Why do the Nazgul need clothes?
 

No, really, why do they? It's explained in FOTR of the Nazgul that "their chief power is to inspire terror" but it's also mentioned that they are capable of doing this even when they are invisible to mortals. Just to be in the presence of a Nazgul, whether or not you can see them, is to be frightened ("night terror" or whatever you might call it). It's true that the black horses and sinister black robes certainly made a dramatic effect on the likes of Harry the gatekeeper and Bill Ferny, helping persuade them that passing on information was the wisest course.

But supposing the Nazgul hadn't worn any robes at all? They would have been completely invisible, but still able to inspire fear. And as dramatic as the black robes were, they were also a great way for them to be noticed. If Frodo saw them in the distance, he would go in the other direction. If they weren't wearing anything, though, he might not know that the Nazgul were even around until an invisible hand grabbed him. Granted he would be feeling very frightened beforehand, but when was Frodo NOT feeling frightened, especially once they'd left Crickhollow? (except for Bombadil's house, of course). This isn't meant to be flippant really - maybe the answer is that the Nazgul were incapable of, for example, picking him to carry off to Mordor unless they were doing it with something material like a glove or long sleeve. But why did they need to make themselves so conspicuous and thus so much easier to avoid?

To give shape to their nothingness in their dealings with the living.

Yes, that's pretty much it. I think that without a visible form they might have had difficulty in physically doing anything, like grabbing Frodo or taking the Ring.
They were not invisible in the same way as Frodo or Bilbo when they wore the Ring. The Nazgul had actually fallen into a state of semi-existance that rendered normal interactions impossible. Thus, they had a need for visible forms so they could relate to the world around them.

And, they did not seem so very easy to avoid. If it had not been for the intervention of Strider, they would have gotten the hobbits. They almost did anyway.

Yes, the main reason to give the Nazgûl clothes was to give shape to there nothingness. How else could they have dealings with the mortals?

Frodo didn't see them coming, in any rate not until he knew what they were. In the Shire he heard the sound of hooves. Inmediately afterwards he got the feeling that they should hide. He became terrified. He explained that this had two reasons:
1. He'd rather not be seen on the road.
2. He had an unwholesome feeling about that horse sound.
When he saw the Ringwraith, he noticed that he didn't see, and that the Ringwraith rather used his nose (the sniffling) than their eyes. After this event they all have the feeling that they should avoid these 'men'. And they don't do that by looking out very carefully for horses, but by listening very carefully.

So I guess, that even if they didn't have any clothes they wouldn't have found Frodo any sooner, maybe they wouldn't even have found him yet for I think that the robed helped them when they were asking things to any mortal. With the robes around their nothingness they could be seen, and that would be the reason why someone answered.
If (in example) you were farmer Maggot and you would a horse coming towards you with nothing on it. The horse stops just in front of you and suddenly you hear voice, but you don't see a thing. Wouldn't you consider yourself to be physologically ill? Or anything like it. In fact, I think I wouldn't answer to a thing that I can't see and that I would consider to go visit a doctor to see if I'm alright.
So in my opinion the used their robes to communicate with the mortals.

I think that this can't be a reason, because if they, without robes, were incapable of picking anything up, wouldn't they also be unable to were robes? Wouldn't that fall through their nothingness as well?

I think the only reason of the Nazgul wearing robes is the one mentioned in LotR: to give shape to their nothingness for their dealings with the living.

greetings,
lathspell

Two words, my friend.

Indecent exposure.

[ June 04, 2002: Message edited by: Gimli Son Of Gloin ]

Yeah, who wants to see a nakie Nazgûl? [img]smilies/eek.gif[/img]

I suppose that dark robes,by making their owners visible to the world, just added to the feeling of terror the Nazgul could evoke. It's one thing when you experience some unreasonable, unexplainable fear, and quite another when you see the sourse of it and recognize the power they represent.

Nufaciel, you wouldn't see us even if we WERE naked. Besides, we have invisible clothes underneath the visible clothes, and it is v. hot underneath all of it.

Oy, I'm sure it is.

I think the Nazgul need clothes to make themselves visible to mortals when they were conversing with them. Not very many people would actually talk to a voice coming from something they couldn't see, they would just think they were hearing things.

Quote from LotR: "The Nazgul will return shapeless to their Master..."

Another quote: "The Nazgul take the form of riders cloaked in black in their dealings with mortals..."

Good points, all of you. I think that answered the question, but still, some aren't so sure.

Don't forget the Nazgul are also leaders of Sauron's army.

By the way, this is my first post. [img]smilies/cool.gif[/img]

Welcome to the downs!

I am perfectly aware of why a Nazgul wears what he wears, I was joking.

I don't like their boring Nazgulclothes


A pink dress would match their uglyness much better?
[img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

How about psychedelic! The Nazgûl need a little bit of groove in their step! And then they could have one of those color-changing horses from Emerald City!

