Assuming he is somehow permitted total rule of Middle-earth (something which would never have happened as it went against fate itself) then Sauron would probably rule as a tyrant. But unlike Morgoth, who would have destroyed everything he could have, eventually even his own servants, to utterly mar Iluvatar's Creation, Sauron would have tried the technological route, like Saruman dabbled in, I think. Sauron was all for progress and advancements, so long as he had absolute control of the proceedings.
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Utúlie'n aurë! Aiya Eldalië ar Atanatári, utúlie'n aurë! Auta i lómë! Aurë entuluva!
Filli, I agree with Glorfindel 1235. Sauron would use his control to gather to himself all of Middle-earth's resources and use his technology (like the One Ring) to dominate the rest of the world to his service. With a shudder, Bear
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Wouldn't be able to as it was taken out of the Circles of the World. Sauron himself might be able to find the 'Straight Road' but none of his minions could follow.
Don't forget that there are lands west and east of Middle-earth, desolate and empty, ripe for Sauron to take control of.
Thats always been a bit of a mystery...what would happen if Elves took mortals (not permitted) with them to the West? Would they be able to find the straight road or not?
Personally I don't think so. We aren't talking about trying to trick technology here, I think the Valar would know and the ship wouldn't be able to find the way.
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Utúlie'n aurë! Aiya Eldalië ar Atanatári, utúlie'n aurë! Auta i lómë! Aurë entuluva!
I find it interesting that Tolkien (in a 1971 letter to Roger L. Green) said that the immortals bound for Aman: '... set sail in ships specially made and hallowed for this voyage,... ' (and steered due West towards the ancient site of these lands).
There were tales and rumours that arose in any case (AKALLABETH) that forlorn Men, by some fate or grace or favour of the Valar, had entered in upon the Straight Way '... and there had looked upon the White Mountain, dreadful and beautiful, before they died.'
It might be noted that, after Tolkien had devised the Change of the World (the World made round, specifically), it seems he still imagined the frame of Elfwine the Mariner surviving a voyage to Eressea. However JRRT appears to have ultimately abandoned the Elfwine-frame, and he also was thinking of implying that a once flat earth was a wrong Mannish notion in any case, although surviving in certain texts.
Doesn't really have anything to do with Sauron, but oh well.
This is an interesting question, and one that I have often wondered about myself. What was Sauron's real motivation in dominating Middle Earth? Morgoth had a very clear cut purpose - to utterly destroy the vision of Arda shown by Iluvatar to the Valar and prevent them from fulfilling their task. He was at war with the Valar and it was personal. He sought nothing less than to overthrow the West.
Sauron's motivations, in contrast, seemed to be far baser and lacking in depth. It appeared that all Sauron desired was power and control over others upon Middle Earth. He certainly lacked the capability to overthrow the Valar or the final will of Iluvatar. The Silmarils and all beautiful things wrought by the Elves were also forever out of his grasp. Would any amount of control over the mortal world be enough for Sauron, an immortal being? If he had the will of every living being under his power, save the Elves who escaped to the West, would it be enough? What would his mind turn to then? I imagine there are only so many trees one can rip up and Orcs one can boss around before it starts to feel a little empty.
I sometimes wonder if, after Sauron had utterly destroyed the old ways of the World, down to the very last foundation, if he would not begin to order the world to his own liking in a manner befitting his status as a very powerful Maiar. Perhaps Sauron could never be good again, but it would make no sense for him to desire an empty, lifeless, dark and ruined planet where nothing could flourish, even his own evil creations. I wonder what kind of world Sauron would create?
-- Edited by The Secret Fire on Tuesday 28th of July 2009 02:51:30 AM
I don't think he would have done either of those things Filli. While it seems likely that Sauron, if Morgoth were able to return, would fall into line, there was no way for him to bring him back. And I do not think he would have worried much from an attack from Valinor as it had been taken out of the world. Beyond all of the domination and re-ordering of Middle-earth, its hard to imagine what the long-term plans could be.
