⚠️ This section is not complete; expect significant updates.
Ring composition works on multiple levels in the character arcs of our hero and villain, Galadriel and Sauron. First, the structure of a hero journey arcs back on itself to come full circle: Galadriel’s arcing to touch the Darkness and then return to Light, Sauron’s to touch Light and return to Darkness, both returning with newfound insight. Second, parallels between their character arcs enable reflected symmetries that underscore meaning and that create smaller rings-within-rings. The character arcs of Galadriel and Sauron each form a large ring (chiasmus) spanning both seasons, the symmetric halves of which form a complete narrative ring within each season, respectively. I anticipate more rings within rings through the full (hopefully) five seasons of the show.
As hero and villain, Galadriel and Sauron experience inverse character arcs that trace two reflecting rings: Galadriel must touch the Darkness to know Light, and Sauron must touch the Light to fully and finally choose the Darkness. Each embodies both light and dark elements. Analogous to the symbol for yin and yang, Galadriel’s Light contains Darkness, and Sauron’s Darkness contains Light. Galadriel carries within her the Pride of the Ñoldor, instilled by Melkor himself. The first scene of the show alludes to her Pride as she fights the other children, her Pride causing her to “lose her footing”— to fall. As Galadriel reminds us in the first line of the show, nothing is evil in the beginning, and this is true for Sauron, who was originally a ‘good’ Maia and servant to Aulë, driven—even after his corruption by Melkor—by his love for order.
Each journeys inward to ‘touch’ the contrasting aspect in themselves, in order to obtain the knowledge needed to freely and in full agency choose their ultimate fates. Galadriel’s choice to follow the Light, when informed by her knowledge of Darkness and the potential for her to have chosen Darkness, is imbued with real strength and heroism. If virtue is never tested, is it truly virtue? One who has never known Dark can never choose Light. Likewise, Sauron’s choice to embrace the Darkness, when informed by his knowledge of and opportunity to choose the Light, becomes truly evil and villainous. Each must gain the knowledge required to step into their full agency and make a true choice, and it is in that exercise of free Will that their fates become sealed: Galadriel as true heroine, and Sauron as true villain.
Parallels between their arcs create reflected symmetries that contrast and underscore meaning. Galadriel’s Season 1 arc traces external conflict, while Sauron’s traces internal conflict. Galadriel seeks external conflict to battle the shadow out in the world, inadvertently allowing Darkness to thrive within. Sauron grapples with internal conflict, battling for internal control to choose Light. His internal conflict makes him complacent to the shadow in the world, vulnerable to defeat by Adar. Galadriel’s reward for her external conflict is the insight to cultivate humility—internal vigilance against Pride and Darkness. Sauron’s reward for his internal battle is the insight he needs to create the rings of power. Galadriel’s external conflict ends in an internal wound (betrayal by Halbrand), and the end of Sauron’s internal conflict is marked by an external wound (stab wound from enemy lance). Galadriel’s internal conflict ends in an external wound (stab wound from Sauron), and Sauron’s external conflict ends in an internal wound (betrayal by Galadriel). Galadriel’s and Sauron’s arcs into Light are both characterized by humility, allowing, and connection; whereas their arcs into Darkness are both characterized by pride, coercion, and isolation.
The following sections focus on the character rings of Galadriel and Sauron. I’ll break down the chiastic structure in more detail, but before I dig into structure, it’s important to address a couple of points about Sauron’s arc, in particular whether he sincerely repents.
NEXT: A Note On Sauron’s Repentance
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Ring Composition in The Rings of Power
Galadriel and Sauron: Reflecting Narrative Rings
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