Arda Marred: How Morgoth Poisoned Creation | Silmarillion
Research & Sources
Research Notes: Arda Marred - How Morgoth Broke the World
Overview
Arda Marred (Quenya: Arda Hastaina) is the Elvish term for the world as it exists in a flawed, corrupted state, as opposed to Arda Unmarred (Arda Envinyanta), the world in its perfect state following creation. The concept represents one of Tolkien's most sophisticated theological ideas, addressing the nature of evil's persistence and the fallen state of creation. While Morgoth's destructive acts against the physical structure of Arda were always a feature of the Legendarium, the theme of moral and spiritual corruption with which he imbued the Earth is a relatively late addition, first appearing in notes published in Morgoth's Ring (Volume 10 of The History of Middle-earth).
The concept is central to understanding how evil operates in Tolkien's cosmos: not through independent creation (which belongs to Eru alone), but through corruption and dispersal of one's own power into matter itself.
Primary Sources
The Silmarillion - Ainulindalë
The corruption of Arda begins not with the physical world, but in the primordial Music that prefigured creation:
Melkor's Search for the Flame Imperishable: "He had gone often alone into the void places seeking the Imperishable Flame; for desire grew hot within him to bring into Being things of his own, and it seemed to him that Ilúvatar took no thought for the Void, and he was impatient of its emptiness. However, he found not the Fire, for it is with Ilúvatar." (Silmarillion, Ainulindalë) The Introduction of Discord: Melkor began to "interweave matters of his own imagining" into the Music of the Ainur. His theme "was loud, and vain, and endlessly repeated" with "little harmony, but rather a clamorous unison," and it "essayed to drown the other music by the violence of its voice." (Silmarillion, Ainulindalë) The Significance: Since the Great Music stands as template for all of material creation, the chaos introduced by Melkor's disharmonies is responsible for all evil. The discord became embedded in the very design of creation when Eru spoke "Eä! Let these things Be!"The Silmarillion - Quenta Silmarillion
The Destruction of the Two Lamps: "Melkor came forth from Utumno with sudden war and cast down the Two Lamps (Illuin and Ormal), destroying Almaren and filling the world with flowing fire and surging water. The fire within the Lamps scorched a great portion of the world, and containing the catastrophe caused by their breaking kept the Valar occupied. The symmetry of Arda was broken." The Spring of Arda Marred: "From Utumno, the blight of Melkor's hatred flowed out, and the Spring of Arda was marred. Forests decayed, waters turned foul, and the air grew heavy with malice, with natural creatures twisted into monstrous versions of themselves. Valleys were lifted into jagged peaks, harmonious climates turned volatile, and natural beauty gave way to desolate, scarred regions." The Darkening of Valinor: "Melkor sprang upon the mound and with his black spear he smote each Tree to its core, wounded them deep, and their sap poured forth as it were their blood. But Ungoliant sucked it up, and going then from Tree to Tree she set her black beak to their wounds, till they were drained; and the poison of Death that was in her went into their tissues and withered them, root, branch, and leaf; and they died." (Silmarillion, "Of the Darkening of Valinor")Morgoth's Ring - "Myths Transformed"
This section, dated to the late 1950s, contains Tolkien's most explicit discussions of the Arda Marred concept:
Morgoth's Ring as Arda Itself: "Just as Sauron concentrated his power in the One Ring, Morgoth dispersed his power into the very matter of Arda, thus the whole of Middle-earth was Morgoth's Ring." The Melkor Ingredient: "Outside the Blessed Realm, all 'matter' was likely to have a 'Melkor ingredient', and those who had bodies, nourished by the hroa of Arda, had as it were a tendency, small or great, towards Melkor: they were none of them wholly free of him in their incarnate form, and their bodies had an effect upon their spirits." The Permanent Nature of the Corruption: Morgoth's power was irretrievably sown throughout the fabric of the world. Even after Morgoth himself was removed from Arda, this part of himself that he allowed to pass into its structure remained, and was in fact impossible for anyone save Eru to eradicate fully.Morgoth's Ring - "Laws and Customs Among the Eldar"
