Sauron Character Analysis

Sauron is a Maia who was seduced to Melkor’s side and serves as Melkor’s lieutenant during the Wars of Beleriand. Cruel and clever but cowardly, Sauron rarely fights physical battles personally, preferring to use sorcery. He attacks Huan for the glory of fulfilling the prophecy of Huan’s death but surrenders and abandons his fortress when Huan and Lúthien overpower him. After Melkor’s downfall, Sauron feigns humility for the Valar, but eventually refuses to undergo the humiliation of accepting their judgement and begins amassing power to rule Middle-earth. Like Melkor, he spreads lies and corruption among the people of Middle-earth to make them easier to control. Sauron, crafty and malicious, accepts defeat when Ar-Pharazôn invades, but then spends years manipulating Ar-Pharazôn into open rebellion against the Valar. Sauron escapes the resulting destruction of Númenor and takes power in Mordor, where he fights the Last Alliance of elves and men. Sauron’s greatest trick is his distribution of the Rings of Power among dwarves, men, and elves and his creation of the One Ring that controls the others and contains his power. A man named Isildur cuts the Ring from Sauron’s hand, severing his power and incapacitating him until the Third Age when the Ring (which was lost in the meantime) is found again. Sauron then returns to Mordor and wages war against the kingdoms of men. Sauron’s arrogance and pride lead to his downfall when he fails to anticipate an inconspicuous Halfling named Frodo who destroys the Ring and Sauron’s power with it.