April 28, 2003

Orc Numbers
Brett C.

I take your point about the female orcs, Mithril Miner, but I think the very point you made about Morgoth help's support my premise. Because of the need for large numbers of orcs I think the Morgoth would have been inclined to keep his female 'breeders' safe at home, as repellant an idea as that is [I suppose that's why they call him the "Black Foe of the World"].

Also, I think you must take into account the Professor's old-world outlook in writing the histories; Tolkien's world is one where warrior women are the exception rather than the norm, making me think the Professor would have found the idea of large numbers of females fighting and dying uncomfortable, even among the Orcs.