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05-14-2002, 12:56 AM | #1 |
Candle of the Marshes
Join Date: Mar 2002
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Why do the Nazgul need clothes?
No, really, why do they? It's explained in FOTR of the Nazgul that "their chief power is to inspire terror" but it's also mentioned that they are capable of doing this even when they are invisible to mortals. Just to be in the presence of a Nazgul, whether or not you can see them, is to be frightened ("night terror" or whatever you might call it). It's true that the black horses and sinister black robes certainly made a dramatic effect on the likes of Harry the gatekeeper and Bill Ferny, helping persuade them that passing on information was the wisest course.
But supposing the Nazgul hadn't worn any robes at all? They would have been completely invisible, but still able to inspire fear. And as dramatic as the black robes were, they were also a great way for them to be noticed. If Frodo saw them in the distance, he would go in the other direction. If they weren't wearing anything, though, he might not know that the Nazgul were even around until an invisible hand grabbed him. Granted he would be feeling very frightened beforehand, but when was Frodo NOT feeling frightened, especially once they'd left Crickhollow? (except for Bombadil's house, of course). This isn't meant to be flippant really - maybe the answer is that the Nazgul were incapable of, for example, picking him to carry off to Mordor unless they were doing it with something material like a glove or long sleeve. But why did they need to make themselves so conspicuous and thus so much easier to avoid?
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05-14-2002, 07:14 AM | #2 | |
Regal Dwarven Shade
Join Date: Jan 2002
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To give shape to their nothingness in their dealings with the living.
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They were not invisible in the same way as Frodo or Bilbo when they wore the Ring. The Nazgul had actually fallen into a state of semi-existance that rendered normal interactions impossible. Thus, they had a need for visible forms so they could relate to the world around them. And, they did not seem so very easy to avoid. If it had not been for the intervention of Strider, they would have gotten the hobbits. They almost did anyway.
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05-14-2002, 08:01 AM | #3 | ||
Regenerating Ringkeeper
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Holland
Posts: 757
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Yes, the main reason to give the Nazgûl clothes was to give shape to there nothingness. How else could they have dealings with the mortals?
Quote:
1. He'd rather not be seen on the road. 2. He had an unwholesome feeling about that horse sound. When he saw the Ringwraith, he noticed that he didn't see, and that the Ringwraith rather used his nose (the sniffling) than their eyes. After this event they all have the feeling that they should avoid these 'men'. And they don't do that by looking out very carefully for horses, but by listening very carefully. So I guess, that even if they didn't have any clothes they wouldn't have found Frodo any sooner, maybe they wouldn't even have found him yet for I think that the robed helped them when they were asking things to any mortal. With the robes around their nothingness they could be seen, and that would be the reason why someone answered. If (in example) you were farmer Maggot and you would a horse coming towards you with nothing on it. The horse stops just in front of you and suddenly you hear voice, but you don't see a thing. Wouldn't you consider yourself to be physologically ill? Or anything like it. In fact, I think I wouldn't answer to a thing that I can't see and that I would consider to go visit a doctor to see if I'm alright. So in my opinion the used their robes to communicate with the mortals. Quote:
I think the only reason of the Nazgul wearing robes is the one mentioned in LotR: to give shape to their nothingness for their dealings with the living. greetings, lathspell
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'You?' cried Frodo. 'Yes, I, Gandalf the Grey,' said the wizard solemnly. 'There are many powers in the world, for good or for evil. Some are greater than I am. Against some I have not yet been measured. But my time is coming.' |
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06-04-2002, 05:00 PM | #4 |
Shade of Carn Dûm
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: The Halls of Montezuma, and the Shores of Tripoli
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Two words, my friend.
Indecent exposure. [ June 04, 2002: Message edited by: Gimli Son Of Gloin ]
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06-04-2002, 05:21 PM | #5 |
Wight
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 133
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Yeah, who wants to see a nakie Nazgûl? [img]smilies/eek.gif[/img]
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06-04-2002, 05:31 PM | #6 |
Shade of Carn Dûm
Join Date: May 2002
Location: stronghold of the North
Posts: 390
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I suppose that dark robes,by making their owners visible to the world, just added to the feeling of terror the Nazgul could evoke. It's one thing when you experience some unreasonable, unexplainable fear, and quite another when you see the sourse of it and recognize the power they represent.
