Melkor
Melkor was the original Dark Lord and the ancient being that brought about evil in Eä. His name means ‘He who arises with might’ in Quenya. Melkor is later given the name Morgoth (Black Foe of the World) in Sindarin. And the name Morgoth sticks with him after that. When Eru Ilúvatar made the Ainur, Melkor was the most powerful Ainu amongst them. But pride and greed drove him to start an uprising against Eru in a bid to influence Arda.
His numerous transgressions in the First Age, such as stealing the Silmarils, destroying the Two Lamps, and the Two Trees of Valinor prompted the Hosts of Valinor to rise against him in the War of Wrath. They sent him out of Arda into the Void
where he now resides.
Biography
Made in the Timeless Halls, Melkor was the smartest and the most powerful creation
of Eru. But his character was different from that of his brother, Manwe.
As soon as he became bored with the blankness of the Eä, the Imperishable Flame became Melkor’s obsession. He often traveled into the Void to search for the Flame, which he couldn’t get because it was always with Iluvatar. And in these ventures, he mostly found himself alone. Boredom, loneliness, and impatience during these outings brought about thoughts and ideas that contradicted the code of the Ainur.
Nobody enjoyed the Music of the Ainur like Eru, but Melkor’s dark thoughts started corrupting the music bringing about Discord around him. To change this lack of musical harmony, Eru came up with a Second, then a Third musical theme. Manwe was to be the lead instrument for the Second Theme, but Melkor still derailed his progress. The Third theme was for the Men and Elves, and like in the Second one, Melkor’s Discord yet corrupted its theme.
Seeing this disharmony, Eru ended the Music and reprimanded Melkor. Iluvatar reminded Melkor that while his strength was commendable, his creations should reflect Eru’s thoughts because he was an extension from Eru himself. The rebuke didn’t sit well with Melkor. He feigned his acceptance but continued his underhand campaigns. Therefore, when the Music embodied Arda, it retained the Melkoric flaws; thus, extreme cold and severe heat haunted Arda. Melkor’s interest then switched to this new world
and accompanied by other Valar, he settled here.
Arda
The Valar descended into Arda and began shaping the unfinished earth into orderliness. They chose Manwe to lead them. He didn’t possess Melkor’s power, but he had a clear understanding of Eru. In the meantime, Melkor had taken the Field of Arda as his home. Embittered by this rejection to become the leader, Melkor formed an opposition against the progress of the other Valar. Alone, Melkor stood against the Valar and Maiar in Arda, and he had the upper hand for a long time.
With Melkor’s constant interference, Nothing could be done. So Arda remained formless during this struggle. But the scales tipped to the Valar’s side. This blessing came in the form of the powerful Valar Tulkas, who came to Arda to aid the Valar. Tasting defeat for the first time, Melkor fled Arda for a while.
Years of the Lamps
Without Melkor’s interference, the Valar set the chaotic world into order and began preparing for the coming of the elves. First things first, they made the two Great Lamps of the Valar to provide light. The Valar decided to have their residence (which they named Almaren)
here.
But the sneaky Melkor came into Arda, with a host of Maiar spirits loyal to his music, while the Valar were busy. He made a formidable fortress (Utumno) in the north-most of Arda. North of the fort, he had decay and East the Mountains. But these fortifications alerted the Valar of his presence.
Melkor, the cunning beast he was, got one over them by attacking first and brought down the Lamps. From the fallen Lamps, a massive fire spread razing everything in its path, and while the Valar were preoccupied with containing the inferno, Melkor retreated safely to Utumno.
This destruction forced the Valar to move to another continent (Aman), where they built Valinor.
Now Melkor could roam freely in Middle-earth, and a reign of darkness, decay, and terrible creatures began. Angband, another fortress, was made within the Iron Mountains to defend any imminent attack by the Valar from the West.
Sauron, his loyal helper, was given Angband to rule.