This essay explores how Morgoth's corruption affects the relationship between fëa (soul) and hröa (body):
The Body's Vulnerability: "The hröa (body) is made out of the matter of Arda; for this reason hröar are marred or contain a 'Melkor ingredient.'" The Mechanism of Corruption: "When the hröa is destroyed or hurt so it ceases to have health, it becomes painful for the fëa to dwell in it, being neither a help to life and will nor a delight to use, so that the fëa departs from it, and its function being at an end its coherence is unloosed, and it returns again to the general orma [substance] of Arda." Elvish Fading: "Because of Morgoth's corruption of earthly matter, and because of the special relationship between Elves and nature, fading is a physical consequence of aging in Arda Marred."The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
Letter 153 - Evil as Corruption, Not Creation: Tolkien distinguishes between "creation" (bringing something into being from nothing, a divine prerogative) and "making" (manipulation or corruption of existing forms). The Dark Lord's creations are not truly new beings but twisted imitations of earlier, purer forms. He explained that Orcs would be "creatures begotten of Sin, and naturally bad." Letter 212 - Evil in Arda's Nature: "In my myth, the rebellion of created free-will preceded the creation of the world, and thus Eä had evil in its nature when 'Let it Be' was spoken. Corruption of all things in it was a possibility if not inevitable. Trees may 'go bad' as in the Old Forest; Elves may turn into Orcs (which required the special perversive malice of Morgoth) or as Elves may do evil deeds. Even the 'good' Valar could err or the lesser of their kind (as the Istari or wizards) could become self-seeking." The Fundamentally Religious Work: Tolkien described The Lord of the Rings as "a fundamentally religious and Catholic work; unconsciously so at first, but consciously in the revision."Morgoth's Ring - "Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth"
This philosophical dialogue between the Elf-king Finrod and the mortal woman Andreth addresses the metaphysical consequences of Arda Marred:
The Nature of Death: Andreth complains of how unfair Man's short life is, believing death to be imposed by Morgoth, while Finrod speaks of hope, and believes human death to be given by Eru, and not imposed by Morgoth. The Purpose of the Children of Ilúvatar: Finrod proposes that "the errand of Men was to heal the Marring of Arda, already foreshadowed before their devising," and that "Arda Healed shall not be Arda Unmarred, but a third thing and greater, and yet the same." Messianic Prophecy: Andreth expresses a hope from human tradition that "the One will himself enter into Arda, and heal Men and all the Marring from the beginning to the end." This represents one of Tolkien's most explicit parallels to Christian theology within his mythology.Timeline of Morgoth's Corruption
Before Time - The Ainulindalë
- Melkor searches the Void for the Flame Imperishable, finding nothing - During the Music of the Ainur, Melkor introduces discord into the themes - The discord becomes embedded in the vision of Eä - Eru speaks "Eä! Let these things Be!" - creating the world with the discord already woven into its fabricYears of the Lamps (Approximate dates from Valian Years)
- VY 1900: Melkor builds Utumno in the far north - Blight spreads from Utumno, marring the Spring of Arda - Melkor destroys the Two Lamps, breaking the symmetry of Arda - The Valar retreat to Aman and create Valinor, protected by the Pelóri MountainsYears of the Trees
- YT 1000-1050: The Battle of the Powers - Valar assault and break Utumno - Melkor imprisoned in the Halls of Mandos for three Ages - YT 1400: Melkor released on false repentance (Manwë unable to comprehend evil) - YT 1495: Darkening of Valinor - Melkor and Ungoliant destroy the Two Trees - YT 1495-1500: Flight of the Noldor; First Kinslaying at Alqualondë - Melkor returns to Middle-earth, reclaims the name MorgothFirst Age
- FA 1: The Sun and Moon first rise - FA 1-587: Wars of Beleriand - Morgoth's power increasingly dissipated - FA 455: Dagor Bragollach - Morgoth breaks the Siege of Angband - FA 472: Nirnaeth Arnoediad - Morgoth's greatest military victory - FA 587: War of Wrath - Morgoth defeated and thrust through the Door of Night into the Timeless Void - Crucial point: Morgoth's essence remains in Arda despite his physical removalSecond Age and Beyond
