April 25, 2003

'...all the Orcs Ever Spawned...'
Brett C.

I do not think the scenes at Isengard showing the emergence of the Uruk-hai are meast to show them being grown, but rather the process by which the common orcs of Mordor sent to assist Saruman are blended with humans ['by foul craft...' and we are given no other explanation] to create the Uruk-hai of Isengard. Incidentally, I stand by my earlier assertion that the Uruk's of Isengard [though not Mordor] are half-orcs.

As for orcish reproduction, the Professor clearly felt no inclination to go into tawdry details, but considering they are created originally from Elves it must be concluded that they breed sexually. Evidence in the texts can be found in the form of Gandalf's reference in Moria to "...all the orcs ever spanwned...", and in his comment in the Hobbit about the goblin leader at the Battle of Five Armies being "...Bolg of the north...whose father [Dain] slew in Moria." Orc males clearly father offspring, probably keeping their females [who are never mentioned in the books in any form I am aware of] virtual prisoners. There is also mention in the Hobbit of Gollum having used the Ring to catch a small goblin-imp, which may have been the term intended to refer to orcish young.