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#REDIRECT [[Saruman]]
{{evil infobox
| name=Sharkey
| image=[[File:Matt Stewart - Sharkey, Tyrant of the Shire.jpg|275px]]
| caption=''Sharkey, Tyrant of the Shire'' by [[:Category:Images by Matt Stewart|Matt Stewart]]
| pronun=
| othernames='''[[Saruman]]'''
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}}
'''Sharkey''' was the name that [[Saruman]] had used as the '''Boss''' of the [[Ruffians]].<ref name="Chapter">{{RK|Scouring}}</ref>
 
== History ==
During his time as the [[Lord of Isengard]], the faithless servant of the [[Dark Lord]] [[Sauron]], [[Saruman]], was given the alias Sharkey by all his people in [[Isengard]]. Although it was probably an [[Orkish]] word in origin,<ref name="Note">{{RK|Scouring}}, footnote</ref> Saruman presumed that it may possibly had been a sign of affection.<ref name="Chapter"/>
 
During the last stages of the [[War of the Ring]], a group of [[Ruffians]] working for "Sharkey" took over the [[Shire]] through the manipulation of [[Lotho Sackville-Baggins]]. Later, sometime after Saruman was released from the [[Tower of Orthanc]] by [[Treebeard]], the ruffians taunted the [[Shire-hobbits]] that Sharkey himself had come and would deal with them in time. When the [[Travellers]] returned to the Shire, it was discovered after the [[Battle of Bywater]] that Sharkey was actually an alias of the corrupted [[Order of Wizards|Wizard]] Saruman, who revealed himself at [[Bag End]].<ref name="Chapter"/>
 
== Etymology ==
Tolkien attempted to translate the alias into English from the [[Westron]] word. The name is not given a direct meaning, but in a footnote to the text, it probably originated as an [[Orkish]] word<ref name="Note"/> possibly relating to ''[[sharkû]]'' ("old man").<ref>{{App|Other}}</ref>
 
The word therefore is an Anglicization of ''sharkû'' and the ''-ey'' is intended to be the English "diminutive and quasi-affectionate ending ''-ey''".<ref name="Nomen">{{HM|N}}, p. 763</ref> A Westron ending of such function is not known.
 
== Other versions of the legendarium ==
The name was applied to many of the ruffians at various stages of the development of the chapter. At one point, the name Sharkey was previously '''Long Tom''' and simply referred to one of the [[Hobbiton]] ruffians,<ref>{{SD|IXn}}, note 7</ref> before Tolkien changed it to '''Big Sharkey''' and applied the name to an [[Goblin-men|Orc-man]] at [[Bag-End]], who was to be the Boss of the ruffians. Then he changed it again to '''Ruffian Sharkey''' before finally making it be a nickname for Saruman.<ref>{{SD|IX}}</ref>
 
{{References}}
[[Category:Anglicized Westron words]]
[[Category:Epithets]]
__NOTOC__

Latest revision as of 01:50, 9 June 2023

Sharkey
Matt Stewart - Sharkey, Tyrant of the Shire.jpg
Sharkey, Tyrant of the Shire by Matt Stewart
Biographical Information
Other namesSaruman

Sharkey was the name that Saruman had used as the Boss of the Ruffians.[1]

History[edit | edit source]

During his time as the Lord of Isengard, the faithless servant of the Dark Lord Sauron, Saruman, was given the alias Sharkey by all his people in Isengard. Although it was probably an Orkish word in origin,[2] Saruman presumed that it may possibly had been a sign of affection.[1]

During the last stages of the War of the Ring, a group of Ruffians working for "Sharkey" took over the Shire through the manipulation of Lotho Sackville-Baggins. Later, sometime after Saruman was released from the Tower of Orthanc by Treebeard, the ruffians taunted the Shire-hobbits that Sharkey himself had come and would deal with them in time. When the Travellers returned to the Shire, it was discovered after the Battle of Bywater that Sharkey was actually an alias of the corrupted Wizard Saruman, who revealed himself at Bag End.[1]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

Tolkien attempted to translate the alias into English from the Westron word. The name is not given a direct meaning, but in a footnote to the text, it probably originated as an Orkish word[2] possibly relating to sharkû ("old man").[3]

The word therefore is an Anglicization of sharkû and the -ey is intended to be the English "diminutive and quasi-affectionate ending -ey".[4] A Westron ending of such function is not known.

Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]

The name was applied to many of the ruffians at various stages of the development of the chapter. At one point, the name Sharkey was previously Long Tom and simply referred to one of the Hobbiton ruffians,[5] before Tolkien changed it to Big Sharkey and applied the name to an Orc-man at Bag-End, who was to be the Boss of the ruffians. Then he changed it again to Ruffian Sharkey before finally making it be a nickname for Saruman.[6]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Scouring of the Shire"
  2. 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Scouring of the Shire", footnote
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix F, "The Languages and Peoples of the Third Age", "Of Other Races"
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings" in Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 763
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Sauron Defeated, "Part One: The End of the Third Age: IX. The Scouring of the Shire: Notes", note 7
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Sauron Defeated, "Part One: The End of the Third Age: IX. The Scouring of the Shire"