- Morgoth's corruption persists in the matter of Arda - Sauron continues Morgoth's work using more focused methods - All evil in Middle-earth ultimately traces back to Morgoth's original corruptionProphecy - End of Days
- Dagor Dagorath: Morgoth prophesied to return from the Void - The final battle will break and remake the world - Arda Healed (Arda Envinyanta) will be created - better even than Arda UnmarredKey Characters and Their Relationship to Arda Marred
Melkor/Morgoth
Original Nature: - The mightiest of the Ainur, given greatest gifts by Eru - Had a share in all the powers and knowledge of the other Valar - Original name: Melkor ("He who arises in Might") The Descent: - Sought the Flame Imperishable to create independently of Eru - Introduced discord into the Music out of desire for dominion - Built fortresses: Utumno, then Angband - Took the name Morgoth ("Black Foe of the World") after the Oath of Fëanor The Method of Corruption: - Unlike other Valar who shaped Arda, Morgoth sought to dominate it - "Incarnated" himself permanently to control physical matter - Dispersed his power into the fabric of Arda itself - Created or corrupted beings: Orcs, Trolls, Dragons, Balrogs The Diminishment: - Grew weaker over time as he poured power into matter and creatures - By the end of the First Age, far less mighty than at the beginning - Quote: "Melkor became weaker over time as he dispersed his power into Arda, both in the corruption of matter and in his making of evil, quasi-independent creatures" Final Fate: - Defeated in the War of Wrath - Crown used as collar, feet hewn from beneath him - Thrust through the Door of Night into the Timeless Void - His essence remains in Arda until the end of daysSauron
The Contrast with Morgoth: - Originally a Maia of Aulë, corrupted by Morgoth - More clever and focused than his master - Concentrated power in the One Ring rather than dispersing it - Quote: "Third Age Sauron was more powerful—and in some ways much cleverer—than Morgoth at the end of the First Age, because Melkor had put part of his hatred into the very being of Arda" The Parallel: - As Sauron poured power into the Ring, Morgoth poured power into Arda - The Ring could be destroyed; Arda's corruption could not - Both methods bound the user to physical form and dependencyThe Valar
Manwë - The Limitation of Pure Good: - King of the Valar, unable to comprehend evil - Released Morgoth believing his false repentance - Quote: "Unable to comprehend the evil of Melkor, being himself free of all evil, Manwë believed Melkor's entreaty and ordered him released" Mandos - The Voice of Doom: - Pronounced the Doom of the Noldor for the Kinslaying - Prophesied (in abandoned texts) the Dagor Dagorath - Spoke of the Valar's limitations: "We cannot destroy all the evil that he has sown, nor seek out all his servants—unless we ravaged the whole of the kingdom and made an end of all life therein, and that we may not do" Yavanna - The Kementári: - "Giver of Fruits," responsible for all growing things - Could not heal the Two Trees after their poisoning - Only able to preserve their last fruit and flower (Sun and Moon) Collective Limitations: - Forbidden from directly harming the Children of Ilúvatar - Could not undo Morgoth's corruption of matter - Required Eru's intervention for the Downfall of NúmenorThe Noldor - Living with the Marring
Fëanor: - Created the Silmarils, which held the last uncorrupted light of the Two Trees - His Oath bound him and his sons to pursue the Silmarils at any cost - The Oath led to three Kinslayings - Elves killing Elves - Example of how even the greatest of Elves could be corrupted by obsession Finrod Felagund: - In the Athrabeth, argues that Men's purpose is to heal Arda Marred - Maintains hope despite living in a corrupted world - Killed by a werewolf in Sauron's dungeons - example of heroism within the MarringMen and the Purpose of Mortality
The Gift of Men: - Unlike Elves, Men are not bound to Arda - Their fate lies beyond the Circles of the World - Finrod's theory: Men were designed to participate in the healing of Arda Andreth: - Represents human perspective on mortality and the Marring - Preserves ancient human tradition of messianic hope - Her dialogue with Finrod explores theodicy within Middle-earthGeography of the Corruption
Middle-earth - The Marred Lands
