A Baby Orc!

This blog post may contain spoilers, if you haven’t yet watched up to episode three season two of Rings of Power. 

And yes, there’s an orc baby! The idea of such a thing let me to write an entire essay about it. And my theory is that J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendarium is rich with complex mythologies and detailed genealogies that explain the origins of various races and creatures in Middle-earth. Among these, the orcs are one of the most enigmatic and morally challenging beings. Tolkien’s writings present multiple, sometimes conflicting, accounts of how orcs came to be, leaving their origins and nature somewhat ambiguous. This complexity has led to various interpretations and theories about the evolution of orcs. One compelling theory posits that orcs, despite their universally malevolent portrayal, could have diverse origins that reflect different branches of evolution within the species. These branches include corrupted Elves, naturally breeding orcs, and those created through dark sorcery. This essay explores the possibility that orcs capable of natural reproduction are the descendants of the original corrupted Elves, offering a coherent framework to understand the various forms of orcs in Tolkien’s work. Moreover, it considers the implications of this theory for understanding orc behavior and the potential for orcs to seek a life beyond war and violence.

The Corrupted Elves: The First Orcs

Tolkien’s earliest account of orc origins, found in The Silmarillion, suggests that the first orcs were Elves captured by Morgoth, the first Dark Lord, during the earliest days of Middle-earth. These Elves were subjected to unimaginable torment, which twisted their bodies and spirits, turning them into the vile creatures known as orcs. This origin story is significant because it frames orcs as a perversion of something originally pure and good, underscoring the theme of corruption and the destructive influence of evil. It also implies that orcs, as former Elves, would share certain biological traits with their uncorrupted kin, including the ability to reproduce naturally.

Natural Reproduction Among Orcs: A Logical Evolution

If we accept that the first orcs were once Elves, it stands to reason that these corrupted beings could pass on their traits to their offspring. Over time, the orcs who descended from these corrupted Elves would form their own distinct race, capable of natural reproduction. This branch of orcs would retain the basic biological functions of their ancestors, including the ability to bear and raise children. This theory is supported by Tolkien’s later writings, in which he entertained the possibility that orcs could have free will and souls, making them more than just mindless minions of evil.

The existence of orc families, as depicted in modern adaptations like *The Rings of Power*, is an extension of this idea, representing a natural evolution from the original corrupted Elves to a self-sustaining population of orcs. This opens the door to considering orcs as individuals with desires beyond mere destruction, including the desire for some form of peace and stability within their own kind, however dark and twisted it may be.

The Orcs' Desire for Peace: A Shift from Eternal War

Traditionally, orcs have been depicted as relentless fighters, driven by their hatred and the will of their dark masters. However, if we consider the orcs descended from corrupted Elves to be capable of natural reproduction and self-sustained communities, it becomes plausible that some orcs might seek a life beyond constant warfare. The portrayal of a female orc caring for a baby in The Rings of Power suggests that orcs, like other beings, might have a desire to protect and nurture their offspring, ensuring their survival in a hostile world.

This desire for peace, however, would be shaped by their dark nature and harsh environment. The "peace" that orcs might seek would not resemble the idyllic, harmonious life sought by the Free Peoples of Middle-earth but could instead be a brutal, insular existence within the dark lands of Mordor or other forsaken places. This potential for orcs to yearn for stability within their own communities introduces a layer of complexity to their character, challenging the notion that they are purely evil with no aspirations beyond violence.

The Creation of Orcs Through Dark Sorcery: The War-Bred Orcs

In contrast to the naturally reproducing orcs, Tolkien also presents a darker, more artificial means of orc creation. In The Lord of the Rings, Saruman is shown breeding orcs in pits beneath Isengard, suggesting that orcs can be "manufactured" through some alchemical or sorcerous process. These artificially created orcs might be a different branch of the species, lacking the ability to reproduce and existing only as tools of war and destruction.

These war-bred orcs, created explicitly for battle, would have no desire for peace or family life. Their very existence would be tied to their purpose as instruments of slaughter, driven by the will of their creators. This distinction between naturally breeding orcs and war-bred orcs emphasizes the varying degrees of autonomy and individuality within the species, with the latter being entirely consumed by their function as warriors.

The Divergence of Orc Branches: A Unified Theory

The existence of these different methods of orc creation suggests a branching evolutionary tree within the orc species. The first branch originates with the corrupted Elves, who, over time, become capable of natural reproduction, giving rise to a population of orcs that can bear children and pass on their traits. Some of these orcs might seek a semblance of peace within their own communities, motivated by a desire to protect their offspring and secure their survival.

The second branch consists of orcs created through dark sorcery, who may lack the ability to reproduce and instead rely on the continuous creation of new orcs by dark powers like Morgoth or Saruman. These orcs, bred solely for war, would have no concept of family or peace, existing only to fulfill their violent purpose.

This framework not only explains the various origins of orcs but also introduces the possibility of different behavioral motivations within the species. It acknowledges that orcs, particularly those capable of natural reproduction, could have individual desires and aspirations, even if these are shaped by their corrupted nature. As a result, orcs are not a monolithic embodiment of evil but a complex race with internal diversity and varying degrees of autonomy and moral complexity.

The evolution of orcs in Tolkien’s legendarium is a complex and multifaceted topic, reflecting the author’s own uncertainties and evolving ideas about the nature of evil and free will. By considering the possibility that orcs capable of natural reproduction are descendants of the original corrupted Elves, we can develop a coherent theory that explains the diverse forms of orcs and their differing origins. This theory not only accounts for the biological evolution of orcs but also introduces the potential for orcs to seek a life beyond warfare, challenging the traditional depiction of orcs as irredeemable villains. In doing so, it provides a compelling foundation for further exploration and analysis of one of Middle-earth’s most intriguing and unsettling races, offering insights into the creation of complex evil characters in fantasy literature.

So yes, baby orcs make sense. I am loving Rings of Power. I am obsessed with this show. The writers have done so well. Also, I liked the scene where Sauron reveals himself to look like glowing Jesus in heavenly clouds, right when he says the words, Lord of the rings.