Sauron: Good vs Evil

http://lotr.wikia.com/wiki/Sauron

Sauron was admired by the Elves. He was fair and just. Then he was corrupted by Morgoth’s ways. After Morgoth was defeated and taken away, Sauron repented and pleaded for mercy. When Eonwe told him to go to the west for judgment he refused and instead hid away in Middle-earth. Sauron laid in wait for a long time and when he arose he began corrupting creatures such as orcs and beings including men and building the Dark Tower. He wanted to bring the Elves to his side so he gave them knowledge and gifts. It is through this knowledge the Elves crafted Three Rings of power. Sauron, in secret, began crafting his own ring to rule the Elvish rings. Once he slipped on the ring the Elves knew he was up to no good. The Elves removed the rings and hid them away so Sauron could not find them. Sauron was furious and demanded the rings back. Sauron had also given the Dwarves Seven Rings and Men Nine Rings. The Dwarves never succumbed to his evil, but they did develop an insatiable lust for gold which lead to the destruction of many Dwarves. Men, however, as Sauron predicted, were the easiest to corrupt. All of the nine Men he had given the rings to were corrupted and became the Nazgul. Other men were also corrupted by his power but did not become the Nazgul. Sauron waged war on the Elves. He was eventually defeated by the Elves and he retreated. When he came back he tried to corrupt the Numenoreans but was not ultimately successful in his goal. He retreated once more. Sauron waged war against Elendil and eventually both Gil-galad and Elendil (and both of their armies). He dueled them both and killed them. Isildur, son of Elendil, then took up his father’s sword and cut the One Ring from Sauron’s finger. Sauron vanished and his armies fled the scene. Isildur was led up to Mount Doom to destroy it, but he was not able to do so. He had already been corrupted and refused to part with it. He was going to keep it as a family heirloom and pass it down, but he was killed by orcs. When he tried to escape into the river the ring slipped off his finger and into the river. The ring lay in the river and was found years later by Gollum. Sauron did not ultimately rise again until the Third Age. Another war would rage on then. 

                                                                   http://lotr.wikia.com/wiki/Sauron

Sauron is described as “fair” in the beginning but later is mentioned as being corrupted, dark, and cloaked in darkness. There are frequent mentions of darkness descending over the land and the land becoming corrupted from the darkness. Darkness is again associated with evil and light is associated with fairness or goodness. Elves are referenced as being good and fair. So, in essence, through the beginning of the novel to the end, the trope lives on. Good and Evil is also associated with the trope of men becoming corrupt and less pure or falling from grace. There is also a trope of men being power hungry. Sauron ties into the good vs evil trope and further establishes the notion that darkness is associated with evil doings and good is associated with white or lightness. The Elves are seen as the purest because they do not allow themselves to be corrupted while Men are seen as less than because they are able to be corrupted. Sauron is the ultimate evil as the corrupter, he is the snake in the Garden of Eden. His gifts lead to corruption, evil, and darkness.