The message inscribed on the One Ring. What does this line mean?

Question

The second last line of the message reads:

One ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them

What exactly does this mean?

By them, I'm assuming it's referring to the humans, elves and dwarves Sauron gave rings of power.

By ...and in the darkness bind them, does he mean to bind them to his will like slaves, or to trap them in some way/place? Were the elves and dwarves supposed to end up ringwraiths like the humans?

What is the darkness?

Maybe no explanation is ever given, I'm just curious. For a long time I thought it read and in the darkness BITE them. Which I assumed meant to kill them.

possible duplicate of In the inscription of the One Ring, what or who does "them all" refer to? — Andres F., Feb 03 '15 at 15:56
I don't think this is a dupe. It's asking what the darkness refers to and none of the answers explicitly speak to that point. — Valorum, Feb 03 '15 at 16:14
Agreed with @Richard - I'll be using my un-dupe hammer here if this gets closed :) — , Feb 03 '15 at 18:22
@Daft - You don't hear that a lot. Unless you've had a very odd upbrining. — Valorum, Feb 03 '15 at 19:27
@Daft - Iron Maiden? Excellent! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rE3bc8rCy6Q — , Feb 03 '15 at 23:22
"Them all" clearly refers to all the rings. "In the darkness" clearly refers to the metaphorical darkness of Sauron's rule. — JK., Feb 04 '15 at 00:18
That is not the last line of the poem, but the second-to-last line. The last line is In the land of Mordor where the shadows lie. — trysis, Feb 04 '15 at 09:34

score 22 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 03 '15 at 16:12

22

It's pretty clear (from the Silmarillion and other texts) that the "darkness" is intended semi-metaphorically. It refers to Sauron's evil as creating a figurative darkness over all he commands. Note also that his domains are always described as dark and brooding, even during the daytime.

Hail Eärendil, bearer of light before the Sun and Moon! Splendour of the Children of Earth, star in the darkness, jewel in the sunset, radiant in the morning!' _{^{- Silmarillion}}

...

'Four days and nights, and on into a fifth, we rode from the Black Stone,' he said. 'And lo! in the darkness of Mordor my hope rose; for in that gloom the Shadow Host seemed to grow stronger and more terrible to look upon. _{^{- LOTR : The Return of the King}}

...

The Men of Númenor were settled far and wide on the shores and seaward regions of the Great Lands, but for the most part they fell into evils and follies. Many became enamoured of the Darkness and the black arts; some were given over wholly to idleness and ease, and some fought among themselves, until they were conquered in their weakness by the wild men. `It is not said that evil arts were ever practised in Gondor, or that the Nameless One was ever named in honour there _{^{- LOTR : The Two Towers}}

...

Gandalf fell silent, gazing eastward from the porch to the far peaks of the Misty Mountains, at whose great roots the peril of the world had so long lain hidden. He sighed. There I was at fault,' he said. I was lulled by the words of Saruman the Wise; but I should have sought for the truth sooner, and our peril would now be less.' We were all at fault,' said Elrond, and but for your vigilance the Darkness, maybe, would already be upon us. But say on!' _{^{- LOTR : The Fellowship of the Ring}}

answered Feb 03 '15 at 16:12

Valorum

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You might also contrast with the light of Aman, and the light of the secret fire. Plus, contrast with the outer darkness, and the darkness of Morgoth. – Lexible Feb 03 '15 at 17:01
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@Lexible - You're not wrong, but I concluded that after a while I was simply flogging a dead horse by piling reference onto reference. – Valorum Feb 03 '15 at 17:05
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@Richard You can never have enough references :) – Daft Feb 03 '15 at 17:10
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Note also that in the War of the Ring Sauron exported literal darkness over the lands he intended to conquer...for a little while at any rate. – Oldcat Feb 03 '15 at 17:21
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@Richard to make this a more complete answer, you may want to add a TL;DR or something like "The line refers to Sauron's ultimate goal - bringing the other rings of power under his own dominion." – Omegacron Feb 03 '15 at 18:53
This is a great answer Richard, much appreciated. Would you have any idea as to what bind them means? Did Sauron intend to turn all of recipients of the rings into ringwraiths? – Daft Feb 03 '15 at 22:49
@Daft - It's reasonably clear that the intention was to control the will of those that were wearing the rings, binding them to the will of the wielder of the One Ring. – Valorum Feb 03 '15 at 22:58
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1kvf1l/eli5_what_does_the_one_ring_actually_do/cbtig6k – AndreKR Feb 04 '15 at 02:55
@AndreKR that's actually a great explanation of what the One Ring was intended for. Cheers! – Daft Feb 04 '15 at 09:07

score -1 · Answer 2 · answered May 17 '15 at 11:42

-1

One Ring to bring them all - surely this means to tie all of the Rings of Power to the One Ring, and bind the holders to Sauron's will?

answered May 17 '15 at 11:42

Eric Peckham

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Welcome to scifi.stackexchange! I actually find it quite plausible what you're saying (myself, I've always read it that them refers to the Rings, not the peoples), but as you have phrased the post it's not so much an answer as a counter-question, and thus should rather be a comment – unless you can rephrase it and add some supporting references. – leftaroundabout May 17 '15 at 23:07

The message inscribed on the One Ring. What does this line mean?

2 Answers2