Open, in the name of 🌋Mordor!

[Rivendell_librarian]

I was struck by this demand of a Black Rider seeking to gain entrance into the hobbit house at Crickhollow where Frodo et al had stayed overnight. There's no attempt at deception e.g. "I have a special delivery for you that needs signing for" (the usual postman is off sick). Maybe the idea is that the name "Mordor" instils such fear as to force compliance but Fatty Bolger made a sharp exit out the back door.

It put me in mind of those films where the police demand "open up in the name of the king" e.g. the seeking after Bill Sikes and Fagin towards the end of Oliver Twist.

Do we know if the Nazgul (or other "bad guys" in TLOTR) actually think they are bad and so villains, or do they consider themselves as heroes?

 

[Olorgando]

Do we know if the Nazgul (or other "bad guys" in TLOTR) actually think they are bad and so villains, or do they consider themselves as heroes?

It's the whole "power corrupts" thing, something akin to a drug habit. Being able to get your way no matter what probably gives such people a rush. Getting a rush is always "good" for junkies. Everything else takes a back seat to it, and anything that prevents the (repeated) rush becomes bad. Especially if the addiction is one that leads to withdrawal symptoms if the next rush is delayed too long. There are far more addictive things than the usual suspects involving drink, smoke, noses or syringes.

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

As to the command, "magic words" appear in several places in LOTR. In this instance, you'll notice that they are uttered after the first blow against the door:

There was a blow, soft but heavy, and the door shuddered.

'Open, in the name of Mordor!' said a voice thin and menacing.

At a second blow the door yielded and fell back, with timbers burst and lock broken.

The same sequence is followed at the Gate of Minas Tirith:

With a vast rush Grond was hurled forward by huge hands. It reached the Gate. It swung. A deep boom rumbled through the City like thunder running in the clouds. But the doors of iron and posts of steel withstood the stroke.

Then the Black Captain rose in his stirrups and cried aloud in a dreadful voice, speaking in some forgotten tongue words of power and terror to rend both heart and stone.

Thrice he cried. Thrice the great ram boomed. And suddenly upon the last stroke the Gate of Gondor broke. As if stricken by some blasting spell it burst asunder: there was a flash of searing lightning, and the doors tumbled in riven fragments to the ground.

It seems the "words of command" in each case are "magical" in some way, allowing the doors to be broken.

This is, of course, only one of many parallels in the two incidents, which replicate and reflect each other.

 

[Vorondil]

Open, in the name of Mordor!​

Maybe its just a cool way to open a door, I'm going to try it next time I have to pass through a shut door.

 

[Rivendell_librarian]

As to the command, "magic words" appear in several places in LOTR. In this instance, you'll notice that they are uttered after the first blow against the door:




The same sequence is followed at the Gate of Minas Tirith:



It seems the "words of command" in each case are "magical" in some way, allowing the doors to be broken.

This is, of course, only one of many parallels in the two incidents, which replicate and reflect each other.

Thanks for this. This shows the value of the Bombadil excursion. Frodo has experienced the power of magic words through meeting Tom Bombadil. Frodo's words are far more beautiful than those of the Black Riders. This is something that PJ's adaption misses.

 

[grendel]

Maybe its just a cool way to open a door, I'm going to try it next time I have to pass through a shut door.

Yeah, how did that work out for you? 😄

 

[Olorgando]

Open, in the name of Mordor!

Maybe its just a cool way to open a door, I'm going to try it next time I have to pass through a shut door.

You might get the annoyed reply "No thanks, we already have plenty of doors!" 😁

 

[Vorondil]

Yeah, how did that work out for you? 😄

I've only tried it on my brother so far, and being my brother he didn't react in the slightest (though he did at least open the door)

 

[Server Room Gremlin]

(though he did at least open the door)

 

[Vorondil]

View attachment 28720

The problem is that I banged on the door and said: Open in the name of Mordor! Lunch is ready.
So he may have been responding to the second half.

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

 

[Server Room Gremlin]

The problem is that I banged on the door and said: Open in the name of Mordor! Lunch is ready.

Ah, well then it appears the Black Riders missed a trick. Also, they are looking for hobbits. It might work even better.

 

[Deimos]

Thanks for this. This shows the value of the Bombadil excursion. Frodo has experienced the power of magic words through meeting Tom Bombadil. Frodo's words are far more beautiful than those of the Black Riders. This is something that PJ's adaption misses.

PJ missed things???!! ...🙄

 

[Deimos]

Yeah, how did that work out for you? 😄

Don't encourage him... please don't.

 

[Vorondil]

Don't encourage him... please don't.

Oh, its too late for that.

 

[Rivendell_librarian]

I feel a short Monty Python video featuring a military man coming on.

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]