Shelob

Shelob is a fictional character in J.R.R. Tolkien's high fantasy novel, The Lord of the Rings. She is a monstrous, ancient, and evil Great Spider dwelling in the tunnels of Cirith Ungol, on the borders of Mordor.

Shelob is described as the "last child" of Ungoliant, a primeval being of darkness and insatiable hunger who aided Melkor (Morgoth) in destroying the Two Trees of Valinor in the First Age. While not possessing the same immense power as her mother, Shelob inherited Ungoliant's predatory nature and immense size, becoming a terror to those who dared venture into her domain.

Shelob primarily feeds on orcs and other creatures that stray into her lair, but she prefers fresher prey, particularly Men and Elves. Her lair is a labyrinthine network of tunnels and webs, filled with the decaying remains of her victims. She uses her cunning and stealth to ensnare her prey, injecting them with a paralyzing venom before consuming them.

In The Two Towers, Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee encounter Shelob while attempting to enter Mordor. She nearly kills Frodo, but Sam manages to wound her severely with Sting, Frodo's elven-made sword, and the Phial of Galadriel, forcing her to retreat into her lair. While Shelob survives the encounter, her immediate threat to Frodo and Sam is removed.

Shelob represents a primal force of evil, a creature of pure hunger and malice. She is a symbol of the dangers and horrors that lurk in the dark places of the world, and a formidable obstacle in Frodo's quest to destroy the One Ring. Her existence highlights the pervasive nature of evil in Middle-earth and the courage required to confront it.

After the War of the Ring, it is assumed that Shelob remained in her lair, though her ultimate fate is not explicitly stated. It is likely that, weakened and wounded, she eventually succumbed to starvation or was killed by other creatures.