‘The Lord of the Rings’ Films Excluded These Magical Wildmen Characters

In J.R.R. Tolkien’s ‘The Lord of the Rings’, the Drúedain, also called the Wildmen, were a distinct and mysterious group. They were initially presented as one of the earliest cultures in Middle-earth, having crossed the Anduin River. They had black eyes that sometimes seemed to glow red, and they were short, stocky, and largely hairless, in contrast to ordinary men. They became isolated as a result of their peculiar appearance, and by the time of the events in ‘The Lord of the Rings’, the majority of them resided in the isolated Drúadan Forest, which is close to Rohan.

The Drúedain had a strong bond with the natural world and were excellent hunters and trackers. They were able to identify Orcs at a considerable distance because of their exceptional sense of smell, which was similar to that of hunting dogs. Their capacity to stay still and completely silent over long stretches of time was one of their most amazing qualities, which allowed them to protect their territories covertly. 

Image Courtesy: CBR

They were also adept at making lifelike statues called Púkel-men, which they used to fend off evil, especially Orcs, who were afraid of them. Although this magical capacity may have been overstated by outside observers, there was a rumour that the Drúedain could give these statues life, enabling them to battle their adversaries.

By leading the Rohirrim down a covert route to evade Orc armies, the Drúedain were instrumental in helping them in ‘The Return of the King’. They valued their independence and turned down presents from the Rohirrim despite their help. Perhaps because they played a supporting role in the story, the Drúedain were left out of the movies, but their presence in the books highlighted Tolkien’s message of respecting many cultures and appreciating the value of knowledge and talent that goes beyond outward appearances.

–Farheen Ali