The North: - Utumno: First fortress, source of blight - Angband: Second fortress, rebuilt after Morgoth's return - Iron Mountains: Raised by Morgoth's power - War of Wrath sank most of northern Middle-earth beneath the ocean Mordor: - Created by Sauron following Morgoth's methods - Orodruin (Mount Doom): Geological corruption made manifest - Sauron's lesser "Morgoth's Ring" - concentrated evil in a specific region Old Forest: - Example of corruption without direct Morgoth intervention - Trees that "went bad" - possibility inherent in Arda Marred - Shows how corruption is woven into nature itselfAman - The Protected Realm
Valinor: - Lies in Aman ("Unmarred"), west of Middle-earth - Protected by the Pelóri Mountains, raised after the destruction of the Lamps - Further isolated by Shadowy Seas and Enchanted Isles after the Darkening The Limitation of Protection: - Even Valinor not perfectly safe - Morgoth and Ungoliant penetrated it - After Númenor's fall, removed entirely from the physical world - Only accessible via the Straight Road for Elves Theological Significance: - Represents what Arda Unmarred might have been - Not immune to evil, but heavily shielded - Separation required to preserve any remnant of original visionThemes and Symbolism
Evil Cannot Create, Only Mock and Destroy
The Fundamental Principle: - Morgoth sought the Flame Imperishable but could not find it - Creation belongs to Eru alone - All of Morgoth's "creatures" are corruptions of existing beings Examples: - Orcs: Corrupted Elves (or possibly Men) - "begotten of Sin, and naturally bad" - Trolls: Mockeries of Ents - Dragons: Bred or corrupted beasts, possibly embodied Maiar - Balrogs: Corrupted Maiar spirits of fire The Irony: - In trying to create, Morgoth only diminished himself - Each corruption dispersed more of his power - By the end, he became less than he beganThe Dispersal of Power vs. Concentration
Morgoth's Method: - Poured power into all of Arda - Made himself omnipresent but weak - Spent power in "brute force" - raising mountains, changing weather, breeding creatures - Quote: "Morgoth's great power was diluted when spread across Arda" Sauron's Method: - Concentrated power into a single object - Remained potent but vulnerable - More efficient and dangerous - Quote: "Sauron's power, unlike Morgoth's, was undiminished as Morgoth's great power was diluted when spread across Arda, but Sauron's was concentrated when placed within a single, small container" The Theological Point: - Both methods represent attempts at dominion - Both bind the user to physical form - Both ultimately fail before divine providenceThe Problem of Evil and Theodicy
Augustine's Influence: - Evil as privation, not positive force - Evil is corruption of good, not independent reality - Quote from scholarly analysis: "Tolkien's understanding of the fall of man is thoroughly Augustinian. Evil is never a fully positive, self-subsistent reality but instead a marring or corruption of something essentially good" The Catholic Framework: - Arda Marred parallels the fallen world of Christian theology - Unlike Genesis, the fall occurs in the act of creation itself - Allows exploration of theodicy without allegorizing Biblical narrative The Unique Solution: - Not restoration to original state (Arda Unmarred) - Not mere repair (Arda Healed as equivalent) - But transcendence: Arda Healed greater than Arda Unmarred - Quote: "Arda Healed will be greater than Arda Unmarred could have been"Felix Culpa - The Fortunate Fall
The Doctrine: - Traditional Catholic theology: "O felix culpa" - "O happy fault" - From Easter Vigil: "O felix culpa quae talem et tantum meruit habere redemptorem" ("O happy fault that earned for us so great, so glorious a Redeemer") Tolkien's Application: - The Marring creates opportunity for heroism and redemption - Men brought into being as instruments of healing - Through suffering and struggle, greater good emerges - Quote from scholarly analysis: "The felix culpa motif was adapted by Tolkien into the guiding structure of Middle-earth's grand narrative" The Paradox: - Evil is genuinely evil, not merely instrumental - Yet providence works through it to greater ends - Tolkien wrote: "It was the essential mode of the process of 'history' in Arda that evil should constantly arise, and that out of it new good should constantly come"Environmental Themes
Industrialization as Extension of Arda Marred: - Saruman's Isengard: "a mind of metal and wheels" - Treebeard: "Saruman does not care for growing things" - The Ents' march: Nature's rebellion against industrial despoliation Tolkien's Personal Experience: - Witnessed environmental degradation in England - WWI mechanized destruction deepened his concerns - Isengard described as "industrial hell" by scholar Charles A. Huttar The Broader Theme: - Morgoth's corruption manifests in exploitation of nature - Destruction of forests, fouling of waters, pollution of air - Modern industrialization as continuation of primordial corruption The Theological Connection: - Dominion vs. stewardship - Aulë's good making vs. Morgoth's destructive "creation" - The Shire's harmony vs. Mordor's desolation as moral contrastScholarly Perspectives
