Zahin Hasan
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- Joined
- Apr 9, 2024
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Hi, I’m Zahin. I live in Bangladesh. I have been a huge fan of Tolkien for almost 40 years.
Here is an essay I wrote on the origin of Orcs. Based on Morgoth’s Ring.
In the published Silmarillion it says that orcs are corrupted Elves. This was an editorial choice made by Christopher Tolkien.
If you read Morgoth’s Ring, you will see that JRRT never decided on the origin of orcs. Unresolved philosophical matters like this probably explain why JRRT never completed the Silmarillion. CFCR
After reading JRRT’s notes (published in Morgoth’s Ring), I think JRRT had decided that Morgoth could not have robbed an elf or a human of his God-given soul (to transform him into a soul-less Orc). He would certainly not have been able to make the transformation heritable (remember, orcs breed).
It’s more likely that Maia loyal to Morgoth took the forms of the first Orcs, and bred soul-less Orcs.
We know that Maia can take any form they wish, and we know that they can reproduce. This possibility is mentioned in Morgoth’s Ring.
When reading LOTR and Silmarillion, I remember being surprised that there were no orcs who “redeemed” themselves with a good deed.
Not one.
Even Smeagol was a complex character, who tries to be loyal to Frodo; he fails because the power of the Ring over him is too strong.
When I read Morgoth’s Ring this became clear to me.
Sméagol still has a soul, and can still choose (sometimes) to do the right thing.
Orcs are born without a soul. They are motivated by Morgoth’s evil will, which is somehow programmed into them (into their DNA)?
Here’s a quote from JRRT’s notes, published in Morgoth’s Ring.
(From Part V: Myths Transformed; under text VIII; essay on Orcs; Page 409 of my copy)
“It also seems clear (see ‘Finrod and Andreth’) that though Melkor could utterly corrupt and ruin individuals, it is not possible to contemplate his absolute perversion of a whole people, or group of peoples, and his making that state heritable.”
On page 410:
“In any case is it likely or possible that even the least of the Maiar would become Orcs? Yes; both outside Arda and in it, before the fall of Utumno. Melkor had corrupted many spirits - some as great as Sauron, or less so, as Balrogs. The least could have been primitive (and much more powerful and perilous) Orcs; but by practicing when embodied procreation they would (become) (cf Melian) more and more earthbound, unable to return to spirit-state (even demon form), until released by death (killing) and they would dwindle in force.”
“In summary: I think it must be assumed that ‘talking’ is not necessarily a sign of the possession of a ‘rational soul’ or Fea. The Orcs were beasts of humanized shape (to mock men and Elves) deliberately perverted/converted into a more close resemblance to Men.”
Page 411:
“The same can be said of Huan and the eagles. They were taught language by the Valar, and raised to a higher level - but they still had no Fear (souls).”
“See ‘Melkor.’ It will there be seen that the wills of Orcs, Balrogs etc are part of Melkor’s power ‘dispersed’.”
“Hence the rebellions, mutinies etc when Morgoth seems far off. Orcs are beasts and Balrogs corrupted Maiar. Also Morgoth not Sauron is the source of Orc-wills. Sauron is just another (if greater) agent. Orcs can rebel against him without losing their own irremediable allegiance to evil (Morgoth).”
Here is an essay I wrote on the origin of Orcs. Based on Morgoth’s Ring.
In the published Silmarillion it says that orcs are corrupted Elves. This was an editorial choice made by Christopher Tolkien.
If you read Morgoth’s Ring, you will see that JRRT never decided on the origin of orcs. Unresolved philosophical matters like this probably explain why JRRT never completed the Silmarillion. CFCR
After reading JRRT’s notes (published in Morgoth’s Ring), I think JRRT had decided that Morgoth could not have robbed an elf or a human of his God-given soul (to transform him into a soul-less Orc). He would certainly not have been able to make the transformation heritable (remember, orcs breed).
It’s more likely that Maia loyal to Morgoth took the forms of the first Orcs, and bred soul-less Orcs.
We know that Maia can take any form they wish, and we know that they can reproduce. This possibility is mentioned in Morgoth’s Ring.
When reading LOTR and Silmarillion, I remember being surprised that there were no orcs who “redeemed” themselves with a good deed.
Not one.
Even Smeagol was a complex character, who tries to be loyal to Frodo; he fails because the power of the Ring over him is too strong.
When I read Morgoth’s Ring this became clear to me.
Sméagol still has a soul, and can still choose (sometimes) to do the right thing.
Orcs are born without a soul. They are motivated by Morgoth’s evil will, which is somehow programmed into them (into their DNA)?
Here’s a quote from JRRT’s notes, published in Morgoth’s Ring.
(From Part V: Myths Transformed; under text VIII; essay on Orcs; Page 409 of my copy)
“It also seems clear (see ‘Finrod and Andreth’) that though Melkor could utterly corrupt and ruin individuals, it is not possible to contemplate his absolute perversion of a whole people, or group of peoples, and his making that state heritable.”
On page 410:
“In any case is it likely or possible that even the least of the Maiar would become Orcs? Yes; both outside Arda and in it, before the fall of Utumno. Melkor had corrupted many spirits - some as great as Sauron, or less so, as Balrogs. The least could have been primitive (and much more powerful and perilous) Orcs; but by practicing when embodied procreation they would (become) (cf Melian) more and more earthbound, unable to return to spirit-state (even demon form), until released by death (killing) and they would dwindle in force.”
“In summary: I think it must be assumed that ‘talking’ is not necessarily a sign of the possession of a ‘rational soul’ or Fea. The Orcs were beasts of humanized shape (to mock men and Elves) deliberately perverted/converted into a more close resemblance to Men.”
Page 411:
“The same can be said of Huan and the eagles. They were taught language by the Valar, and raised to a higher level - but they still had no Fear (souls).”
“See ‘Melkor.’ It will there be seen that the wills of Orcs, Balrogs etc are part of Melkor’s power ‘dispersed’.”
“Hence the rebellions, mutinies etc when Morgoth seems far off. Orcs are beasts and Balrogs corrupted Maiar. Also Morgoth not Sauron is the source of Orc-wills. Sauron is just another (if greater) agent. Orcs can rebel against him without losing their own irremediable allegiance to evil (Morgoth).”
