The Truth of the Uruk-hai

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Originally Posted by Legate of Amon Lanc

I am also interested how this works together with these famous "half-orcs" and "squint-eyed ill-favoured fellows", who surely were Men but not Orcs; however, there is some connection evident between the two. But what exactly, I am not sure. That would be an interesting question to answer.

A most interesting thread. Not sure if this post is germane, but I've been pondering the words "ill-favored" (or "ill-favoured" for my cousins). Now, I get the gist of what's meant by the words when used to describe the other men at Bree - not male model types, never to be mistaken for elves, etc - but the word 'ugly' or some other synonym could have been used.

Why ill-favored?

Does this mean that the idea of 'favored by the Gods' existed in Middle Earth? Were only the beautiful so favored, and so anyone not so blessed must either be ignored by the Gods or even possibly subject to their wrath? Get what I mean? Weren't all orcs ill-favored, or did this just comment apply to men and other beings that turned from the side of Good?

Maybe the comment wasn't meant to be taken so literally, but then again it was spoken in Middle Earth where divine denizens and demi-gods are a dime the dozen.