The Development of the Concept
Christopher Tolkien's Notes: - The theme of Arda Marred relatively late in development - First explicit treatment in "Myths Transformed" essays (late 1950s) - Represents Tolkien "virtually attempting a destructive reinvention of his mythology" - Warned readers enter "Myths Transformed" at their peril: "here you will see the author probing the absolute rock-bottom theoretical base of his subcreation" Evolution from Earlier Versions: - Physical destruction always present in mythology - Spiritual/moral corruption more sophisticated addition - Reflects Tolkien's mature theological thinkingCatholic Theology and Subcreation
Tolkien's Religious Framework: - Devout Roman Catholic throughout his life - Lord of the Rings "fundamentally religious and Catholic work" - Uses fantasy to explore Christian themes without allegory Scholarly Analysis: - Allows narration of a fall affecting all creatures - Avoids direct allegory of Genesis - Explores doctrine through "supposal" (Lewis's term) - Quote from academic source: "Tolkien is able to narrate a version of the fall that affects all creatures just as it does in traditional Christian theology, but without articulating the fall of humanity and thereby running the risk of turning his story into an allegorical version of the account in Genesis"Redemptive Providence
The Overarching Pattern: - Arda governed by redemptive providence - Evil will constantly arises - Out of evil, new good constantly comes - Quote: "Arda is a world governed by redemptive providence that creatively turns evil will to good ends" Examples in the Narrative: - Bilbo's pity for Gollum leads to Ring's destruction - Morgoth's pride leads to strategic mistakes - Noldor's exile produces great deeds despite the Doom - Even the Marring itself leads to greater ultimate goodThe Problem of the Orcs
Tolkien's Dilemma: - Struggled with Orc origins throughout his life - If corrupted Elves, can they be redeemed? - If irredeemable, do they have free will? - Quote from Letter 153: "I nearly wrote 'irredeemably bad'; but that would be going too far" Theological Tension: - Catholic doctrine: all rational beings can be redeemed - Narrative necessity: Orcs as wholly evil enemies - Never fully resolved to Tolkien's satisfaction - Represents limits of theodicy within fictional frameworkArda Healed as Eschatological Hope
The Prophecy: - At the end of days, world will be broken and remade - Not mere restoration but transformation - Quote: "Arda Healed shall not be Arda Unmarred, but a third thing and greater, and yet the same" Theological Parallels: - New Heaven and New Earth from Revelation - Resurrection body superior to original - Creation groaning for redemption (Romans 8:22) The Role of the Children: - Elves and Men as co-creators in healing - Participation in divine work of restoration - Human destiny bound up with Arda's fateContradictions and Variants
The Status of Dagor Dagorath
Original Conception: - Detailed prophecy of Last Battle in early writings - Morgoth returns from Void - Túrin Turambar deals final death blow - World broken and remade Later Abandonment: - Christopher Tolkien notes his father abandoned the full prophecy - Published Silmarillion omits detailed Dagor Dagorath - References remain scattered throughout writings - Uncertain canonical status Implications: - Does Arda remain Marred forever? - Or is healing gradual across ages? - Tolkien's uncertainty reflects theological complexityThe Origin of Orcs
Multiple Theories Presented:1. Corrupted Elves (Silmarillion version): - "All those of the Quendi who came into the hands of Melkor, ere Utumno was broken, were put there in prison, and by slow arts of cruelty were corrupted and enslaved" - Problems: Can Elves fall so far? Are Orcs then immortal?
2. Corrupted Men (Later writings): - Timeline less problematic - Explains mortality of Orcs - Problems: Men awoke after Orcs appeared
3. Embodied Maiar (Speculation): - Like Balrogs, corrupted spirits - Problems: Can Maiar breed?
4. Beasts given reason (Myths Transformed): - Animals twisted and given malicious intelligence - Problems: Do they have souls? Can they be redeemed?
