The main evil in Middle-earth was the orcs, but both the films and the series barely touched on their origins. Yet they are a nearly complete race, possessing great strength. If humans and elves were created by Eru Ilúvatar and dwarves by Aulë, then who gave life to such vile creatures as the orcs? Let’s recall what Tolkien wrote.
Orcs Through Tolkien’s Eyes
When J.R.R. Tolkien was creating Middle-earth, he needed a race that embodied pure evil and was comparable in strength to ordinary humans. European mythology offered many monsters, but none of them fit. As a result, Tolkien had to invent orcs almost from scratch.
His inspiration came from the goblins in The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald. In MacDonald’s book, goblins are creatures who harbor resentment toward humans, live in caves, and are full of malice. Tolkien added his own details: the orcs became squat, with hunched backs, long arms, and earthy skin. Their appearance was a grotesque parody of humans and elves, distorted under the influence of dark magic.
Theories of Orc Origins
Tolkien never settled on a single definitive version of the origins of orcs. He had several hypotheses:
- Corrupted Elves: Morgoth captured the first elves and twisted them with dark magic.
- Twisted Humans: Orcs were a distorted version of early humans.
- Soulless Beings: Morgoth created orcs as humanoid animals without souls.
- Creations of Morgoth: Another version suggested Morgoth created them from mud and slime.
After Tolkien’s death, his son Christopher chose the version involving corrupted elves for The Silmarillion. However, the author himself was not entirely satisfied with this explanation, as noted by the author of the Zen channel Life and Past.
Orcs as the Technologists of Middle-earth
While orcs may appear crude and primitive, Tolkien endowed them with technical skills. They built mechanisms, forged weapons, and even created medicines. Orcs were the only technocratic race in Middle-earth, which set them apart from other creatures.
Dark Creatures That Evoke Fear and Disgust
In Tolkien’s works, orcs symbolize evil, corrupted nature, and destruction. In Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy, they come to life through a combination of classic makeup, modern technology, and incredible attention to detail. Their presence on screen is the result of painstaking work that adds to the dark and immersive atmosphere of Middle-earth, where the struggle between good and evil is eternal.
