The reason Sauron wanted to conquer Middle Earth... my theory...

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Originally Posted by doug*platypus

So, what I'm saying is that, with these things taken into consideration, his hatred, and his growing lust for power (if I may paraphrase one of my favourite movies, all those who gain power are afraid to lose it) are enough to explain why he wanted to conquer Middle Earth. I don't believe that he would have been seeking the return of his former master. I feel he would have been reluctant to once again assume a subservient role, as his ambition had grown in the interim. Or, as Willie says, perhaps his daddy decided to hug the mailman?!

But then what? If he would have conquered all, would there be anything of interest to keep the Old Eye going? If everyone who remained were dissatisfied, would that be enough? If all of the Free Folk ended - by choice like Denethor II or either fallen in bitter battle or by the games of the orcs - what would Sauron do then?

You really want to give some consideration to those retiring years before they show up.

Or would he, having conquered all resistance in Middle Earth, think that with its entire resources at his disposal, that he could export war to the West?

[Ibrîniðilpathânezel]

I tend to think that if he had conquered Middle-earth, Sauron might have given thought to conquering the West -- if it had not been removed from the planet. Sauron himself might have been able to find and cross the Straight Road to return to Aman, but could he have brought his armies with him? And he does have something of a paranoid personality; would he have trusted that Middle-earth would remain under his sway with him (and probably his most powerful minions) not there to mind the store (so to speak)? I think he would have had doubts. And if he is aware of the fact that the Valar called upon Eru Himself to protect Aman from Ar-Pharazon and his armies, might he not worry that they would not hesitate to do so again, should he somehow manage to present a direct threat to the West? My personal feeling is that Tolkien's remarks in Morgoth's Ring, that Sauron wanted order -- HIS order, thus with himself as ruler -- above all might well prevent him from doing more than toying with the idea of attacking Aman after conquering ME. The movement of troops and materiel between the worlds would be quite daunting, and I rather think that Sauron had a Miltonesque view of life, that it would be better to rule in Hell than to serve in Heaven. Tolkien's comments about the motives of Melkor and Sauron in MR also incline me to believe that Sauron really had no desire to see Melkor freed from the Void. Since Melkor's eventual aim was total nihilism, and Sauron was at all aware of it, he had to know that sooner or later, a free Melkor striving toward his personal goal would eventually turn on him. Without a world in existence, there would be nothing for Sauron to order and rule. To that end, Melkor's ability to wreak havoc worked to help make the peoples of ME easier to subjugate -- or would, once Melkor and his destructive madness were out of the picture. In that regard, the Valar did Sauron a favor, clearing the way for him to eventually conquer what Melkor wanted to destroy.

That said, it's certainly possible that Sauron, if he conquered ME, would turn his thoughts toward a campaign against the West, but just how hungry for conquest WAS he? Would he risk losing what he had finally gained, a world of his own? I wonder....