Take No Prisoners!!!...???

***Valandil*** · 06-23-2012, 12:22 AM

Olmer's going to love this one, I think.

OK... the Orcs, the complete 'bad guys' of Middle Earth, take prisoners on many occasions: Thorin's band with Bilbo were taken prisoner by Orcs, Pippin and Merry were taken prisoner by Orcs, Frodo was taken prisoner by Orcs. Historically, Celebrian was taken captive by Orcs.

I guess it even goes back to the First Age, when many Elves were taken prisoner - though in those cases, possibly to be changed into Orcs themselves.

Anyway - I cannot think of a single time that the Elves, Dwarves, Men - or Hobbits - take an Orc prisoner. The only one is Beorn - who captures an Orc and a Warg - but after interrogating them, he kills them both.

Why is it that the good guys of Middle Earth don't take prisoners? At least of Orcs? Or... do the Orcs only take captives in order to torture them? Maybe for a 'fate worse than death'?

Are Orcs not captured because they are considered irredeemably evil?

Thoughts?

06-23-2012, 12:22 AM	#1
*Valandil* High King at Annuminas Administrator Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Wyoming - USA Posts: 10,752	Take No Prisoners!!!...??? Olmer's going to love this one, I think. OK... the Orcs, the complete 'bad guys' of Middle Earth, take prisoners on many occasions: Thorin's band with Bilbo were taken prisoner by Orcs, Pippin and Merry were taken prisoner by Orcs, Frodo was taken prisoner by Orcs. Historically, Celebrian was taken captive by Orcs. I guess it even goes back to the First Age, when many Elves were taken prisoner - though in those cases, possibly to be changed into Orcs themselves. Anyway - I cannot think of a single time that the Elves, Dwarves, Men - or Hobbits - take an Orc prisoner. The only one is Beorn - who captures an Orc and a Warg - but after interrogating them, he kills them both. Why is it that the good guys of Middle Earth don't take prisoners? At least of Orcs? Or... do the Orcs only take captives in order to torture them? Maybe for a 'fate worse than death'? Are Orcs not captured because they are considered irredeemably evil? Thoughts? __________________ My Fanfic: Letters of Firiel Tales of Nolduryon Visitors Come to Court Ñ á ë ?* ó ú é ä ï ö Ö ñ É Þ ð ß ® ™ [Xurl=Xhttp://entmoot.tolkientrail.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=ABCXYZ#postABCXYZ]text[/Xurl] Splitting Threads is SUCH Hard Work!!

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