Fans of fantasy have been drawn to The Lord of the Rings since the novels were published in the 1950s—in part due to the narrative focus on world-building, but also because each character is rich with both backstory and potential.
Peter Jackson’s trilogy excised many forgettable book characters during the adaptation process, streamlining LOTR for movie-going audiences without sacrificing the story’s innate allure. Each major character remains as multifaceted as Tolkien intended, making them prime candidates for a personality analysis using the twelve signs of the Zodiac.
12 Aries — Gandalf Is The Reason That Anything Substantial Even Happens In The Story
Gandalf is unbreakable, literally—he is cast into the pits of Moria and rises again, more radiant than ever. As an Aries, he refuses to dwell on probabilities when he can simply take action, a credo he has been following for over two millennia.
Gandalf is completely sure of himself, a feature that anyone who meets him instantly respects, not to mention his incomparable influence is the reason that anything substantial even happens in the story.
11 Taurus — Denethor Is Proud, Obdurate, And Treats His Children As Property
Denethor manifests several negative traits of the Taurus sign—pride, obduracy, treating his children as property, and believes that the Steward is far more suited to ruling than the king.
He believes that love is conditional, giving all of his to Boromir and offering none to his younger son, Faramir. Denethor’s greed is such that he flat-out denies the existence of the rightful ruler in order to maintain his power over Gondor.
10 Gemini — Gollum Takes Every Step To Regain His Precious
Gollum, if nothing else, is extremely adept at adapting to his situation. He survives being incarcerated in Mordor and interrogated by Sauron himself, and later begs Shelob to spare his life, which she does despite her eternal hunger.
Gollum’s addiction to the One Ring overpowers him, which means that every single action he takes in his personal storyline gets him one step closer to his precious.
9 Cancer — Samwise Gamgee Resists The One Ring’s Temptation
Those born under the Cancer sign are known for three things: a limitless flair for imagination, a warm personality, and an unyielding sense of faith in their friends.
Samwise loves Frodo and Bag End more than anything else, so much so that the One Ring tempts him with visions of an infinite garden when he wears it. While Sam might not be educated like his master, he possesses a level of perception that far surpasses most characters.
8 Leo — Merry & Pippin Are Filled With A Fascination For The World Around Them
Merry and Pippin are fan-favorite troublemakers, in part because of their adoration for the spotlight. As Leos, the two Hobbits are filled with a fascination for the world around them, exhibiting intense joy with each new discovery.
They often turn serious scenes into comical ones with ease, although they are occasionally scolded for treating everything like a running gag. However, they eventually grow out of this childish behavior.
7 Virgo — Sauron Is Always A Dozen Steps Ahead Of His Opponents
Sauron’s limitless capacity for evil is matched by his incandescent intelligence, both traits of the Virgo sign, as counterintuitive as it sounds. He constantly camouflages his malice under various “benevolent” guises, such as Annatar in the Second Age.
However, his machinations never stop running, he never stops seeking different modes of manipulation to acquire and exert power. Sauron is dangerous because he’s always a dozen steps ahead of his opponents.
6 Libra — Galadriel’s Sense Of Duty Helps Right The Imbalance In Middle-earth
Galadriel has spent several thousand years ruminating on her youth, learning from her mistakes until she grows into the lustrous Lady of Lórien. She is a classic Libra—from her universal altruism to her sense of duty to set imbalances right.
Galadriel’s idea of justice may seem odd to outside observers, but it’s obvious that her experiences have led her to consider every scenario through the lens of rationality. She comprehends the necessity of emotions as well as their futility.
5 Scorpio — Frodo Baggins Is Extremely Daring and Courageous
Frodo may not seem like a Scorpio at first glance, but that’s because he doesn’t display the sign’s feisty dynamism. In every other sense—his loyalty, his conviction, his independence—he is a definitive Scorpio.
Frodo marches to Mordor without taking a single unnecessary break, knowing full well what would transpire if he fails to destroy the One Ring. Very few Hobbits (or Men, Elves, & Dwarves, for that matter) are as daring as he is.
4 Sagittarius — Elrond Is Direct And Honest With His Opinions
Elrond has been around long enough to know the perils of losing oneself to greed, even if he is unable to convince others to let go of their desires. As a Sagittarius, he tends to be extremely direct with his opinions; most people understand and respect him for his honesty.
Elrond is an excellent multitasker, as well, considering he manages to govern Rivendell while simultaneously working with Gandalf and Galadriel to establish the Fellowship of the Ring.
3 Capricorn — Gimli Is Determined To Play His Part In The Grand Scheme
Gimli’s Dwarf blood and Capricorn nature make him naturally perseverant, which is reflected in his firm determination to assist the Fellowship of the Ring in any way he can.
Legolas is always able to rely on his assistance in the direst of straits, as shown during the Battles of Helm’s Deep and the Pelennor Fields. That said, Gimli takes a long time to warm up to others, another Capricorn characteristic.
2 Aquarius — Legolas Is Non-Judgmental And Free-Spirited
Legolas is a typical Aquarius in that he is completely non-judgmental, although this occasionally comes off as apathy. He wants to protect his home Mirkwood from being destroyed by evil, devoting himself to the task with every fiber of his being.
Interestingly, Legolas is a little more free-spirited than other Silvan Elves, seeing as he seeks the tranquility of the sea over the harmony of the forest. He eventually leaves Middle-earth with his friend Gimli forever.
1 Pisces — Arwen Is Filled With Empathy And Generosity Towards Everyone
Being a Pisces, Arwen is filled with empathy and generosity towards every living being—she protects Frodo with her life at the Ford of Bruinen, and her mere presence heals those around her.
Unfortunately, her attachment to Aragorn eventually leads her to accept the Doom of Men, as she allows herself to perish after Aragorn’s demise from old age. Arwen is a powerful character even though she doesn’t show it all the time.
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