Barrow-Wights - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Elenhin · 10-10-2001, 08:31 AM

I find it hard to believe that they could be Mannish spirits. As we all know, no one but Iluvatar can keep the spirit of a Man from leaving Ea after the body has died. The Dead Men of Dunharrow had taken an oath to follow Isildur (definitely a Good Guy in Iluvatar's mind) in a battle against Sauron and they didn't keep it - which apparently was enough for Iluvatar to keep the Mannish spirits in Ea until they fulfilled their oath. But evil Men of Carn Dum under the command of the Witch-King? Why would Iluvatar let them stay in Ea?

Instead, I believe that the Barrow-Wights were Elvish spirits. Morgoth's Ring (HoMe X) talks about Elves and their spirits after the death of the body. It says that a dead Elf is summoned to Mandos - but the Elf doesn't have to go. An evil Elf of Middle-Earth (such as one whose will has been broken by Melkor/Sauron) may stay in Middle-Earth if he so wishes, but there he can not reincarnate (reincarnation is possible only in Mandos and with Manwe's approval). These free Elven-spirits, Tolkien says, desire to have a form again and are always seeking bodies whose control they can wrestle away from the natural owner of the body. Necromancy (as practiced by Sauron and his followers) in Middle-Earth is based on communicating and cooperating with these "houseless" Elves, and we know that Witch-King was Sauron's most powerful servant - thus it makes sense to assume that the Witch-King had managed to call upon the spirits of dead evil Elves and send them to inhabit the Barrow-Downs.

What do you think of my theory? [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

10-10-2001, 08:31 AM	#3
Elenhin Wight Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Vantaa, Finland Posts: 205	I find it hard to believe that they could be Mannish spirits. As we all know, no one but Iluvatar can keep the spirit of a Man from leaving Ea after the body has died. The Dead Men of Dunharrow had taken an oath to follow Isildur (definitely a Good Guy in Iluvatar's mind) in a battle against Sauron and they didn't keep it - which apparently was enough for Iluvatar to keep the Mannish spirits in Ea until they fulfilled their oath. But evil Men of Carn Dum under the command of the Witch-King? Why would Iluvatar let them stay in Ea? Instead, I believe that the Barrow-Wights were Elvish spirits. Morgoth's Ring (HoMe X) talks about Elves and their spirits after the death of the body. It says that a dead Elf is summoned to Mandos - but the Elf doesn't have to go. An evil Elf of Middle-Earth (such as one whose will has been broken by Melkor/Sauron) may stay in Middle-Earth if he so wishes, but there he can not reincarnate (reincarnation is possible only in Mandos and with Manwe's approval). These free Elven-spirits, Tolkien says, desire to have a form again and are always seeking bodies whose control they can wrestle away from the natural owner of the body. Necromancy (as practiced by Sauron and his followers) in Middle-Earth is based on communicating and cooperating with these "houseless" Elves, and we know that Witch-King was Sauron's most powerful servant - thus it makes sense to assume that the Witch-King had managed to call upon the spirits of dead evil Elves and send them to inhabit the Barrow-Downs. What do you think of my theory? [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]