Tolkien's Frustration: - Never settled on definitive answer - Each solution creates theological problems - Represents tension between narrative and doctrineAman as Unmarred
The Question: - Is Valinor truly part of "Arda Unmarred"? - Or merely protected from worst corruption? Evidence for Protection-Only: - Morgoth and Ungoliant penetrated it - Built from same matter as Middle-earth - Needed physical barriers (Pelóri) for safety Evidence for True Unmarring: - Name: Aman means "Unmarred" - Elves don't fade there - Two Trees grew there uncorrupted (until destroyed) Likely Resolution: - Valinor partly shielded from Morgoth's dispersed power - Not immune, but significantly protected - Perhaps Valar's presence purifies local matterThe Nature of the Flame Imperishable
Explicit Statement: - The Flame is with Ilúvatar - Not a separate object or force - Cannot be possessed by another Scholarly Debate: - Is it God's creative power? - Is it the Holy Spirit? (Catholic theology) - Is it existence itself? (Thomistic esse) Gandalf's Reference: - "I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor" - Does this mean same Flame? - Or different fire (Valar's power, not Eru's)? Tolkien's Ambiguity: - Deliberately kept some mysteries undefined - Allows multiple theological interpretations - Reflects mystery of divine natureLinguistic Notes
Quenya Terms
Arda: - Means "Realm" or "Region" - Refers to the entire world/Earth Arda Marred: - Quenya: Arda Hastaina - Alternative: Arda Sahta - Both mean "Arda Stained/Corrupted" Arda Unmarred: - Quenya: Arda Envinyanta ("Renewed Arda") - though this sometimes refers to Arda Healed - The hypothetical perfect state that never fully existed Arda Healed: - Quenya: Arda Envinyanta - From en- "re-", vinya "new", -ta causative suffix - Literally: "to make new again" - The eschatological hope beyond restoration Melkor: - Quenya: "He who arises in Might" - Original name given by Eru - Reflects his great power and gifts Morgoth: - Sindarin: "Black Foe" or "Dark Enemy of the World" - Name given by Fëanor after the theft of the Silmarils - Reflects his fall and opposition to all creationSindarin Terms
Dagor Dagorath: - "Battle of all Battles" - Also: "Battle of the Last Battle" - The prophesied final conflictConceptual Terms
Fëa and Hröa: - Fëa: Soul/spirit - immortal essence - Hröa: Body - made from matter of Arda - Their relationship central to understanding corruption - Hröa contains "Melkor ingredient," affects fëa The Secret Fire: - Alternative name for Flame Imperishable - Used by Gandalf on Bridge of Khazad-dûm - "I am a servant of the Secret Fire" Eä: - "It is" or "Let it be" - The word Eru spoke to create the universe - Also the name of the universe itselfAdditional Context
Catholic Influences on the Concept
Sacramental View of Matter: - Catholic theology: matter is good, vehicles of grace - Morgoth's corruption: evil uses good matter for its purposes - Redemption includes material world, not escape from it The Incarnation Parallel: - Ainur "incarnate" by taking physical form - Morgoth permanently incarnates to control matter - Inversion of divine Incarnation (Christ taking flesh) - Morgoth's incarnation enslaves him; Christ's frees creation Original Sin Parallel: - Arda Marred as cosmic "original sin" - Affects all who depend on physical world - Cannot be escaped by individual effort - Requires divine intervention for true healing Purgatorial Suffering: - Life in Arda Marred involves inevitable suffering - Yet suffering can be redemptive - Heroes grow through struggle with corruption - Parallels Catholic understanding of redemptive sufferingInfluence on Later Fantasy
The Problem of Evil: - Later fantasy often ignores theological depth - Presents evil as pure opposite to good (dualism) - Tolkien's approach more nuanced: evil as privation/corruption Environmental Fantasy: - Arda Marred influences environmental themes in later works - Corruption of nature as moral issue - Industrial destruction as extension of primordial evil Subcreation Theology: - Tolkien's concept of artist as sub-creator - Creating secondary worlds as legitimate activity - But dangers of pride (like Morgoth seeking to create independently)Connection to Tolkien's Life and Times
World War I: - Witnessed destruction of English countryside - Mechanized warfare as "Morgothian" - Loss of friends in war influenced themes of corruption and loss Industrial Revolution: - Destruction of rural England - Factories and urbanization as marring the land - Saruman's Isengard reflects these concerns World War II: - Writing/revising LOTR during the war - Themes of resistance to overwhelming corruption - Hope persisting in darkest times (eucatastrophe) Catholic in Protestant England: - Minority religious perspective - Deeper engagement with theology than many contemporaries - Desire to explore faith through "supposal" rather than allegoryQuestions for Further Research
1. The Mechanism of Corruption: How exactly does Morgoth's power "infuse" into matter? Is it metaphorical or literal within the mythology?
2. Degrees of Corruption: Does proximity to Morgoth's fortresses increase corruption? Is Mordor more corrupted than the Shire simply by geography?
3. Elven Immunity?: Do Elves, being firstborn and awakening before much corruption, have any resistance? Or are they equally affected?
4. The Role of Music: Could the Music of the Ainur be "sung again" to heal Arda? Or does the physical world's corruption require physical healing?
5. Valar's Own Corruption: Can the Valar themselves be corrupted? Melkor was one of them. Could others fall?
6. Sauron's Independence: At what point did Sauron act independently vs. as Morgoth's lieutenant? Did he continue Morgoth's work or deviate from it?
7. The Straight Road: Why can Elves still reach Aman after the world is made round? Does this reveal something about the nature of the Marring?
8. Animal Corruption: Do animals suffer from the Marring? Can they be "evil" or only corrupted by evil will?