Make room for dragons: dragons are animals, even so

» desertblue - dragons are animals, even so

Just a thought, and I am only aquainted with Smaug. But I think that dragons must have limitations that arise from them being animals (with their own instincts to follow).

Although dragons are intelligent, they (Smaug at least) don't seem to to desire world dominion or the power to rule. They want to be supremely acknowledged in their own corner of the world, and to sleep on their hoard. Smaug was plenty content when he wasn't feeling challenged.

Then Bilbo stole a cup and badgered his sense of self-importance, so Smaug bestirred himself to 'lesson' the river-men.

After causing utter local destruction, Smaug probably would have settled back down to dream of gold...

Sauron's use of the dragon Smaug would've been a bit of effort, to turn him from his instinctual proclivities. With the Ring it would've been easier, but I can't see a dragon interested in commanding armies, or working with others in any way.

It's like the spiders. As animals (yes, intelligent too), they have their own orientations. Sauron couldn't drag them into an army (maybe with the Ring, perverting them from their proclivities). Shelob and the Mirkwood spiders lurk from the shadows and hunt for food. They enjoy it (the hunting) but it's not about aquiring any power, or even treasure.

My guess is that dragons and spiders are limited servants who have agendas of their own. Sauron couldn't seduce them with offers of lands, armies, rulership, power or whatever. Incorruptable in their own ways, like Bombadil. The dragons don't need Sauron for aquiring treasure. The spiders don't need Sauron to throw them food. He would've had to pervert their natures, and he didn't have the Ring to do that with.

So he was smart enough to allow these creatures to be who they were and use them where he could, helping them from behind-the-scenes, until the Ring returned. Sauron didn't mind Greenwood becoming a nasty place and I think he made things as messy as he could from Dol Guldur.

He probably sapped the will of any would-be heroes with the Smaug business, as it suited his purposes to let the dragon lie.

But I don't know how the dragons conducted themselves in Morgoth's time.

-- posted by desertblue