My English project about lotr: the question of the 👁️Eye of Sauron

[AElberethGilthoniel]

Two months ago, for my writing class final, I did a project on lotr! My project was mainly about differences between the books and the Peter Jackson films' representation of the Eye of Sauron. personally, I find that the films' depiction of the Eye has made it even more confusing than in the books - hence my project!
The main question of my project was: Is Sauron the Eye? The films would seem to imply yes - it is the only image used to represent Sauron except for in flashbacks to the Second Age. Perhaps this was because of the books' rather vague depiction of Sauron at all, though Tolkien did this for a reason! However, I believe the books imply that Sauron does have a physical body:

"...I myself dared to pass the doors of the Necromancer in Dol Guldur, and…found thus that our fears were true: he was none other than Sauron, our Enemy of old, at length taking shape and power again. … Sauron also had watched us, and had long prepared against our stroke, governing Mordor from afar through Minas Morgul…Then he gave way before us, but only feigned to flee, and soon after came to the Dark Tower and openly declared himself.” - Gandalf in The Fellowship of the Ring

However, the films seem to imply that Sauron has no physical manifestation apart from the Eye:

“He cannot yet take physical form, but his spirit has lost none of its potency. Concealed within his fortress, the Lord of Mordor sees all. His gaze pierces cloud, shadow, earth, and flesh. You know of what I speak, Gandalf. A great eye, lidless, wreathed in flame.” - Saruman to Gandalf in The Fellowship of the Ring film

In the books, there are many examples of eye imagery not just describing Sauron. In fact, the one and only description that matches how the Eye appears in the films is how Frodo sees the Eye in the mirror of Galadriel in Fellowship. It is so strange to me that the films chose this singular image and made it the only thing Sauron is.
And I feel the question still remains, is Sauron the Eye? I find that even in the books it is still somewhat ambiguous. And personally, I love that ambiguity! I feel that the films sought to erase it to make the story more digestible, but that comes at the cost of the stronger images of the books.
Let me know if you guys have any thoughts!

 

[Starbrow]

I don't think Sauron is the Eye. There is a reference to his physical form in The Two Towers, The Black Gate is Closed. Frodo, Sam, and Gollum are discussing Minas Ithil. Frodo says, "It was Isildur who cut off the finger of the Enemy."
"Yes. He has only four on the Black Hand, but they are enough." said Gollum shuddering. It is implied that Gollum has been tortured by Sauron.

The Eye is just a symbol for Sauron, maybe as a reference to the Evil Eye.

 

[AElberethGilthoniel]

Good textual evidence! Personally I think the Eye is more of a reference to will/power because eyes are used as images of will/power even in other contexts where Sauron is not being described, for example when Frodo is struck blind climbing on the rocks, or when the other members of the Fellowship choose to walk blindfolded with Gimli into Lothlorien.

 

[Deimos]

Two months ago, for my writing class final, I did a project on lotr! My project was mainly about differences between the books and the Peter Jackson films' representation of the Eye of Sauron. personally, I find that the films' depiction of the Eye has made it even more confusing than in the books - hence my project!
The main question of my project was: Is Sauron the Eye? The films would seem to imply yes - it is the only image used to represent Sauron except for in flashbacks to the Second Age. Perhaps this was because of the books' rather vague depiction of Sauron at all, though Tolkien did this for a reason! However, I believe the books imply that Sauron does have a physical body:

However, the films seem to imply that Sauron has no physical manifestation apart from the Eye:

In the books, there are many examples of eye imagery not just describing Sauron. In fact, the one and only description that matches how the Eye appears in the films is how Frodo sees the Eye in the mirror of Galadriel in Fellowship. It is so strange to me that the films chose this singular image and made it the only thing Sauron is.
And I feel the question still remains, is Sauron the Eye? I find that even in the books it is still somewhat ambiguous. And personally, I love that ambiguity! I feel that the films sought to erase it to make the story more digestible, but that comes at the cost of the stronger images of the books.
Let me know if you guys have any thoughts!

MY short answer on this is: The Eye of Sauron is metaphor. It represents Sauron's (not limitess) ability to "see" what is occurring in ME , and especially his realm which is under his sway.