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06-04-2002, 06:40 PM | #7 |
Shade of Carn Dûm
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Nufaciel, you wouldn't see us even if we WERE naked. Besides, we have invisible clothes underneath the visible clothes, and it is v. hot underneath all of it.
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06-04-2002, 07:30 PM | #8 |
Cornus Caliga
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Oy, I'm sure it is.
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06-05-2002, 06:32 PM | #9 |
Ghost Prince of Cardolan
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I think the Nazgul need clothes to make themselves visible to mortals when they were conversing with them. Not very many people would actually talk to a voice coming from something they couldn't see, they would just think they were hearing things.
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06-05-2002, 06:34 PM | #10 |
Shade of Carn Dûm
Join Date: May 2002
Location: East of the Misty Mountains
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Quote from LotR: "The Nazgul will return shapeless to their Master..."
Another quote: "The Nazgul take the form of riders cloaked in black in their dealings with mortals..."
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06-05-2002, 06:42 PM | #11 |
Shade of Carn Dûm
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Good points, all of you. I think that answered the question, but still, some aren't so sure.
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06-06-2002, 10:56 AM | #12 |
Shade of Carn Dûm
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Hobbiton
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Don't forget the Nazgul are also leaders of Sauron's army.
By the way, this is my first post. [img]smilies/cool.gif[/img]
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06-06-2002, 11:20 AM | #13 |
Wight
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 133
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Welcome to the downs!
I am perfectly aware of why a Nazgul wears what he wears, I was joking.
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06-06-2002, 01:13 PM | #14 |
Wight
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Holland
Posts: 131
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I don't like their boring Nazgulclothes
A pink dress would match their uglyness much better? [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]
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06-06-2002, 01:23 PM | #15 |
Cornus Caliga
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How about psychedelic! The Nazgûl need a little bit of groove in their step! And then they could have one of those color-changing horses from Emerald City!
Nah, actually I think they look better in black.
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06-06-2002, 01:35 PM | #16 | |
Haunting Spirit
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Lol black doesn't show the dirt. And pink would be cool like in dude where's my ring.
Quote:
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06-06-2002, 02:37 PM | #17 |
Ghost Prince of Cardolan
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: In a box with a fox
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Realy Luinsewiel? [img]smilies/eek.gif[/img] I do too! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]
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06-06-2002, 03:37 PM | #18 |
Shade of Carn Dûm
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: big...scary...castle...
Posts: 277
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i like the black decor. it's funny. bright pink, yes, that;s the way to go.
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06-06-2002, 09:52 PM | #19 |
Wight
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Colorado (just east of the Misty Mts.)
Posts: 111
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Maybe they wear clothes to "buffer" themselves in the saddle? [img]smilies/eek.gif[/img]
Or maybe they are just cold. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]
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06-07-2002, 10:46 AM | #20 |
Shade of Carn Dûm
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Hobbiton
Posts: 328
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You people are wierd. I love it!
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06-10-2002, 09:49 PM | #21 |
Shade of Carn Dûm
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ACTUALLY THEY JUST WEAR THE ROBE CAUSE THE DONT WANNA SCARE THE PEOPLE THE TALK TO AND TO GET THE ANSWERS THINK HOW DIFFERENTLY THE
FIRST PART OF FOTR WOULD HAVE GONE WITH OUT THE CLOTHES THE NAZGUL WEAR NAZGUL: SHIRE, BAGGINS GAFFER: I HAVE TA STOP DRINKING, IM HEARING THINGS! [img]smilies/redface.gif[/img]
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06-11-2002, 11:01 AM | #22 |
Shade of Carn Dûm
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Hobbiton
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Nice way of putting it. btw Welcome to the Downs!
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06-24-2002, 05:00 AM | #23 | |
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06-24-2002, 11:51 AM | #24 |
Shade of Carn Dûm
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The Nazgul are mostly in the wraith world, but somewhat in the physical world at the same time, so they can interact with the world; with limitations of course. I agree on the magical equipment thing; normal clothes just be useless if they couldn't even put them on.
