Gorbag

Gorbag is a captain of the Orcs of Minas Morgul, a large, crook-legged, long-armed creature who leads a company of Morgul-orcs into the Tower of Cirith Ungol. He is a treacherous and self-serving figure, motivated by greed for the mithril coat and by a desire to escape the dominion of the Dark Lord, but his quarrel with Shagrat over the spoils leads to a bloody internecine battle that inadvertently aids Samwise Gamgee's rescue of Frodo.

Identity and Role

Gorbag is a commander of the Orcs of Minas Morgul, distinguished from the Isengarders by his livery: his company bears the emblem of the Red Eye, not the White Hand of Saruman. He is described as a short, crook-legged creature, very broad, with long arms that hang almost to the ground. His voice is softer than the growl of Uglúk but more evil, and he speaks with a sneer. He is a messenger trusted by the Dark Lord, referring to himself as "Grishnákh their trusted messenger" and claiming knowledge of the Nazgûl, whom he calls "the apple of the Great Eye." He is contemptuous of Saruman, calling him "a dirty treacherous fool" and sneering at the Isengarders as "muck-rakers of a dirty little wizard." He leads a company of about forty or more Orcs, who are armed with bows and curved scimitars.

Actions and Objectives

Gorbag's primary objective is to secure the mithril coat that Frodo was wearing. He covets it for himself, and this greed drives the central conflict of his appearance. He leads his company into the Tower of Cirith Ungol, where he engages in a violent quarrel with Shagrat, the Tower's captain, over the possession of the coat. This quarrel escalates into a full-scale battle between the Morgul-orcs and the Isengarders, resulting in the deaths of nearly all the Orcs in the tower. Gorbag himself is stabbed by Shagrat but feigns death, only to rise and attempt a final, treacherous attack. He is killed by Shagrat, who stabs him in the throat and then stamps and tramples his body.

Relationships and Conflict

Gorbag's relationship with Shagrat is one of mutual suspicion and rivalry. He accuses Shagrat of being "high and mighty" and of failing to listen to his warnings about the "great fighter" (Sam) who is loose. He also reveals a desire to escape the service of the Dark Lord, telling Shagrat, "if we get a chance, you and me'll slip off and set up somewhere on our own with a few trusty lads, somewhere where there's good loot nice and handy, and no big bosses." This ambition, however, is ultimately subsumed by his greed for the mithril coat, which leads to his death. His conflict with Shagrat is a direct consequence of the Ring's corrupting influence, as the desire for the precious item overrides any loyalty to the Dark Lord or to his fellow captain.

Change and Ending

Gorbag's story ends in the Tower of Cirith Ungol. After the battle, he is found by Sam, who sees him as one of the many dead Orcs. However, Gorbag is not dead. He crawls to the bundle containing the mithril coat, intending to steal it. Shagrat, who is also wounded, hears him and turns to face him. Gorbag is poised to stab Shagrat with a broken spear, but Shagrat is quicker and drives his knife into Gorbag's throat. Gorbag's final act is one of treachery and greed, and he is killed by his own rival. His death is a direct result of his own avarice and his inability to trust his fellow Orc.

Narrative Role and Evaluation

Gorbag serves as a foil to Shagrat, representing the Orcs of Mordor as opposed to those of Isengard. His greed and treachery are typical of the Orc-kind, and his desire to escape the Dark Lord's service reveals the inherent instability of Sauron's forces. His death, along with the destruction of his company, is a crucial element in the plot, as it clears the Tower of Cirith Ungol of its defenders, allowing Sam to rescue Frodo. Gorbag's character is a study in the corrosive effects of the Ring's power, even on those who do not possess it, and his story is a testament to the self-destructive nature of evil.