Sharkey was the name by which Saruman was known among his followers at Isengard and later among the ruffians who overran the Shire at his behest. Saruman apparently did not object to its use, regarding it as a "sign of affection".[1]
Etymology
A footnote to "The Scouring of the Shire" states that the name probably derived from the Orkish word sharkû, meaning "old man".[2] Tolkien describes it in "Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings" as an "[Orkish] nickname modified to fit CS", which in the books is represented by English, hence the use of the English diminutive ending -ey.[3]
Development
In an early version of "The Scouring of the Shire", the name Sharkey is borne by one of the ruffians who accost Frodo and his friends at Bywater. Later, Tolkien applied the name to a head ruffian residing at Bag End. The head ruffian was replaced in the final version of the chapter by Saruman, who then took on the name.[4]
References
- ↑ LR 6.08.219Digital Tolkien Project Citation Systems, The Lord of the Rings, "The Return of the King", "The Scouring of the Shire", Paragraph 219
- ↑ LR 6.08.219-fnDigital Tolkien Project Citation Systems, The Lord of the Rings, "The Return of the King", "The Scouring of the Shire", Paragraph 219, footnote
- ↑ 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
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Sauron Defeated, "Part One: The End of the Third Age: IX. The Scouring of the Shire", p. 94