The Valar, now in Aman, avoided another war with Melkor. First, they did not know the location where the Children of Ilúvatar would awaken. And they also feared a repeat of the destruction that the two fallen Lamps had made, which would most likely destroy the Children with it. The majority of the Valar thus remained in Aman. In the meantime, the Elves landed in Middle-earth onto Melkor’s lap. It was his turf to run. And he captured many of the Elves and using torture and sorcery he changed them into Orcs.
Melkor’s treachery and wickedness didn’t last long because Vala Oromë found out that the Elves had landed in Middle-earth. The War of the Powers ensued between Melkor’s forces and the Valar, and this time the latter became victorious. Melkor ran back to Utumno, but the Valar pursued him, set forth a siege, and at last, the doors bent to their will. It was time to pay, so Melkor was tied with Angainor, and they took him to Valinor with them. In Valinor, Melkor was put into the Halls of Mandos, a place he stayed for Three Ages.
But the Valar didn’t count on one thing- the creations of Melkor that were still in Middle-earth. In their haste to remove Melkor, they left Sauron and the Balrogs alive waiting for Melkor’s release.
The Three Ages went by, and when Melkor was brought before Manwë Súlimo, he pretended to have reformed. Manwe, being saintly and unable to understand evil, freed Melkor. And Melkor bided his time by pretending to be good. During this time, his advice, and assistance to others showed no malice. He could have fooled other Valar but not Tulkas and Ulmo, who were always aware of Melkor’s cunningness, wickedness, and brutality. They were right.
Melkor never forgot that the Elves were the reason that the Valar had sought to intervene in Arda, and now more than ever, he was determined to corrupt these earthly beings. The Elves had three races, and Melkor chose to influence the most gullible among them who were easier to befriend.
With time he managed to spread half-truths and lies among the Noldor telling them the Valar had ill-intentions when they brought them to Aman. He also revealed to them tales about Men who would soon come to Middle-earth (the Valar hadn’t yet informed the Elves about this fact). This worked in Melkor’s favor since many of the Noldor now believed their presence in Aman was a ploy by the Valar to give Men the Middle-earth.
At last, these lies became so deep-seated that the Noldor became openly rebellious against the Valar. Fëanor, son of Finwe was among the fiercest critics of this new order. The Valar, on the other hand, failed to see Melkor’s machinations in this rebellion and remained focused on Feanor.
At first, though concerned, they saw this as a normal rebellious phase that would wane as Feanor became wiser. But at last, Feanor’s extreme malice against his brother, Fingolfin, caught their attention, and they called him to the Ring of Doom (Máhanaxar) in Valinor to give his side.
It is here that Melkor’s hand in this uprising was discovered. Tulkas set forth to find Melkor but couldn’t find him. Melkor stayed in the shadows for a while then headed to Formenos to find the Silmarils. He pretended to be Feanor’s friend, but Feanor saw through him and shut the gates of Formenos on Melkor’s face. This was an insult to Arda’s most powerful being. Melkor snuck to the south, and here he met Ungoliant. Melkor exploited Ungoliant’s weakness (persistent hunger) and promised to satisfy her if she offered her help. They headed back to Valinor to lay havoc to the Trees. And an ongoing festival provided the perfect cover for a sudden attack. Melkor stabbed the tree, and Ungoliant quenched her thirst with the oozing sap from the wounds, releasing her poison at the same time. Soon the Trees withered, and Aman plunged back into utter darkness for a while.
Darkness and confusion created a window for Melkor to escape to Formenos, where he attacked and killed Finwë, Feanor’s father. He laid his hands on the long-sought Silmarils and several gems. The Silmarils always seared through the flesh of the wicked, but Melkor endured the pain that the Silmarils caused when he held it. Together with Ungoliant, they ran to the North. And Ungoliant served her purpose since her Unlight was able to facilitate their escape from the pursuing Valar. Through the Grinding Ice of Helcaraxe, they passed and finally came out into Middle-earth.
