Winged creatures or shadows in shape? Balrogs’s legend continues to wrap in mystery … and fire

When the members of the lines of the ring enter the mines of Moria, not only do they wake up an ancient terror, but also one of the longest and most connected debates among fans of The Lord of the Rings: Do Balrogs have real wings or not? The scene is iconic as disconcerting. Between shadows and flames, Durin’s ruin is presented as an imposing being and yes, he seems to have wings. But is that what Tolkien really meant?

Do the balrogs have wings?

It all started with a couple of ambiguous phrases. In The community of ringsTolkien himself wrote: “The surrounding shadow extended as two vast wings” And, later, “Suddenly he fell to great height and his wings spread from wall walls”. For some, this clearly indicates that Balrog has real wings. For others, it is a poetic metaphorA way to describe the devil’s shadow in combat.

The interpretation depends a lot on the approach: if you read the first sentence as a comparison (“Like two vast wings”), It can be assumed that it is a powerful but symbolic visual image. However, the second sentence, with its more direct tone, seems to suggest something more literal. And this is where the mess begins.

Farish physical wings or shadows

The defenders of The theory without wings is often based on the fact that Tolkien was extremely attentive with their descriptions. If he wanted to clarify that the Balrogs flew, he would have done it. Moreover, The idea that these creatures were figures wrapped in shadow and fire, without defined formstrengthens its terrifying character. The fear of the stranger, the void that consumes, can be much more effective than a specific description.

On the other hand, those who defend that they have wings not only rely on the second sentence of the book, but also in symbolism. Remember that the Balrogs fell Maiar, beings of an angelic nature corrupt by Morgoth. Wings would give them that touch of Angel fallenPowerful and terrible, similar to Lucifer in the Christian tradition.

And if that was not enough, In El Silmarillion There are steps which further feed the fire. Some Balrogs are said to fall into abysses during the old battles. Did they lose their wings when they fell? Or have they never really flew? Ambiguity continues to reign even in the darkest texts of Tolkien’s legendary.

The cinema has not helped … or yes, depending on who you ask

When Peter Jackson brought to the big screen The community of rings, made a decision that marked generations: Balroga had wings and clearly visible. Huge, dark and skeletal, which were lined up from wall walls to death, like a left dragon born from hell. This powerful image has become the “canonical” version for thousands of fans who had not read the books.

In front of him, Ralph Bakshi also opted for a winged balrogWith an aesthetic closer to a demonic manicore. The trend was clear: in the audiovisual, the Balrogs fly … even if At no time we see them really fly. We are only suggested that they could do it. And in this type of works, The suggested many times weighs more than explicit.

Also inside Power ringsThe Amazon series, The end of the second season showed a creature that spectators soon identify as the ruin of Durinwinged and wrapped in fire. Although Tolkien’s calendar does not fit at that aspect at all, The series fueled the debate on its physical characteristics.

What was Christopher Tolkien think?

With so much text to analyze, many expected Christopher Tolkien, son of the author and publisher of El Silmarilliongive a definitive response. But his statement launched more wood as a burning: “I never thought that the second mention of the” wings “of the Balrog had a different meaning for the first”. That is, for him, both descriptions were symbolic. But this is also questionable and there is no unanimity or among experts.

And this is the beautiful thing about all this. The fact that even today, decades after the publication of the book and its film adaptationsWe continue to discuss whether these demons have wings or not, he says a lot about the power of Tolkien’s work and the passion of his followers.