Of Orcs and Elves - Mirror Image Opposites or Not?

[Ivriniel]

We know from The Hobbit that Orcs "make no beautiful things, but they make many clever ones." This doesn't necessarily mean that they lacked a culture, however. Consider the design on Grishnákh's knife, as discovered by Gimli: a "carved handle: it had been shaped like a hideous head with squinting eyes and leering mouth." Evidently Orcs did not produce purely functional things.

Here, I wanted to begin the discussion-proper about beauty and truth. In the Tolkienian mythological universe, there is a tacit assumption made, I argue, about beauty. We are seduced into a singular appreciation of beauty, in a sense, (to borrow Tolkien's own use of the term 'seduced' as he so often attributes it to being deceived by the call to power, where another evil is disguised by things that 'seem' beautiful). I think like at least some of us, I did not see the obfuscation until much later in life, where--scratch the surface of Elven artifacts, and life--there are the same banes of humanity the reader projects into the idealisation of beauty in Elvish imperial life. Prejudice, stereotyping, egoism, collective racial narcissism, xenophobia, greed, objectification of the 'diminished other' and esteeming the 'self' - Elves do it best - Do They?

If you argue that Feanor, for example, seduced the Eldar into the Oath, but attribute the whole of the Darkening of Valinor to Morgoth, then does it not follow that Elvish 'beauty' in Middle Earth disguises Morgoth's Evil.

So--now look at Grishnákh's knife (that's such a great quotation, but I didn't find it, I borrowed it from Zigur)

...as discovered by Gimli: a "carved handle: it had been shaped like a hideous head with squinting eyes and leering mouth."...

This, to me, is so openly announcing a kind of capacity of Orc-dom to declare motivation in knife-carving, that is a very honest truth. A knife, is a vehicle to slay the adversary. The knife borne, in this way, by the Orc, is honestly expressing an orientation of being towards targets in battle. It slays Elves with the pleasure of removing, what to an Orc, is a Bane of Elvendom. Pleasure in deposing the oppressor is actually, arguably, also an expression of a moral code, but declared very honestly. How is honesty, then, suddenly an immorality?

By contrast, Elvish blades do seem so very beautiful on the surface, but they are deadly things. They do not show Elvish intention of the Blade, though, for example, the hotly blue glow of Sting perhaps certainly does. A Blade that, silently, instead, makes Elves pleasured for killing Orcs. Celebrations of victory. Eagerness in carving. This idea about Elvish blades having a semblance of Elvish ego/intention is a common theme in the major weapon artefacts (e.g. Gil Galad's spear. Sting. Orcrest and Glamdring).

I share two ideas, then, about Orcs, that do imply some kind of moral code for their existence.

1. They do have an appreciation of beauty--e.g. that certain kinds of hatred are beautiful. Elf slaying and honest weapon carvings declaring open intention.
2. The beauty of cleverness, where that cleverness may be appreciated in the subjective sense.

And - note, by absence, ideas in the mythology

1. The orcish perspective, as told from the orc about power, subordination, cruelty and their master's malice.
2. What would this race be like, or what potential do they have, when they do not have a Sauronic mind beating down upon them.

They reproduce "after the manner of the Children of Illuvatar". This is an act of creation, through Birth. I cannot see how the Orcish race have an incapacity to love, at least to some level. And I don't see we ever find out if that capacity can be enhanced.