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06-24-2002, 02:19 PM | #25 | |
Ghost Prince of Cardolan
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Quote:
Check here and here for more discussion on this topic. |
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07-01-2002, 10:59 AM | #26 |
Guest
Posts: n/a
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ah one that I know. the answer is that the Nazgul were their black robes to conceal themselves from mortals. I understand that this sounds somewhat... unintelligent, so let me explain: it says in the Unfinished Tales that the Nazgul were even more terrible when they were unclad. I also agree that it aids them in comunications with mortals etc.
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07-01-2002, 05:30 PM | #27 |
Pile O'Bones
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Mirkwood
Posts: 14
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the reason the black riders wear clothes is so that they can be see. Very simple but i see why you were wondering. in other wards the nazgul are... invisible, with out clothes to show their form, they... arent as threating. I think the reason they wear so much armour is because clothes dont cover every paryt of your body. it doesnt caover you hands.
Malady
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07-02-2002, 09:05 PM | #28 |
Ghost Prince of Cardolan
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Mithlond
Posts: 783
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Oh, come on, people! Everyone knows that the Nazgul love to spend tons of money on designer robes! Duh! (ducks as others throw random things)
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07-03-2002, 02:30 PM | #29 |
Shade of Carn Dûm
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Hobbiton
Posts: 328
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They could probably see each other, so they might not have wanted to see each other naked.
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07-05-2002, 08:05 AM | #30 |
Wight
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 117
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The reason as stated above was so that the nazgul could deal with mortals. If you read Unfinished Tails they have a great explanation on this. They needed to deal with people cause they did not know where the Shire was. Also, when they are wearing nothing, their ability to cause fear actually increases... this was something that Sauron did not want for this particular mission (getting the ring). He wanted it to be done as low key as possible so that Gandalf and others would not be alerted and try to stop them. Anyway, its all in Unfinished Tails... great description.
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07-09-2002, 12:23 AM | #31 |
Guest
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I believe they had cloths so they wouldnt feel inferior around eachother. Nothing makes you feel worse than noticing your neighbor is better looking than you. Expecially from a guys point of view. Thats at least what I think. Plus us special people who can see the nazgul even when there invisable would probally be scared for life. [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img]
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07-09-2002, 11:15 AM | #32 | |
Animated Skeleton
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Canada
Posts: 40
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I think I would be too embarassed to run around nude on their horses. I'm also betting the horse won't be all that comfortable with the situation.
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07-09-2002, 02:53 PM | #33 |
Ghost Prince of Cardolan
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: New York
Posts: 829
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They need something around their disembodied figures in order to be seen [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]
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07-09-2002, 02:56 PM | #34 |
Ghost Prince of Cardolan
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: New York
Posts: 829
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Either that or they were embarrased [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img]
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Si vanwa na Romello vanwa Valimar!~*~ ~*~Now lost, lost to those from the East is Valimar! My LotR page |
07-24-2002, 03:01 AM | #35 |
Guest
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Hello pee[z- is there ax ne1 here? please p2p?
[img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img] |
07-24-2002, 03:07 AM | #36 |
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u r rite if they had no clothes they'd b invisible when frodo put d ring on at weathertop he could see them underneath their cloaks but the others couldnt they saw shapeless forms under cloaks also they wudnt b very scary if they were these naked peepz on horses.
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07-24-2002, 11:15 AM | #37 |
Shade of Carn Dûm
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Augh! You people are filling my mind with images of naked Nazgûl. Thank you.
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08-14-2002, 08:20 PM | #38 |
Shade of Carn Dûm
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U SAY THAT THE NAZGUL ARE MORE TERRIBLE(IF POSSIBLE) WITHOUT THE ROBES(CAN U IMAGINE)
BUT I WANT A DISCRIPTION YA KNOW BUFF TANNED WHATEVA [img]smilies/evil.gif[/img] (PS THATS A HORNY DEVIL)
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Athrabeth *is still doing the wave for Boromir the Disco-King* Oh...and call me Morgy! |
05-19-2003, 02:04 PM | #39 | |
Ghost Prince of Cardolan
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Quote:
Anyway this topic is very interesting but everything that is needed to be said has already been said [img]smilies/rolleyes.gif[/img] ... wish I came earlier!! [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img]
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05-29-2003, 12:45 PM | #40 |
Wight
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: the dark recesses of the mind
Posts: 223
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The solution is a simple one: its so that in the movie, we can see them and in the book, we can picture them in our imagination. You have to admit, if they didn't wear the robes than book 1 of FOTR would pretty much suck.
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