There is a 5 yo discussion on Reddit ( I did not read all the replies) that, if you have not already seen it, may give you various perspectives.
Go to Eye of Sauron discussion
The Barrow Downs forum discusses it as well Barrow Downs Eye of Sauron
There are other forums discussing it as well, even a Wikipedia entry. Eye of Sauron
I list all these places where it is discussed only for the perspectives they offer. But they may also provide links to more scholarly discussions.

Addendum: as I have stated elsewhere Peej had to find some way to cinematically represent this. It is unfortunate that the representation, especially in ROTK, looked so much like a flaming version of the swiveling eye of Mad-Eye Moody 🙄

 

[Eljorahir]

Regarding the books, maybe it will be helpful to remember that "the eye" is not the only "body part" of Sauron used during discussions about his power. In the attempt to cross the Redhorn Gate:
'His arm has grown long indeed,' said Gimli, 'if he can draw snow down from the North to trouble us here three hundred leagues away.'
I think the reference to Sauron's arm is of the same category as the reference to his eye. They are extensions of different aspects of his power.

Regarding the films, there is one part I can think of which maybe just a little bit implies Sauron has a physical body. Aragorn at the Black Gate (quoting the movie from memory, hopefully correctly): "Let the Lord of the Black Land come forth that justice be done upon him!"
This point though is on very shaky ground since we know Aragorn was just bluffing and had no expectation Sauron would actually "come forth".

 

[Deimos]

Regarding the books, maybe it will be helpful to remember that "the eye" is not the only "body part" of Sauron used during discussions about his power. In the attempt to cross the Redhorn Gate:
'His arm has grown long indeed,' said Gimli, 'if he can draw snow down from the North to trouble us here three hundred leagues away.'
I think the reference to Sauron's arm is of the same category as the reference to his eye. They are extensions of different aspects of his power.

Regarding the films, there is one part I can think of which maybe just a little bit implies Sauron has a physical body. Aragorn at the Black Gate (quoting the movie from memory, hopefully correctly): "Let the Lord of the Black Land come forth that justice be done upon him!"
This point though is on very shaky ground since we know Aragorn was just bluffing and had no expectation Sauron would actually "come forth".

That Sauron MAY have had a corporeal body could well be be assumed from this scene for this reason:
Peej intended that a fully corporeal Sauron was to physically battle with Aragorn at the Morannon. The scene was even shot.

But then,THEN.......... the readers of The Book got wind of it and all hell broke loose. Their reaction was commensurate with their reaction when they discovered Peej had placed Arwen at Helm's Deep (in full elven armour no less) to "stand by her man." (Spare me please, or shoot me 🙄)
And that scene was shot also.

Most sensibly Peej finally bowed to the ardent wishes of readers (not to mention fidelity to the text) and excised those scenes. (Being tarred and feathered is not a pleasant experience).
However you can still see vestiges of both the scenes in the released versions...can't say if they are in the theatrical release but the are in the Extended versions.
Morannon scene Peej had Sauron digitally "papered over" with a troll.

FWIW there is a reddit thread on Arwen's appearance at HD. There are similar discussions on other LOTR forums ... Arwen at Helm's Deep

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

There are plenty of discussions on that, and especially on the eye, in this forum, you know! 😉 In fact, I believe it was here on TTF that the epithet "Sauron the Evil Lighthouse" originated. I'll see if I can locate some of the relevant threads.

quoting the movie from memory, hopefully correctly

I don't remember the film scene, but the quote seems accurate, though it's attributed to the "heralds" in the book.

The "Eye", like the "arm", is metaphor, or maybe synecdoche, depending on context, as with Denethor's "To this City only the first finger of its hand has yet been stretched". Fortunately, it didn't occur to PJ to make that
literal!

Edit: The oldest thread I've found so far:

What was Sauron's 👁️Eye

Where did he put it? How did it tell him what it saw? How did he have an eye left anyways? Just wondering..

thetolkien.forum

Another:

Stature or Form of 👁️Sauron in 3rd Age

Can anybody provide guidance on this one? I've looked but find little to no reference on the subject. But this guy has the titular role! The 2 times I'm curious about are when Sauron seems to figure prominently in this age. That is at it's beginning and end or thereabouts. 1) final battle of...

thetolkien.forum

More on Sauron's form:

👁️Sauron's Body

It's been a while since I've asked a question in here :). I was reading an article from Michael Martinez (who I think may be banned from TTF, though I could be wrong). I never really liked the way Sauron went out with a bang in PJ's movie. What do you think became of Sauron's body? Why would he...

thetolkien.forum

Depiction of 👁️Sauron at the time of the ⚔️war of the Ring

Does anyone have any pictures of what they believe Sauron would appear as in Mordor during the war of the ring?

thetolkien.forum

More Eye-talk:

How could a lidless 👁️eye wear the Ring?

