The Dark Secrets of Middle-earth's Elven Race

Many classic adventure tales in the fantasy genre feature a clear distinction between good and evil. Villains typically seek corruption, power, or world domination, while heroes emerge to protect humanity. The division between good and bad characters is usually straightforward, with less emphasis on morally ambiguous figures (although their popularity has been increasing). Clearly delineating who the audience should support or oppose makes it easier for them to follow the story.

The Lord of the Rings largely adheres to this pattern. It presents distinct heroes and villains with limited overlap between the two. Even different races are categorized as wholly good or bad, with little deviation except for humans on occasion. Elves, for instance, represent an epitome of "goodness" in Middle-earth, while Orcs are unequivocally evil. However, one may question whether this division was always in place or if there were Elves who defied the conventional definition of hero.

Are Elves Always Good In Lord Of The Rings?

Although Elves in Tolkien's lore are generally aligned with the right side of history, there are still a few instances where some display questionable morals. This means that Elves, like any other beings, have the capacity for evil. Most of the cases involving evil or villainous acts performed by Elves are found in the First Age. However, during the Third Age (the time when The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit take place), the Elves existing are the wisest and most powerful of their kind. This likely explains why they are able to resist many evil temptations and why no evil Elves are present in LOTR.

Therefore, it can be concluded that although Elves can choose to be capable of evil, they tend to refrain from doing so. Unlike Orcs, who seem to possess inherent levels of evil, morality is a conscious decision for Elves, just as it is for humans and many other races in Middle-earth. While there were some Elves in Middle-earth's history who caused trouble and could be considered villainous, by the time The Lord of the Rings unfolds, there are no real instances of evil Elven characters.

Are There Any Evil Elves In Middle Earth?

Fëanor, along with his sons, holds the worst reputation among the forgotten Elves in history. Utilizing the essence of the revered Two Trees of Valinor, Fëanor crafted precious gems known as the Silmarils. He and his sons adamantly declared that they would never relinquish the Silmarils to anyone. Consequently, any individual, be it virtuous or wicked, who dared to seize the gems would instantly become the enemy of Fëanor's family, inciting a war to reclaim them.

In an endeavor to safeguard the Silmarils from Morgoth, the Valar beseeched Fëanor to surrender them. Yet Fëanor stubbornly refused. As a result, Morgoth stealthily pilfered the Silmarils, prompting Fëanor and his sons to embark on a relentless pursuit in an attempt to retrieve them. Resorting to desperate measures, they even commandeered ships from the Teleri Elves, mercilessly slaying any who opposed their path. Upon reaching Middle-earth, they callously incinerated the ships, leaving those who had followed Fëanor's half-brothers stranded. In their desperate quest, Fëanor's sons committed two separate acts of kin-slaying to reclaim a single Silmaril previously possessed by Beren and Lúthien. Overall, this family unequivocally aligned themselves with immorality, if not outright malevolence.

There are several other Elves who committed atrocious deeds. Eol attempted to murder his own son, but tragically ended up killing his wife, whom he had manipulated into marriage. Maeglin betrayed the Elves and allied with Morgoth, although Morgoth subjected him to torture to coerce him into that position. Additionally, there is Celegorm, who schemed to assault Lúthien, with his intentions described as "more sinister than anything Morgoth had conceived since his exile from Valinor." So, their actions were undeniably wicked. Unlike Maeglin, Celegorm was not coerced by external influences, but consciously made these choices and devised his own malevolent plans. Although it is a minority, there are still a few Elves in Middle-earth who did not align with the forces of good.