Gorbag was an Orc captain of Cirith Ungol, originally from Minas Morgul.
Biography
Shagrat and Gorbag in a deadly argument.
After Shelob paralyzed Frodo Baggins, an Orc patrol led by Gorbag and Shagrat came across his cocooned body, taking him back to Cirith Ungol where they planned to torture him. While sifting through Frodo's belongings, a dispute began between the two captains after Shagrat claimed ownership of Frodo's Mithril vest, which escalated into a vicious fight all over the fortress between Morgul Orcs and Black Uruks. Gorbag survived much of the fight but was eventually killed by Sam.
Tolkien's first ideal name for Gorbag was Yagúl, as told to the History of Middle-Earth: part 4, Sauron Defeated.
Portrayal in adaptations
The Return of the King film
Gorbag as an Uruk by John Howe
In the live-action film, Gorbag and Shagrat have a major role reversal. In the book, Shagrat informs Gorbag of the nature of Shelob's venom and how it functions, whereas Gorbag assumes this role in the film and explains it to his fellows upon finding Frodo. Also, Shagrat is the one to claim the vest for himself, while Gorbag insists it be taken to Sauron. After the fight, Shagrat flees to the Black Gate with the mithril shirt while the wounded Gorbag is left for dead in the tower. He was in fact still alive and was about to torture Frodo when Samwise Gamgee impales him from behind. He was portrayed by Stephen Ure, the same actor who played Grishnákh in the previous film.
Voice Dubbing actors
| Foreign Language | Voice dubbing artist |
|---|---|
| Portuguese (Brazil) (Television/DVD) | Guilherme Lopes |
| German | Thomas Albus |
| Italian (Italy) | Mauro Magliozzi |
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game)
Gorbag appears as a boss at the end of the "Cirith Ungol". In the game, Gorbag knocks down Shagrat and then Sam must defeat him by stunning him with javelins.
The Lord of the Rings: Game Boy Advance Third Age
Gorbag is an evil mini-hero that can be picked up depending on the level.
References
- The Lord of the Rings: The Choices of Master Samwise pgs. 735-42
- The Lord of the Rings: The Tower of Cirith Ungol pg. 899
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