The Races of Middle Earth
One of the most interesting parts of Tolkien’s Middle Earth, is the variety of races, and species that inhabit the lands. From dwarves to ents, hobbits to orcs, the land of Middle Earth is home to a fair number of intelligent beings. The intelligent beings of middle earth are separated onto the side of good and evil. On the side of evil are the orcs, the trolls, and Uruk-hai. The side of good is populated by the humans, dwarves, elves, and hobbits. Wizards belong to the mix of both sides of the conflict. The idea of certain species being only good or only evil seems to be a reoccurring theme throughout the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. The orcs seem to be a purely evil race,
Orcs are a race with purely evil intentions that inhabit the realm of middle earth, created by Sauron to overrun middle earth. However, Tolkien hints that the orcs do in-fact have a few moral codes that they follow. For Example, Gimli says, “Orcs will often pursue foes for many leagues into the plain, if they have a fallen captain to avenge” This quote from the Fellowship of the Ring implies that the orcs are very loyal creatures, and much like humans, elves, and dwarves, they will not hesitate to avenge those that they care about. According to the Complete Guide to Middle Earth, the orcs have been known to live peacefully within their own tribes. Tolkien does not elaborate much on Orc culture and customs. However, we do know that Orcs know some form of healing arts; we also know that their armor, though inferior to that of Elves and Dwarves, is serviceable enough. Also, they often use poisoned blades and arrows. Also, they like to sing horrible songs. The goblins of the Misty Mountains were a smaller breed of Orc, and could also invent horrid machines used to torture and kill things. In some texts, (such as the Hobbit and the Silmarillion) Tolkien suggests that after the fall of Morgoth, some of his Orcs set up petty kingdoms of their own. Leading the reader to believe that there might in fact be an entire Orc culture that the books by Tolkien never really touch on. This sort of possibility opens up a great number of possible good orcs.
Of all the races inhabiting Middle Earth, the orcs are the only ones that are portrayed as completely evil by Tolkien. However, the orcs are simply following the orders of an evil ruler. Similar to the Nuremburg Trials where the Nazis put on trial claimed to be simply following orders. The orcs can argue a similar point.
11 comments:
Orcs Aree Uglyy!!!!!!!!!!!!
&& I Dis-Agree, They Are Not Thee Onlyy Completlyy Evil Oness. Look At All Of Thee "EVIL" Things && You Tell Mee Who Is More Evil.
thats good but you talked alot more about who ruled and lived in the Middle Earth not whom was actually going and trying to get there
Once again, you have a very nice essay and it was very well written. I liked the points that you made about the orcs; they are portrayed as evil but seem to be like the Stormtroopers in Star Wars, just taking orders.
I think you needed some more examples of species. Other than that, yours was good.
I think you could have expanded more on other races being completly evil or completly good. Were the elves completly good? Also, expand on the idea that the orcs were just following orders. Maybe go into if you believe that the orcs agreed with the orders or not.
I think you could have expanded more on other races being completly evil or completly good. Were the elves completly good? Also, expand on the idea that the orcs were just following orders. Maybe go into if you believe that the orcs agreed with the orders or not.
I think you could have expanded more on other races being completly evil or completly good. Were the elves completly good? Also, expand on the idea that the orcs were just following orders. Maybe go into if you believe that the orcs agreed with the orders or not.
Nice. I never thought of Orcs that way before. I now have a new respect for the Orcs (although most are evil). great job.
Again, you presented a very compelling idea, but I wish you had elaborated on the examples of good and evil that were featured in your introduction. However, you had an excellent analysis of the Orcs and the possibility that they're in fact simply following orders. I especially liked your proposal that there might have been an entire Orc culture that wasn't touched on in the books, and therefore there was a chance that good Orcs existed. You did a good job of taking a seemingly evil race and portraying them as mere victims of loyalty.
Another three paragraph essay? Are you quite sure that there's nothing wrong with the formatting or nothing was cut out? The first paragraph ends with a comma. Why is "poisoned" and "Morgoth" in bold? This seems so unlike you...
Good insight into Orcs. I'm not sure what you were trying to prove, though. Was it that Orcs are not pure evil? Or was it just information about Orcs? All I really saw was an explanation of the Orc lifestyle. Prove your point!
It would have been cool if you could back up the proposal of good Orcs with more than just mere possibility.
Like Acacia said, expand on the Nuremberg Trials analogy. That would capture my attention. And yes, I love historical and political references.
Seriously, though, something's wrong with your essays. Either that, or you slacked off big time.
I liked the topic that you chose to do. You gave alot of information on Orcs. I think that I have to agree with Acacia, if you had of gone into more detail of the other races and their stand on good and evil it would have been beter. I liked your essay though and you made several good points.
Good topic but not long enough to get a lot out of. I liked how you compared the orcs to the Nuremburg trials but I would have liked to hear more about it. I disagree that the orcs could be good if you had any morals even if you were loyal you would not do the evil nasty things they did. But you did a good job =)
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