In J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, the primary embodiment of evil is Sauron, often referred to by his formidable titles, most notably The Dark Lord and Lord of the Rings. These titles directly reflect his immense power and malevolent influence over Middle-earth.
Sauron: The Embodiment of Evil
Sauron is the chief antagonist throughout The Lord of the Rings, representing a pervasive force of malevolence that seeks to dominate all free peoples of Middle-earth. Originally a Maia named Mairon, a spirit of the world who served the Valar Aulë, he fell from grace and became the most devoted lieutenant of the first Dark Lord, Morgoth. After Morgoth's defeat, Sauron rose to power, inheriting his master's ambition for dominion.
Key Titles and Aliases
Sauron assumed various names and titles throughout the ages, each reflecting a different aspect of his nature, power, or deceptive strategies. These aliases are critical to understanding his history and the fear he instilled:
| Alias | Significance |
|---|---|
| Sauron | His most widely known name, meaning "The Abhorred" or "The Abominable," representing his ultimate form as the embodiment of evil in the Third Age. |
| The Dark Lord | A common and direct title, signifying his supreme authority and power as the leader of evil forces, a successor to Morgoth. |
| Lord of the Rings | This title directly refers to his masterful creation of the One Ring, an artifact designed to exert his will and dominate the minds of all who possessed the other Great Rings of Power. |
| Mairon | His original name as one of the Maiar, reflecting his nature as a powerful spirit before his corruption. |
| Annatar | Meaning "Lord of Gifts," this was a beautiful guise he adopted in the Second Age to deceive the Elves of Eregion, tricking them into forging the Rings of Power. |
| The Necromancer | A sinister guise under which he operated in Dol Guldur in Mirkwood for centuries, quietly regaining strength and building his dark dominion before his true identity was widely known again. |
As The Dark Lord and Lord of the Rings, Sauron's very existence and ambition were the core of the evil that threatened to engulf Middle-earth. His power was vast, extending through his armies of Orcs, Trolls, Nazgûl, and other creatures of shadow, all subservient to his iron will. The struggle in The Lord of the Rings is fundamentally against his tyranny and the corrupting influence he wields through the One Ring.