All this time, Melkor was hatching another plan to escape from his new-found ‘ally’, Ungoliant, without sating her hunger. As they neared Angband through Lammoth, Ungoliant saw this deception and demanded her share from the Formenos’ treasure as promised. He surrendered the lesser treasures which couldn’t satiate Ungoliant. It was the wrong move. Hell hath no fury like a woman with constant hunger. She released her dark webbing around him, but as soon as he cried in anguish, the Balrogs awakened from their hibernation. They saved him from Ungoliant, but she managed to escape.
Meanwhile, in Formenos, Feanor found his slain father. In sorrow, Feanor cursed Melkor and the name Morgoth which means ‘Dark Enemy’ was born. Morgoth stuck, and the name Melkor was never again heard from the lips of his enemies.
Morgoth’s rebuilding efforts led to the formation of Thangorodrim (massive volcanoes) from the debris and slag that piled from the tunnels they were making in Angband. He also redoubled his efforts in creating a formidable force of orcs and other slain beasts.
First Age
Vengefulness lay in the hearts of the Noldor, So led by Feanor, they tracked Morgoth with a large force. Maybe they would recover the Silmarils as well, or so they hoped. A war later called the War of the Great Jewels, started, but the elves didn’t fare well against the mighty Morgoth.
First, Morgoth sent an army of orcs to destroy the Noldor before they reached Middle-earth. This was a decisive victory for Feanor. This easy conquest made him overconfident, and they gave pursuit to the small number of retreating orcs to Angband. The Noldor hoped to destroy Melkor and his legion for good.
It was a folly on Feanor’s part. They didn’t count on one surprise, the Balrogs. These were creatures you wouldn’t want to face whenever they were near Angband. The Noldor’s valor was no match to the fierce Balrogs, and they were obliterated. Feanor braved on alone, taking on as many Balrogs as he could until Gothmog struck him down. Feanor’s sons formed a backup force and saved him from the battleground, but he succumbed to his injuries soon after.
Morgoth knew what he had to do to keep the Noldor beneath his heel forever. And he had to do it soon while he could dictate the terms. He sent an emissary to them seeking peace and their surrender and promised they would get the Silmarils in return. Maedhros, the new leader, accepted the truce. When meeting both sides came with a larger force hoping to have an advantage, but Maedhros’ army had not recovered from the War of the Great Jewels. The Noldor were overwhelmed, and only Maedhros was left alive. He was bound on one of the cliffs that dotted Thangorodrim. The remaining Noldors received a message from Morgoth, who promised to release Maedhros if they stopped their insurgence. But he had deceived them one too many times, and Morgoth received no reply this time.
Soon after, Fingolfin elves reached Middle-earth from Aman, and they had not forgotten Feanor’s betrayal. Mistrust between the two Elvish factions heightened, and this was Morgoth’s chance to annihilate this race forever. However, the Valar intervened in time by revealing the Sun and the Moon, and they foiled Morgoth’s divide-and-rule tactic for a while. Morgoth still had another weapon in his arsenal, and he sent dark clouds from the Iron Mountains to throw darkness upon Hithlum.
To Fingon, this was an opportunity, and in the chaos and cover of darkness, he sneaked to Thangorodrim and set Maedhros free. Maedhros became the new symbol of unity among the elves leading to the establishment of Beleriand and Hithlum. Morgoth’s next offensive was quickly quashed, and the elves attacked Angband hoping to contain him forever, but they couldn’t.
Years passed, and Morgoth gave another offensive by causing an eruption from the Iron Mountains and releasing a host of orcs. The united Noldor front also quashed these orcs.
It was time to change tactics. Morgoth captured elves and resumed his old tactics of breaking down their resolve and linking them to him. And who better to act as spies among the Elvish community other than these transformed elves?
A century passed, and Morgoth hatched a plan to attack Hithlum’s flank from the north. But Fingon was there to destroy this army again. Now Morgoth knew he could never defeat the Noldors without a supplementary force for the orcs.
