LOTR: How Was The Light Of The Trees Of Valinor Extinguished?

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Light is one of the most important elements in Middle Earth, because it banishes darkness, and can harm all of the evil creatures and beings that dwell in shadow. This love of light that is shared by elves and men alike, stems from long before the Children of Illuvatar were awoken, long before they were even conceptualized within Eru’s mind. It stems from the two Trees of Valinor, created by the Ainur Yavanna, which gave off such an ethereal beauty in their silver and gold illuminations that the light fused with the looker's soul and kept them pure and content ever after.

But as light is the enemy of dark things, there were those in the world who wanted to destroy the light of the Trees, taint it and ruin it so that no others could share in its joy. This, ultimately, is the goal of the evil lords in Middle Earth, from Melkor to Sauron, from the Witch King of Angmar right down to Saruman the once white wizard. They wish to eradicate all that is good and brings hope, and replace it with the hollow void that exists inside themselves. And this is exactly what was achieved when Melkor managed to drain the light of the Trees of Valinor, and ruin their beauty forever. But how could the evil lord, powerful that he was, eradicate such a loved and well-protected treasure?

Why Do The Elves Long For The Sea?

He sought out a creature that is the exact opposite of life and love and joy, a creature who feeds off light and has an insatiable need to devour everything that gleams and glows. The creature was called Ungoliant (Shelob's mother) who at first existed as a formless entity of pure darkness and shadowy death, but she eventually came to take on the form of a monstrous and grotesque spider, at the bidding of Melkor, who promised her