Some more musings on the main subject. It seems the main question in this thread is:
What exactly does Frodo see with the Ring on: 1. material Hroar of those who dwell in the World of Shadow or 2. their Fëar? In the first case all the clothes revealed in the Shadow World would be tangible and material, in the second case the garments would be mere illusion, intangible, spectral. In the first case the invisible bodies of the "unclad" nazgul would be clad in material, invisible clothes; in the second case the "unclad" nazgul would be literally naked.
Alfirin seemingly favors the first opinion (as I did myself in the opening post).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alfirin
While, Nazgul may be able to change their inner robes, I doubt they do, or at least do often. Since breathing seems optional (and as suggested earlier food is likey optional too) I imagine that in general Nagul do not sweat much if at all (likewise they probably do engage in any other bodily activities) so thier robes likey stay wearable far longer than they would on an ordinary man.) None the less the robes are likely chaged from time to time, since unless the bodily preservation powers provided by the ring also extend to them the clothes would evetually rot away and crumble (I know fabric can last ceturies from time to time, but this usally only happen when it is kept in special circumstances (perpetually in low moisture, or pickled in peat juice. anything a wraith would be wearing would be subject to the full range of enviorments and would likey rot as fast as any other clothes.
Also one minor correction. Just as we have esabished that a Nazgul without his cloak is not in a tecnical sense, naked, I would maintain that one wothut the black riding boots is not, technically bootless. The Naguls wore robes in thier "invisible form", they likely wore boots as well (or maybe slippers of the kind worn by the well to do indoors in the middle ages (more like leather socks in construction); the boots we see were likely worn over these. Just as riding a horse would be uncofotable naked, this would also apply to riding one barefoot.
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All this seems quite logical. I totally see it: trunks and pegs with invisible clothes in Minas Morgul, lesser wraiths under the competent direction of the late King Earnur busily mending robes and pants, sewing new soles to nazgul slippers….
Only… While all these fascinating details would be quite appropriate for some fantasy writers (like Herbert Wells), it is so very un-Tolkien-like, I can't even imagine that he could have intended this.
Moreover, let us consider the further implications of the "invisible clothes" theory. Ok, let us suppose the nazgul first don the invisible inner clothes, then cover them with ordinary visible cloaks and boots. But what about Calaquendi Elves? They are also plainly visible in the World of Shadow, but they hardly have any invisible clothes to wear under their ordinary garments. Yet the eyes of all creatures of the world of Shadow are able to see beneath the real-world clothes. So, would Glorfindel appear naked to a nazgul? Would Galadriel? Hmm… the latter would definitely be interesting… Just imagine: Galadriel expects a visit from Glorfindel and for decency sake she frantically strives to obtain some casts-off from Minas Morgul. Crazy?- yes.
I am afraid there goes the first theory….