As it's Christmas I hope forum members won't mind if I ask a stupid question. If Sauron was a disembodied lidless eye then how could he put the Ring on if he captured it?

thetolkien.forum

And here is the ultimate question...

If Sauron got his ring back, how would he wear it? That was a serious question... If he got his ring back how would he be able to wear it. Or it would be better to ask, where would he wear it? In his eye?! :D This is something that no one ever asked and I think that not even Sauron himself...

thetolkien.forum

And the earliest reference I've found to the "evil lighthouse": 😁
Post in thread 'The Return of the King Reviews Thread' https://thetolkien.forum/threads/the-return-of-the-king-reviews-thread.14280/post-386457

 

[Glorfindel Goldtress]

One thing I find interesting about Sauron's "Eye" is in the original manuscript of Beren and Lúthien, where of course Sauron is Tevildo the cat. His cat eyes were described as flashing red and green, and this supposedly was the original influence to the metaphorical Eye of Sauron. Also, the golden collar with the magic of Cats was kept in the conception of the One Ring.

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

 

[Elthir]

No comment.

 

[Kiredor]

Two months ago, for my writing class final, I did a project on lotr! My project was mainly about differences between the books and the Peter Jackson films' representation of the Eye of Sauron. personally, I find that the films' depiction of the Eye has made it even more confusing than in the books - hence my project!
The main question of my project was: Is Sauron the Eye? The films would seem to imply yes - it is the only image used to represent Sauron except for in flashbacks to the Second Age. Perhaps this was because of the books' rather vague depiction of Sauron at all, though Tolkien did this for a reason! However, I believe the books imply that Sauron does have a physical body:

However, the films seem to imply that Sauron has no physical manifestation apart from the Eye:

In the books, there are many examples of eye imagery not just describing Sauron. In fact, the one and only description that matches how the Eye appears in the films is how Frodo sees the Eye in the mirror of Galadriel in Fellowship. It is so strange to me that the films chose this singular image and made it the only thing Sauron is.
And I feel the question still remains, is Sauron the Eye? I find that even in the books it is still somewhat ambiguous. And personally, I love that ambiguity! I feel that the films sought to erase it to make the story more digestible, but that comes at the cost of the stronger images of the books.
Let me know if you guys have any thoughts!

This must have been a good project to work on! You picked a really interesting and complex topic for your final. Looking at the Eye of Sauron as both a real thing and a symbol gets right to the heart of how Tolkien tells his stories. Your main question is Sauron the Eye? seems simple at first, but it actually opens up big ideas about how evil works, how it’s seen, and whether it needs a body to act.

Fo me, I think Tolkien liked to leave things unclear in certain areas, i.e. let the reader think about the deeper aspects. The Eye isn’t just a scary image, it’s a symbol of power that controls without being physically present. In the movies, though, that idea gets turned into one big, fiery eyeball. It looks cool, but it simplifies what Tolkien was doing. You made a smart observation about Frodo’s vision in Galadriel’s mirror, that’s the only moment in the books that really matches how the Eye looks in the films. It shows how the filmmakers went for something dramatic instead of something more subtle.

Your quote from Gandalf about Dol Guldur was a great choice. It proves that Sauron does get his body back, and that he’s not just a ghost or spirit. The movies leave that part out and focus on the Eye, which shifts the theme from “power can corrupt” to “evil is always watching.” That’s a big change, and you explained it really clearly.

You highlighted the main difference: Tolkien’s version of evil is more about the soul and spirit, while the films turn it into something you can see and fear. The Eye becomes a shortcut for terror, but it loses the deeper idea of Sauron as a powerful being who once walked the world in physical form.

 

[Erestor Arcamen]

This thread is my go-to when this question comes up, it's a decent discussion on what Sauron looked like in the Third Age (he wasn't a lighthouse )

What does 👁️Sauron look like?

What did Sauron look like in the Third Age? Just like he did after Numenor in the Second Age.... Let's dig a bit here. (I sure hope I can find the 4 fingers quote) First, before we get to the messiness of what his shape was like, let's establish the fact that Sauron did indeed have a shape...

thetolkien.forum