Another century passed, and the unveiling of Glaurung, the first dragon, shows Morgoth hadn’t been sleeping. Glaurung wreaked havoc around Angband, but his premature foray ended Fingon’s company of archers exposed the dragon’s weaknesses (Its hide had not yet matured to stop Elvish arrows).
Men started trickling into Beleriand after some time. And Morgoth, with his schemes, joined this expedition of men hoping to sway them to his service. He finds men to be more vulnerable to his lies than elves, but he is forced to return to Angband to curb the growing force of the elves. He may have left this mission midway, but most men either joined his forces or moved away from the North. Not all. Some of the men resisted his charms and became instrumental spies for the elves from within Morgoth’s territory. These men came to be called Edain.
Around FA 455, Morgoth saw the prevailing lull as the perfect opportunity to destroy the elves. The Elven watch had slackened, and one cold winter Morgoth sent down torrents of lava and rains of fire from Thangorodrim and toxic vapors from Iron Mountains. This was a sudden onslaught where many elves lost their lives on the Ard-Galen, which became barren badlands forever known as Anfauglith after that battle.
It didn’t stop there. Morgoth still sent awakened beasts, the orcs, the balrogs, and the fully grown Glaurung. The Dagor Dagorath (Battle of Sudden Flame) began. But even the brave and fierce Noldor couldn’t hold against this sudden onslaught.
The siege they had held at Angband was quickly defeated. They were scattered, and Morgoth had the sense of ensuring that this time around, they could not unite as a single front.
Only Maedhros’ people faired better among the elves and only because his fortress that sat atop the Hill of Himring shielded them. Fingolfin and Fingon survived narrowly because the surrounding mountains controlled the initial rivers of fire that had destroyed many areas, including Dorthonion forests. The Grey-elves that had resided in these plains were completely displaced, forcing them to move to Doriath. Nobody took the news of the befallen Elvish army as hard as Fingolfin. He now believed their end as a race had come. Full of unspeakable wrath, he rode from Hithlum to the gates of Angband and challenged Morgoth, the mightiest being, to a duel. Morgoth had no such intentions, but who would ever fear and worship him if he cowered this challenge?
From the gates of Angband, Morgoth came forth with his hammer of the underworld, Grond. Only one of them would leave alive this day. Fingolfin was a seasoned warrior, and every attack from Morgoth opened a flank for Fingolfin to hit. He delivered seven fatal blows to the Dark Lord, but being mortal, Fingolfin soon became tired. Morgoth blows rained on him harder, and thrice he was forced to his knees. His commendable resolve helped him up each time until the final blow that threw him into one of the pits which had formed from Morgoth missed blows with his Grond. Choosing a warrior’s death, Fingolfin delivered one last blow to Morgoth’s foot, which forever left him with a limp as a reminder of this clash. In anger, Morgoth wanted to quarter Fingolfin and feed him to his wolves, but Thorondor, the Lord of the Eagles, descended upon him with his vicious long and sharp talons and took the body.
This attack by Fingolfin was no small feat. Not only was Morgoth injured, but he had also shown his cards too soon in his blind fury. The remaining elves and the Edain regrouped and started an assault against him once again. Worn-out, he retreated to Angband with his forces.
It was time to revert to his old tactics of espionage and deception. But his deceptive offers didn’t augur well with the men this time around. Morgoth then turned to the Easterlings over the Blue Mountains to harass the Edain. After seven years, Morgoth organized another fearsome assault on Hithlum, but his taste of victory was taken from under his nose. Cirdan and his forces came in the nick of time to save Fingon and force the orcs back.
The Pursuit of Silmaril
Lúthien, an elven maid, and Beren from the race of men, also sought to recover the Silmaril. The two were lovers, and they came to Morgoth’s court in guises hoping to fool him. Morgoth, being a deceiver himself, wasn’t easily fooled. However, the quick-thinking Luthien offered to perform a musical rendition for him. Morgoth was enamored by Luthien’s performance and urged her on. But Luthien had another trick up her sleeve, and suddenly she cast a spell that sent everyone in the court to sleep.
