Why did the Nazgul not succeed in Bree and on Weathertop?

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Originally Posted by Ibrîniðilpathânezel

But this often seems to be the nature of prophecy, and fate: seemingly endless possibilities are blown because there is an intended person (or persons) who are to fulfill the prophecy, and no one else. Thousands of others who fill the criteria can be in what seems the right place and the right time, but not succeed because they are not, in actuality, the Intended One.

Sounds like prophecy is a little too self-fulfilling and circular. Who is the intended one? The one that fulfills the prophecy. Who fulfills the prophecy? Why, the intended one, of course.

That all said, I now have issue with the 'Frodo is a threat' argument. If on Weathertop Frodo is seen as a possible threat, however remote, and seemingly the Nazgul have some knowledge regarding Hobbits' inherent resistance (Gollum, Gaffer, Maggot), and then later, knowing that no hobbit wraith came a calling, would have to realize that Frodo survived the poisoned blade, why then would the Witch-King ignore Merry on the battlefield?

In this case, the WK himself believed in the prophecy, enough to quote it on the field of battle.

He just used it as yet another weapon - to demoralize his opponents. Had two men attacked and bested him, the Witch-King prophecy would have been fulfilled and we'd be none the wiser. "We are no man!"


And welcome to the Downs, Ibrîniðilpathânezel and Nazgûl-king.