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The Weirdest Details About Shelob in The Lord of the Rings

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Many wicked characters can be found in both J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels and movies. Saruman dwells within Orthanc, with some Orcs serving him in Isengard nearby. In a hidden lair, Torech Ungol lurked, but it was Shelob who stood out due to her peculiar traits and characteristics. In the books, she appears in “The Two Towers,” but Peter Jackson introduced her earlier in “The Return of the King.

Alone yet equally vicious as any other malevolent creature in Middle-earth, Shelob stands out as a formidable adversary for Frodo and Sam. She shares an unusual connection with Gollum, and her very existence instills fear, not just in the faint of heart, but even in the bravest. From her menacing appearance to her voracious hunger, there’s nothing about Shelob that fails to send a shiver down one’s spine.

She Was Her Own Fighter

As a movie reviewer, I found it intriguing in the Lord of the Rings trilogy how Shelob, despite not being on Sauron’s side, proved instrumental in his plans by obstructing the path at Cirith Ungol. One would expect a creature like her to be a loyal minion to the Dark Lord, given her ominous appearance and actions. However, it seems that her allegiance was not as clear-cut as many others’. Instead, she served more as a wildcard in Sauron’s scheme, adding an extra layer of suspense and unpredictability to the storyline.

Shelob, in truth, existed for her own benefit, disregarding the well-being of others. Regardless of their nature, she saw everyone as potential prey and behaved accordingly. This made her particularly menacing, as no one held power over her, ensuring her attacks would never be halted. Essentially, Shelob embodied the essence of evil, albeit not in Sauron’s inner circle.

It’s Far From Being a Random Word

It’s well-known that Tolkien, a linguistic scholar, had an exceptional knack for word formation and was fluent in various languages. He skillfully applied his extensive linguistic knowledge to his novels, even inventing new languages such as the Elvish Quenya. Westron, often referred to as the common speech, wasn’t developed to the same extent as Elvish, though it still played a role in his literary works.

Despite this, numerous words in his works have roots in the Westron language, with Shelob being one example. The first syllable refers to femininity, while the second is derived from an old English term for spiders. Although Tolkien’s vocabulary may seem like imaginative fabrications, they all carry specific meanings and definitions that he carefully chose.

Everything Was Prey to Her

Previously mentioned, Shelob didn’t discriminate when choosing her victims – this included her own kin. Remarkably, she would consume her own offspring. This behavior mirrors that of certain real-world spiders, as some species resort to cannibalism among their family members or even devour their mothers. While such behaviors are part of nature’s cycle, in the case of Shelob, it only serves to intensify the chilling aura she projects.

In my humble opinion as a movie reviewer, it’s worth mentioning that Shelob’s kin could be found scattered across Middle-earth. Given Shelob’s self-serving nature, it comes as no surprise that she would resort to her progeny when hunger struck. If there was nothing else edible within reach, rest assured, no boundary would deter her from sating her appetite.

A Few Characters’ Stories Didn’t Have a Definitive Ending

In the movies, Shelob emerged as a potentially lethal hurdle for Frodo and Sam. It was up to Sam to ward her off, and it was plainly evident that she was an unsavory being. Moreover, viewers are not privy to what transpired with her afterwards. This could be because Tolkien himself was uncertain of her fate. He purposefully left some aspects of the narrative unresolved, creating a captivating air of mystery and suggesting that these characters might still be alive.

In the stories, it is mentioned that Shelob had disappeared, leaving open the possibility of her lingering in her den harboring resentment and suffering… or perhaps she perished from Sam’s injuries. The exact outcome remains a mystery for fans to ponder over. Leaving certain conclusions ambiguous adds an element of intrigue and mystery to the narrative.

Ungoliant Has Ties to Sauron’s Superior

Although it’s challenging to trace all aspects of Shelob’s background, it is certain that she was the youngest offspring of the colossal spider named Ungoliant. Contrary to Shelob’s reluctance to collaborate with Sauron, Ungoliant did establish a partnership with Melkor before severing their bond. Ungoliant, being the most ancient spider in Arda, had instilled her malevolent intentions much earlier than the War of the Ring.

Although the exact cause of Ungoliant’s death isn’t clearly mentioned, it is believed that she may have perished due to her unquenchable hunger, consuming herself in the process. There seems to be no known name for Shelob’s father, but Ungoliant had previously mated with other spider species in the valley of Nan Dungortheb and even consumed them. It appears that Shelob possesses many traits inherited from Ungoliant.

Her Towering Stature Was Crucial for the Story

In this trilogy, it effectively demonstrated the varying sizes of Middle-earth’s races, underscoring potential strength discrepancies among them. For instance, the diminutive Hobbits stood out against characters like Gandalf due to strategic camera angles and techniques such as forced perspective. Moreover, Shelob, a CGI character, was portrayed as towering at 8 feet tall and stretching 17 feet in length.

The impressive size of Shelob served as a testament to her formidable nature, allowing fans to appreciate her colossal stature contrasting with the unassuming Hobbit. It was fitting for such a massive creature in the fantastical realm of Middle-earth, where extraordinary beings are far removed from ordinary life.

He Was Able to Use Her Evil Nature to His Own Benefit

It’s often debated if their relationship was truly one-sided, as it appeared to be more of a partnership, despite being advantageous for Shelob over Gollum. They initially encountered each other when Gollum was freed from his captivity in Mordor. It might seem paradoxical to state that Shelob spared Gollum’s life, but there was a rationale behind it. Gollum had made a promise to provide her with food.

In the Lord of the Rings films, his promise becomes evident when he intentionally leads Sam and Frodo towards her, expecting an attack from her as it would provide Gollum with a chance to reclaim the One Ring. His actions were all geared towards getting back his “treasure,” while Shelob was primarily focused on what benefits she could gain from him.

It Wasn’t Just Sam’s Bravery That Injured Shelob

Besides her massive build and tough hide serving as armor, Shelob possessed incredibly thick skin that no other being could penetrate. Yet, it’s puzzling how Sam, who seemed so vulnerable, managed to inflict such damage on her. It’s worth noting that he was able to throw off Shelob’s balance using the bright light from the Phial of Galadriel. Additionally, Sam leveraged Shelob’s own heavy weight to his advantage in their battle.

Instead of intentionally impaling herself on Sting, as some might suggest, it was more like Shelob inadvertently pressed her body against the blade while trying to fend off Sam. The lack of control over her strength led to the wound. This injury was sufficient for Shelob to retreat, and once again, underscored the immense size and power of this spider for the audience.

Shelob Was Frightening Even to the Most Heinous Beasts

The fearsome Orcs, known for their immense power and serving as formidable fighters under Sauron, held Shelob in great dread. It’s quite thought-provoking given the Orcs’ role, yet it underscores just how terrifying Shelob truly was. In essence, even Sauron’s minions dared not challenge her path, showing their respect for her immense power and abilities.

Without much thought, it’s clear that if she was prepared to consume anything and everyone, and had the strength to carry out such acts, then Orcs were not an exception. They addressed her as “ladyship,” demonstrating their readiness to submit to her, fearing they might become her next meal.

He Had His Own Pet Name for Her

Sauron found no issue with Shelob residing in Cirith Ungol; on the contrary, he appreciated the protection she offered. Inadvertently, she served as a formidable obstacle. Due to her strategic location, Sauron often referred to her as his guardian.

It turns out she was remarkably self-reliant, much like a cat that prefers its own company over people. Sauron didn’t exactly own her; instead, her dwelling suited him nicely. He would offer her prisoners to capture and consume, finding it beneficial and amusing to watch. In essence, using her as a pet served his purposes well.

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2025-04-28 05:05

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