In his slumber, Morgoth’s head sagged from the weight of the Silmaril, and he fell off his throne. His Iron Crown fell out from his head, and Beren pried the Silmaril away from it. When Beren tried to cut another treasure out, his knife broke, and a piece hit Morgoth’s head. Morgoth started stirring out of his sleep. Beren and Luthien fled for their lives, but Morgoth hadn’t awakened. However, at the gates of Angband, the werewolf of Morgoth, Carcharoth, picked up their scent.
Beren had to fight, and he lost his hand along with the Silmaril he was holding. Carcharoth swallowed the Silmaril, but since he was a creation of evil, fire lit in his belly, causing unspeakable agony from inside. In pain, Carcharoth ran from Angband, maiming everyone on his path.
Morgoth woke up and realized what had happened. And that was a loss he couldn’t let go. He pursued the two lovers only to see them being flown away by Thorondor. Morgoth’s fury made lava to pour out of the Iron Mountains, and those who witnessed shook with panic remembering what had happened the last time fire came down the mountains. But this round he couldn’t recover the Silmaril.
Nirnaeth Arnoediad
In the meantime, Maedhros, with his unified forces, were on the offensive against the orcs sending them plummeting from the northern heights. Morgoth called his council, and they decided it was an assault they couldn’t take lying down. He prepared his army, and when the Elven forces finally reached Angband, the two forces clashed. It would be known as the Battle of Nirnaeth Arnoediad.
But the fierce Elvish and Edain army was obliterated. All their established kingdoms in Beleriand and Hithlum, at last, fell under the rule of Morgoth. The Easterlings who had long engaged the human elven-sympathizers finally enslaved them, and Hurin was finally captured.
The Cursing of Hurin
Húrin Tharion of the First Age was held captive in the House of Hador. He had taken arms to defend Turgon during the Nirnaeth Arnoediad. Turgon was the remaining successor to Gondolin
(the Hidden City) after Fingon, his brother, died valiantly in the battle. Hurin, Huor, and the last remnant force managed to save Turgon but at an expense.
Only Hurin remained standing in the clash, and Gothmog took him to Angband. Morgoth wanted information about Gondolin’s layout. He tortured Hurin for this information, who remained mum despite the pain.
Morgoth then decided to attack Hurin, where it hurt most, his family. He put Turin and Nienor, Hurin’s son and daughter, under a curse that made them unfortunate whenever they went. It was a curse than no being could endure, and with time, their despair started giving way to madness. Hurin was watching all this from Thangorodrim, and the imminent destruction wore heavy on his heart. At first, his son Turin resisted Morgoth’s tactics and sorcery, but he eventually fell under Morgoth’s spell. He succumbed to the curse and died with his sister Nienor Niniel.
Fall of Gondolin
It had long been prophesied that Morgoth would fall at the behest of the House of Turgon. Thus he lived in hatred and fear of the House of Fingolfin. And Fingolfin’s son Turgon was his remaining fear. Hurin had fallen, and Turgon’s House was the only remaining thorn in the flesh. For Morgoth, this was the time to wipe them out from their hideouts in Gondolin.
Hurin had held his silence to the end, but Morgoth caught Maeglin, sister-son of the King of Gondolin. Maeglin couldn’t stand the threat of torture like Hurin, and he quickly spilled the layout of Gondolin and its defenses to Morgoth. He further offered to murder Tuor in exchange for his life and Idril Celebrindal as his bride. Idril had been Maeglin’s object of desire for years, and with that promise, he became Morgoth’s loyal follower. The Dark Lord then sent Maeglin back to Gondolin as the Trojan Horse when the attack came.
