The_Meemeli t1_jeei0rb wrote
Reply to comment by albert_r_broccoli2 in The LOTR The Return of the King is a great film but the confrontation with the Ghost Army has always puzzled me. by verc1ngetor1x
It wouldn't really have made sense for him to have a physical form without the ring, though.
verc1ngetor1x OP t1_jeeiej8 wrote
This was another question I had but thought I'd get buried if I admitted I never readthe books. How come Sauron's physical form is visible while he's wearing the ring?
Chaladan t1_jeejitq wrote
Sauron is essentially a spirit, albeit an extraordinarily powerful one. He is able to take many different physical forms, and once had a reputation as a shapeshifter. However, when he made the One Ring he put most of his power into it, so that he could better control it and therefore the other rings of power. It isn't that his physical form isn't visible when he doesn't possess the Ring, it's more that he doesn't have the power to manifest it in the same way. All he's capable of is the form of the Eye, and that's only after centuries of regathering his strength.
Dottsterisk t1_jeeke8h wrote
Importantly, this is according to the movie. In the books, Sauron is not a giant eye on top of a tower.
Chaladan t1_jeekiec wrote
True, it's more of a metaphor. Point still stands, though!
Aquagoat t1_jeeq11b wrote
Additionally, the ring doesn't have the 'power of Invisibility'. The ring contains Sauron's power, which is of the unseen world. Creatures who do not exist in this realm, are pulled there, and appear to disappear from the physical world when wearing the ring. This 'world' is more like a spiritual layer on our world.
If a creature who exists in both the Seen and Unseen wears the ring, nothing remarkable would seem to happen. So I believe if Elves wear the one ring, they wouldn't turn invisible. Perhaps even the three rings they wear would turn a mortal invisible by placing them in the unseen world as the one ring does.
Sauron of course exists in both realms, so wearing the ring doesn't switch him from Seen to Unseen like it does a Hobbit. And then as you say Chaladan, he just doesn't have the strength to manifest a physical body without the ring any longer.
jeffhopper t1_jeejxh2 wrote
Also never read the books, but recently picked them up on Kindle with audible narration to read/listen to at the gym. The newer audiobook is narrated/performed by Andy Serkis, and it is amazing! I'm almost finished with Fellowship, and I can't put it down. If you've ever been curious about picking up the books, I highly recommend the audiobooks. Make sure you get the Andy Serkis version and not the previous narrator.
verc1ngetor1x OP t1_jeekh0u wrote
I saw a promo of him narrating the Hobbit, it sounded great! I'll check it out one of these days.
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