Nah, actually I think they look better in black.

Lol black doesn't show the dirt. And pink would be cool like in dude where's my ring. I talk to things i can't see all the time and to inanimate(sp?)objects like the floor, my locker, my pen, my history teaher the list goes on. [img]smilies/eek.gif[/img]

Realy Luinsewiel? [img]smilies/eek.gif[/img] I do too! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

i like the black decor. it's funny. bright pink, yes, that;s the way to go.
http://www.theunholytrinity.org/crac...x/prpldead.gif http://www.theunholytrinity.org/crac...x/prpldead.gif http://www.theunholytrinity.org/crac...x/prpldead.gif

Maybe they wear clothes to "buffer" themselves in the saddle? [img]smilies/eek.gif[/img]

Or maybe they are just cold. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

You people are wierd. I love it!

ACTUALLY THEY JUST WEAR THE ROBE CAUSE THE DONT WANNA SCARE THE PEOPLE THE TALK TO AND TO GET THE ANSWERS THINK HOW DIFFERENTLY THE
FIRST PART OF FOTR WOULD HAVE GONE WITH OUT THE CLOTHES THE NAZGUL WEAR
NAZGUL: SHIRE, BAGGINS
GAFFER: I HAVE TA STOP DRINKING, IM HEARING THINGS! [img]smilies/redface.gif[/img]

Nice way of putting it. btw Welcome to the Downs!

In reply to this, I say that perhaps their robes and equiptment were magical. Also, I must ask a new question. What is the nature of the Nazguls' non-existance here? Are they mostly in another plane, but are projecting part of themselves onto Middle-Earth? Are they phased out?

The Nazgul are mostly in the wraith world, but somewhat in the physical world at the same time, so they can interact with the world; with limitations of course. I agree on the magical equipment thing; normal clothes just be useless if they couldn't even put them on.

There's a problem with this concept. Either they occupied physical space or they didn't. If they did, then they should be able to manipulate objects in the physical world without robes or gloves. If they didn't, then how could they wear robes or gloves? I don't see how there can be any middle-ground here; how is it that their forms can fill physical gauntlets, but can't grasp Frodo or a ring?

Check here and here for more discussion on this topic.

ah one that I know. the answer is that the Nazgul were their black robes to conceal themselves from mortals. I understand that this sounds somewhat... unintelligent, so let me explain: it says in the Unfinished Tales that the Nazgul were even more terrible when they were unclad. I also agree that it aids them in comunications with mortals etc.

the reason the black riders wear clothes is so that they can be see. Very simple but i see why you were wondering. in other wards the nazgul are... invisible, with out clothes to show their form, they... arent as threating. I think the reason they wear so much armour is because clothes dont cover every paryt of your body. it doesnt caover you hands.
Malady

Oh, come on, people! Everyone knows that the Nazgul love to spend tons of money on designer robes! Duh! (ducks as others throw random things)

They could probably see each other, so they might not have wanted to see each other naked.

The reason as stated above was so that the nazgul could deal with mortals. If you read Unfinished Tails they have a great explanation on this. They needed to deal with people cause they did not know where the Shire was. Also, when they are wearing nothing, their ability to cause fear actually increases... this was something that Sauron did not want for this particular mission (getting the ring). He wanted it to be done as low key as possible so that Gandalf and others would not be alerted and try to stop them. Anyway, its all in Unfinished Tails... great description.

I believe they had cloths so they wouldnt feel inferior around eachother. Nothing makes you feel worse than noticing your neighbor is better looking than you. Expecially from a guys point of view. Thats at least what I think. Plus us special people who can see the nazgul even when there invisable would probally be scared for life. [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img]

I think I would be too embarassed to run around nude on their horses. I'm also betting the horse won't be all that comfortable with the situation. agreed

They need something around their disembodied figures in order to be seen [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Either that or they were embarrased [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img]

Hello pee[z- is there ax ne1 here? please p2p?
[img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img]

u r rite if they had no clothes they'd b invisible when frodo put d ring on at weathertop he could see them underneath their cloaks but the others couldnt they saw shapeless forms under cloaks also they wudnt b very scary if they were these naked peepz on horses.

Augh! You people are filling my mind with images of naked Nazgûl. Thank you.

U SAY THAT THE NAZGUL ARE MORE TERRIBLE(IF POSSIBLE) WITHOUT THE ROBES(CAN U IMAGINE)
BUT I WANT A DISCRIPTION YA KNOW BUFF TANNED
WHATEVA [img]smilies/evil.gif[/img] (PS THATS A HORNY DEVIL)

Hmm that can't be too good!!

Anyway this topic is very interesting but everything that is needed to be said has already been said [img]smilies/rolleyes.gif[/img] ... wish I came earlier!! [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img]

The solution is a simple one: its so that in the movie, we can see them and in the book, we can picture them in our imagination. You have to admit, if they didn't wear the robes than book 1 of FOTR would pretty much suck.