During an ongoing festival, Morgoth’s host sneaked upon Gondolin from the mountains where the watchers had slackened. Maeglin’s treachery helped them approach the last Noldor stronghold without detection, and soon they were upon the elves with unimaginable force. The elves were crushed under his heel to ashes.
The only remaining Elven communities were scattered in the Cirdan’s Havens and the Mouths of Sirion, with Eärendil as their ruler. To Morgoth, these surviving elves were nothing. He even came to forget about the stolen Silmaril. From his high pedestal, the following destruction of Arvernien by the Sons of Fëanor was entertainment to him.
Morgoth’s Downfall
The Valar once again took pity on the elves and the Edain when Earendil went to plead with them. Morgoth, who never understood forgiveness, knew the Valar wouldn’t stand with the sinful elves and men. He slackened his defenses against Aman. But the Valar had compassion for the surviving inhabitants of the earth, and they rose to defend them. Morgoth also came forth with all his might and arsenal, and the great battle of the year 572 that followed was so fierce that it reached Beleriand.
But the Hostsof Valinor had come prepared for this war, and Morgoth fell at last. His Balrogs faced the holy wrath, and only the few that hid in caverns survived. From his hideout in Angband, Morgoth shuddered, for now, he had but one last weapon, the Winged Dragons. And he released them.
With might and storms of fire, the dragons sent back the Valar until Earendil came to their rescue. With Vingilot, alongside Thorondor and other large Eagles. Earendil won against Ancalagon the Black, sending him down to Thangorodrim. The plummeting big frame of this big dragon took the towers of Thangorodrim with him.
Alone, Morgoth took the cowardly route and fled deeper into the maze of his mines. He tried to surrender for peace and pardon, but they had heard his lies a tad too many. The chain Angainor was used to bind him, his Iron Crown was mad into a neck collar, and through the Door of Night, he was sent into the Timeless Void. But before this, the two Silmarils were repossessed, but it didn’t take time before they were stolen again.
Melkor’s Prophesied Return
The deception and half-truths that Melkor had told men and elves for millennia still sat in their hearts. Sauron, one of his ardent followers, still kept his master’s teachings alive. At Numenor, where he was held captive after he was overrun during the Second Age, he managed to get the ear of Ar-Pharazôn, the current ruler. Soon Ar-Pharazon and his people were worshipping Melkor as their god.
Dagor Dagorath
Sources reveal that in some of Tolkien‘s compiled works, though not published by his son, Melkor devices a way to get back to the world through the impenetrable Door of Night. Dagor Dagorath (the Battle of Battles) follows, and it is here that Melkor falls from a strike delivered by none other than Túrin Turambar (whom he had cursed to death). Turin was given life by Eonwe as revealed in Hiding of Valinor. This was retribution for all men and the Húrin’s children.
Silmarillion (published version) doesn’t have this information, and if the Valar know how Melkor is defeated, they are still holding it close to their chests.
Naming
Etymology
Melkor means ‘One who arises in Might’ in Quenya, and when translated to Sindarin, Melkor becomes Belegurth or Belegur (Great Death). Tolkien formed Melkor from malkū, which is the Akkadian word for king or ‘mélekh‘ as the Hebrew refer to kings.
Morgoth, on the other hand, meant the Dark Enemy though Feanor had said it as ‘Black Foe of the World‘. In the first years, when he returned to Angband, he was called Melkor Bauglir-with Bauglir, meaning the Constrainer.
Titles
Melkor, the first Dark Lord, gives himself various self-aggrandizing names like Elder King, King of the world, and Master of the Fates of Arda. Sadoc Brandybuck refers to him as the Black King while Amlach calls him Master of Lies. And before his defeat in the War for the sake of the elves, the terrified first elves that inhabited Cuiviénen had a title for him, Dark Hunter.
After his final downfall, Sauron still calls him Lord of All and the Giver of Freedom. Later, when trying to influence the evil Númenóreans, he calls Melkor Lord of the Darkness.
