Arda Marred: How Morgoth Poisoned Creation | Silmarillion

Arda Marred explores one of Tolkien's most profound theological concepts: how Morgoth didn't just war against the world, but became part of its very substance. Before creation itself, Melkor introduced discord into the Music of the Ainur, embedding evil into reality's design from the beginning. He then dispersed his divine essence into Arda's physical matter, making the entire world his "Ring" - unlike Sauron who concentrated power into a single object. This left a permanent "Melkor ingredient" in all matter outside Valinor, affecting every physical body and creating an inherent tendency toward corruption. Yet Morgoth's fundamental limitation remained: he could never truly create, only mock and destroy, and in dispersing his power he weakened himself unto near-impotence. Even the Valar couldn't purge this corruption without destroying all life. But Tolkien offers eschatological hope: Arda Healed will not merely restore the original state, but become "a third thing and greater," suggesting that through suffering and redemption, the Marring itself becomes the foundation for something more beautiful than Arda Unmarred could ever have been.