing The Silmarillion, a novel-length history of Arda, the world that Middle-Earth is a part of. This makes his decision to explain the Ringwraiths’ weakness in any tangible way, even in his notes, rather unusual.
Still, there’s something to be said for avoiding over-explanation and leaving some mystery for readers and audiences to ponder over. The existence of convincing fan theories, such as the one mentioned, is further evidence that Tolkien invested enough time to build a universe that was rich and deep enough to be able to answer some of its own questions without his assistance.
Link Source : https://www.cbr.com/lord-of-the-rings-why-ringwraiths-cross-water/
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