"The Mirror of Galadriel" - Jacob's Thoughts

I feel as though Celeborn could've been speaking on behalf of Eric when he lamented, "one would say that at last Gandalf fell from wisdom into folly, going needlessly into the net of Moria."

But then I also feel that Tolkien responds directly to Eric (and other such critical readers) through the Lady Galadriel's rejoinder: "He would be rash indeed that said such a thing...Needless were none of the deeds of Gandalf in life.  Those that followed him knew not his mind and cannot report his full purpose."

This statement is effective at inaugurating the aura of mystery that permeates both this realm of Lothlórien and the chapter itself.  For only the second time this novel, Frodo has another cryptic vision of the Ocean that he's never seen before (I had in fact forgotten about his first one in "A Conspiracy Unmasked," even though I'd written about it--and I hadn't realized that this would be a repeating dream; I'm please Tolkien hasn't forgotten the Sea); we also get our first hint that Gandalf is not as irrevocably lost as we assumed for the last 2 chapter, though Tolkien wisely keeps it ambiguous as to whether Frodo sees Gandalf or the more nefarious Saruman; and as though to further worry us about the dark forebodings about these visions, we get what I believe is our very first ever glimpse of the eye of Sauron.

Among the more controversial moves of the Peter Jackson films is his introduction of the physical presence of Sauron right from the get go, keeping him constantly foregrounded throughout the rest of the series.  Far more effective, I think, is Tolkien's choice to not provide any sort of image of the chief antagonist until we are well over three-quarters our way through the first novel.  Our imaginations can thereby run wild, creating something far more terrifying than any words could describe.  Since Sauron is so much a creature of our worst nightmares, it makes sense that his first genuine appearance should arrive in such a dream-like setting, and pop up in such an unexpectedly dream-like manner.

And then what an introduction!  A single eye emerging from the darkness, rimmed with fire, a feline yellow like some inhuman predator, like something straight out of the darkest recesses of our subconscious, looking, hunting, for you specifically!  The water itself bubbles and smokes, and the ring becomes heavy, reminding us again of its own wicked agency, and almost reaches out for its Dark Master right there and then!  We're not entirely sure that Frodo and Sam aren't all just dreaming this sequence (they had just barely lied down to sleep when Galadriel bid them follow), but that doesn't distract from its terror--in fact, it only augments it.  This is the sort of scene that is normally written on a bad drug trip, or after a fitful night's sleep.

Then comes the "test" of Galadriel, which I was surprised that, with the exception of the co-presence of Sam, goes down exactly as the film presents it.  But then, it shouldn't have been a surprise, for it's a very cinematic scene, deeply impactful and almost more frightening than the appearance of the eye of Sauron.  What I'm a little more baffled by, then, is what, exactly, are the parameters of this "test."  I mean, I understand that the Ring corrupts whoever owns it, even those with the best of intentions, so I'm glad that she resisted the awful temptation (and her line "All shall love me and despair!" is almost more frightening, in a BDSM sorta way, than Sauron, who merely demands your submission, not your adoration too!).  But why, exactly, must the elves "diminish" with the destruction of the Ring?  Why is this a Catch-22 for the elves between domination and exile?  What ancient Faustian deal did they make that resulted in their fates on Middle-Earth being tied to the Ring's existence?  I confess that I'm confused as to this particular plot point.  Can either of you explain it to me?

Likewise intriguing is Galadriel's statement that the elves will not submit to Sauron "for they know him now," implying that they didn't before, and didn't for awhile.  Now that Sauron has made his first real appearance, I admit that I'm all the more intrigued with him now: was he some sort of "devil appearing as an angel of light" in some earlier era?  Before he became Nightmarish Oppression personified, was he a smooth-talker?  A sales-man?  Charming?  Handsome?  Likeable? A disimulator who conquered through seduction and a silver-tongue?  Why didn't the wise old elves know him for what he was at first?  Was he just that smooth before he finally cast off his disguise and revealed himself for the devil he really is?  Suddenly Sauron isn't just a "Generic Boss Character" to defeat anymore, but a real being with a real past and a real personality.  It's almost with sadness that I realize this series probably won't answer any more of my questions about him.