Quote:
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Better to reign in hell than serve in heaven
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John Milton, Paradise Lost
Melkor desires to be his own master, to bring into existence beings of his own. At first Melkor may have desired to serve as a teacher and guardian, ("And he feigned, even to himself at first, that he desired to go thither and order all things for the good of the Children of Illúvatar, controlling the turmoil’s of the heat and the cold that had come to pass through him") but the desire to help soon changed into a desire to dominate others and become a God in his own right. Unable to create beings of his own Melkor's pride demands that he take retribution on the works of Illuvitar and the other Ainur. Melkor is mastered by his pride after he is rebuked by Illuvitar. Like Satan, Melkor realizes that he can never overcome God (Illuvitar). Satan's pride will not allow him to repent, and he dedicates himself to corrupting the works of God. Melkor makes that same decision. Melkor covets the work of Illuvitar and his brethren. Melkor can not stand being second to anyone, not even Illuvitar. Melkor does not accept Illuvitar's statement that all themes have their utmost source in the themes of Illuvitar. Melkor's pride deceives him into believing that he can destroy the work of Illuvitar. As Sharku said, Illuvitar does not exist inside of time. He knows all that will happen. This does not take away free will, it merely means that Illuvitar knows the outcome before it happens. Illuvitar knows that Sauron will fall and that Melkor will bring the orcs into existence. Perhaps it is to create a balance in the universe as Matt suggested, or maybe it is for a totally different purpose that human beings can not understand. Tolkien strongly believed in mercy and redemption. With the exception of Melkor and perhaps Sauron I do not believe that anyone, even the orcs were beyond redemption in Arda.
[ March 01, 2002: Message edited by: Thingol ]