Sauron the Gene-maker

[Inziladun]

I've been fascinated for some time by the appearance of apparent WMD use in Middle-earth, and I've lately wondered about something along somewhat similar scientific lines.

In Mordor, among all the major horrors encountered by Frodo and Sam, are described some relatively obscure minions of Sauron.

Files, dun or grey, or black, marked like orcs with a red eye-shaped blotch, buzzed and stung...

ROTK The Land of Shadow

Since I can see no explanation for the eye-marks occurring naturally, I conclude Sauron somehow produced that particular species of fly. The question is, why? Vanity? Experimentation?

[Barrel-rider]

I'd say recognition and vanity. Sauron's probably very eager to show off his power, so making his most insignificant minions very recognizable might be a show of it.

[Galadriel55]

Evolution. Evidently, any living creature in Mordor has a better chance of survival and reproduction if it has a red eye clearly visible somewhere on its body.
(And if you don't agree, just consider what happens to orcs who fail to display the said eye. )

~~~

Vanity, or the need to prove, more to himself, that he has complete control over his land and his minions. Loathing of any unspoiled thing or creature, especially within his power. How can he be the Great and Powerful Sauron, the First of His Name, if Eru's flies still thrive on his Orc-dung? I'm joking here, but I think he would have found it unacceptable to leave a single pebble, let alone a living creature, in its pure and clean form. It would have irked him endlessly - he'd feel he doesn't have true dominance and control over it until as little as possible of its original essence remains.

[Morthoron]

Inzil, there are real moths and flies that have eye-like spots on their wings, making them seem much larger than they are. Perhaps Tolkien was walking by the bio lab in Oxford one day and fell into a conversation with an entomologist.

The Great Plague is also something that Tolkien inferred was started in or around Mordor, which "came with dark winds out of the East". Given Sauron's casual disregard for killing off his own troops, perhaps weakening his enemies' forces along his borders as well as in Arnor (where fell spirits immediately rushed in after the sweep of the pestilence), was tactically reason enough to wipe out everything.

[Nerwen]

I've always assumed Sauron created the eye-flies deliberately, through vanity and experimentation.

However, it could also be an entirely passive side-effect of magical "pollution"- there are many other examples of Sauron's general corrupting influence on the surrounding natural world.

Finally- from a purely in-universe standpoint, as I don't think this is what Tolkien was going for- yes, as Galadriel suggests, it could be the result of artificial selection by superstitious minions, along the lines of Carl Sagan's suggested explanation for "samurai" crabs.

Take your pick.

[Zigûr]

Originally Posted by Nerwen

However, it could also be an entirely passive side-effect of magical "pollution"- there are many other examples of Sauron's general corrupting influence on the surrounding natural world.

This is how I think I always felt about it, like it was something that happened spontaneously as a result of Sauron's presence and the general malaise of Mordor, sort of like Mount Doom erupting at dramatic moments.

[IxnaY AintsaY]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

Vanity, or the need to prove, more to himself, that he has complete control over his land and his minions. Loathing of any unspoiled thing or creature, especially within his power. How can he be the Great and Powerful Sauron, the First of His Name, if Eru's flies still thrive on his Orc-dung? I'm joking here, but I think he would have found it unacceptable to leave a single pebble, let alone a living creature, in its pure and clean form. It would have irked him endlessly - he'd feel he doesn't have true dominance and control over it until as little as possible of its original essence remains.

If so he seems to have been able to modulate or defer this compulsion; e.g., the land around the Sea of Nurnen, that was fertile enough to feed his armies, and fair enough for Aragorn to gift to the former slaves there after the War of the Ring.*

But I'm not convinced all of his corruptions were intentional.



* ("You're free now! But hey, why don't you stay and cultivate this blasted wasteland, to which I'm sure you've grown very attached.")

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Nerwen

However, it could also be an entirely passive side-effect of magical "pollution"- there are many other examples of Sauron's general corrupting influence on the surrounding natural world.

Good point. It's more in Saruman's style to breed species on purpose with his own mark on it just to show that he can. I can see how Sauron would not have created the flies on purpose, but they were still altered because of his presence.

[Morthoron]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

Good point. It's more in Saruman's style to breed species on purpose with his own mark on it just to show that he can. I can see how Sauron would not have created the flies on purpose, but they were still altered because of his presence.

Back to my comment regarding real-world moths with eyes on wings to scare off larger predators, here is an example: