How Sauron Knew of Sam and Frodo at Mount Doom

In J.R.R. Tolkien's classic masterpiece The Lord of the Rings, the climax of the story revolves around the epic journey of Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee to Mount Doom. However, a recurring question from readers often surfaces: how did Sauron know it was Frodo and Sam at the volcano?

Understanding Sauron's Knowledge

The answer lies in the properties inherent to the One Ring and Sauron's ability to sense its presence. Initially, Sauron was aware of the Fellowship's presence near the battlefield at Parth Galen. It wasn't until Frodo decided to claim the Ring for himself that Sauron became fully cognizant of the threat.

Frodo's Claim and Sauron's Awareness

1. Frodo's Decision to Claim the Ring

Frodo and Sam were the last members of the Fellowship who made it to Mount Doom. The journey was fraught with danger, fraught with betrayal, and filled with self-doubt. As they approached the volcanic lair, Frodo made the fateful decision to claim the Ring, turning it on and asserting his control.

Whenever the Ring was used, it would call to Sauron, as he had done in his cauldron in Barad-d?r. With the Ring on his finger, Frodo became a visible target to Sauron.

2. Sauron's Reactions to the Ring's Use

Sauron's knowledge was based on the Ring's power to communicate with him. This is why Sauron became aware of Frodo when he finally put the Ring on at Mount Doom. Sauron did not know the individual identities of Frodo and Sam, but he knew that someone was indeed wearing the One Ring in his own realm, Mordor.

Additional Insights

It's important to note that Sauron was not always directly aware of every minor detail about the Fellowship. The allies of Sauron, such as Gollum, provided him with reports of “bold spies” prowling the borders. However, the detailed awareness of specific identities would have come later. Sauron's initial awareness was more about a general threat rather than individual spies.

The Role of the Ring

The narrative emphasizes that the Ring's use at Mount Doom was a critical turning point. Frodo's decision to claim the Ring was the final trigger for Sauron to realize that his greatest fear had become a reality.

What About the Parth Galen Incident?

While Sauron's full awareness of the Ring's use didn't come until Frodo's final act, he was still aware of the general threat. At the battlefield of Parth Galen, Frodo had to put the Ring on to escape Boromir's attack. This action did not trigger immediate awareness in Sauron, as it was a temporary and defensive measure. The decisive moment was when Frodo and Gollum reached Mount Doom and Frodo claimed the Ring definitively.

According to the text, Sauron became aware of Frodo's intentions when Frodo put on the Ring and claimed it. This moment was the metacrisis that brought the full weight of Sauron's attentions towards his former master.

The awareness of Sauron was based on the Ring's properties rather than Sauron's agents directly informing him. The Ring's properties allowed Sauron to sense its presence and use, making it a powerful tool in determining when to overwhelm his enemies or when to change his tactics.

Conclusion

Sauron's knowledge of Frodo and Sam at Mount Doom was directly linked to Frodo's decision to claim the Ring. This pivotal moment was the crux of Sauron's full awareness, marking the peak of the story's tension and the decisive struggle against the ancient evil.