Earlier References
Tolkien, in his two books, The Book of Lost Tales, used several names. They include Melko (mostly), Belcha (derived from the Quenya word velka meaning ‘flame), Melegor, and Meleko (from Primitive Quendian word Melek meaning ‘great, powerful, mighty).
In The Lost Road and Other Writings he is known as Melkor, Arkal and Mardello.
His Old English name is referred to once as Manfréa Bolgen. It is derived from man (evil), frea (lord), and bolgen (wrathful).
Strength And Powers
Only Ilúvatar superseded Melkor’s abilities when he resided in Arda. He was stronger than Manwe and the Valar together and led Sauron and the Balrogs in his rampage. At this age, he could control oceans and demolish mountains. And even when his powers abated, he could still send tempests of fires, create huge craters, and cast spells on his enemies (Hurin).
Character
In the beginning, Melkor could shapeshift. The Ainur took on different shapes that showed their powers and feelings. For example, when Melkor became rebellious, he took into a form that showed malice, ‘and the light of the eyes of Melkor was like a flame that whithers with heat and pierces with a deadly cold.’
Initially, he was blessed with beauty and intellect, but when his greed and pride grew, he was cast into Darkness. It was at Utumno that he took the human-like shape, and this was the shape that was chained by the Valar.
There is disagreement among different readers about his actual size, but he was taller than the elves in most depictions. The elves, especially the Noldor, were quite tall, sometimes towering above 6 feet up to 7. Some think Morgoth’s form took a size that stood between 12-16 feet.
When Morgoth is fighting Fingolfin, he is depicted as a huge being. Men’s strength and agility paled in comparison to that of elves, and it is probably the reason the elven forces withstood such assaults of biblical proportions. Fingolfin was also able to fight Morgoth for a while, and the passage ‘Morgoth set his foot upon his neck, and the weight of it was like a fallen hill’ shows Melkor’s size.
Melkor gave his power throughout the years to his servant and the beings that he created. So, a being that could initially defeat all the Valar together lost some of his strength at last. Nobody knows how much power he put into his creations, but it must have been much if mortals like Fingolfin could battle with him. However, when he visited Feanor at Formenos, only to have the gates shut on his face, he is still known as the mightiest being in Ea.
When it comes to Melkor’s personality, he is extremely proud and ambitious. Even from his inception, he wanted Eru’s power of creation. With time he came to know that he could never have this power, and all he was was an extension of Eru. That’s when bitterness started running through his veins. He had always desired lightness, but when he couldn’t have it for himself, he turned to darkness. We also see his envy and malice when he was denied Arda and started destruction campaigns against Manwe and other Valar.
Morgoth’s deception is also seen throughout his existence since he always sought to pervert those around him. Being knowledgeable than most, he knew how to warp his lies in truths making a truth-lie concoction that could fool even the wisest beings. We see his unique deception at play during his first release from the Hall of Mandos. Apart from Tulkas and Ulmo, who still regard him with suspicion, he can fool the other Valar.
Above all, he wanted followers, hence his constant experiments to make beings that did his bidding.
But even with all his power, Melkor’s cowardice is seen as he rarely engages in any of his battles. Even when Fingolfin challenges him, he fights though reluctantly and to save face. Fear is also seen in his final defeat. Another weakness is his lust, which Luthien exploited to put Melkor and his court to sleep.
Devoid of sympathy and boldness, he also underestimated not only the ability of his foes to unite and also their resolve after he quashed them time and again.
Other Stories of the Legendarium
Tolkien toyed with another idea where Melkor had had a child with an ogress known as Fuithluin. His son was called Kosomot (later he named Gothmog).
Nienna (the Valar of mourning) was also Melkor’s sister until Tolkien made her Narmo and Irmo’s sister at last.
The author also had versions where Melkor lusted after Maia Arien and sought to make her his wife.
Yet in other versions, Melkor end comes in the hands of Eönwë, instead of Túrin Turambar, during the Dagor Dagorath.