Inherent Evil

[Gwaihir the Windlord]

...they were none of them wholly free of him in their incarnate from, and their bodies had an effect upon their spirits.

Hmmm, something to do with brain function perhaps? This quote is actually rather an interesting one, but I would have trouble with the idea that Melkor could be an inherent part of all people in Arda -- who are created in mind, as we know, solely and directly by Illuvatar -- without his actual contact with them.

Personally I would not take that to be the quote's meaning. Influence, rather than innate corruption, is what Melkor's involvement in the making of hroar would have had on the thoughts of the people of Arda (except in the case of the Orcs, who he had personally corrupted). In that case, the quote is not in fact such a major revelation. We already know that this 'influence' and power of evil -- the power of Melkor -- lies on all matter in the world, and also that it too 'had an effect' on the movements of even the Children of Illuvatar. That this 'evil energy' lay in the fibres of hroar would, I think -- that is, what I think coheres and seems right -- have continued this effect rather than innately corrupting them (if only in part). So it does in fact fit in.

In the case of the Orcs, perhaps this leaving behind of an 'imprint' or remnant of power upon them -- it is said that Melkor continues to adminsiter his material force for evilness, even from the remoteness of his prison -- is how Melkor corrupted the Orcs. This is a viable theory, then, as to the actual method through which Melkor's own evilness was administered to the Orcs, and the channel through which they were damned in the beginning.

(Forgive me if this post is slightly hurried-seeming btw, I wouldn't know as I can't read over it; I am myself in a hurry (public computer, too =/).