Posted by Martin Read on January 28, 2000 at 08:10:12
In Reply to: Ultimate fate of the orcs. posted by DAVID on January 27, 2000 at 22:01:01:
: Dave C-Q and I were discussing Sauron's ultimate destination ie the Void. Dave made a curious comment about orcs ending up in the Halls of Mandos. I don't know where he read this but if it is true it got me to thinking on what will ultimately happen to the orcs. Since the orcs were originally the most blessed of the speaking peoples, elves, but were perverted through neither their action or choice I wonder if a time will come when, say, Iluvatar will return them to their original state? Evil, yes, by choice no. I would think that their miserable existance and their inner hatred of the one they have no choice but to serve would be punishment enough for their evil deeds. The predicament of the orcs has always bothered me. I just can't help but feel sorry for them. Put yourself in their place. It reminds me of the tragedy of Frankenstein's monster. He had no choice about who or what he was yet still suffered greatly for it. So, what do ya'll think?
I would say that it depends whether that part of The Halls of Mandos inhabited by orcish souls acted as a type of Limbo or as a Purgatory. If the former then the orcs wait until the End of Days when Eru's will is made manifest and they are then redeemed, or if the latter then the orcs spend a finite time being shriven in some way of the Melkorian part of their nature, after which they would be indistinguishable from elven spirits.
As Tokien wrote a book whose subject was, in part, on the action of Purgatory (Leaf by Niggle) I would personally go with that interpretation.
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