Character analysis: Fëanor, Fingolfin.

[Beren3000]

I'll model this thread after Val's Isildur, Anarion and Elendil one.
The three steps for discussion in this thread are as follows:

1. Intro to the characters
2.Comparison between them
3.Speculation and controversy (my favorite part )

I'll start with the intro

[Beren3000]

Fëanor
Most talented of the Noldor. His name means "spirit of fire", it was given to him by his mother. His father, Finwë gave him the name Curufinwë. He created the three Silmarils, fabulous jewels containing within them the light of the Two Trees of Valinor. The secret of the making of the Silmarils went with Fëanor to his grave. The Silmarils caused tension and strife among the Noldor; the most famous incident being Fëanor raising a sword to his kinsman, Fingolfin for the latter's trying to touch the Silmarils (IIRC). Once Melkor stole the Silmarils, Fëanor was blind with rage and named his enemy anew as Morgoth: the black enemy of the world. Having refused the Silmarils to the Valar already, he could not enlist their help, so he swore a terrible, blasphemous oath binding him and his sons to the fate of the Silmarils. After that, all of Fëanor's house were exiled from Valinor. A mysterious figure (most probably Mandos) meets them on the shores of Valinor. This figure utters the famous prophecy known as The Doom of Mandos or The Curse of the Noldor. Ignoring this completely, Fëanor goes on to Alqualondë asking for ships. Refused the ships, he and his people massacre the Eldar of Alqualondë and take the ships. Once they disembark at Middle-Earth, Fëanor orders the burning of the ships. This was done in order to prevent Fingolfin's house (which was also exiled for their belief in Fëanor's oath) from crossing the sea. Once in Middle-Earth, Fëanor wages a terrible war on Morgoth but dies in the first battle at the hands of Gothmog, lord of all Balrogs. It is said that when his spirit left his body, his whole body turned to ash.


Fingolfin
Kinsman of Fëanor. Fingolfin often argued with Fëanor about the latter's ill-temper and his covetousness of the Silmarils. After Fëanor swore his oath, urging all the Eldar to follow him, Fingolfin refused. His sons, however, believed in Fëanor and chose to accompany him. Seeing this, Fingolfin preferred to follow his sons rather than stay in Valinor mourning them. After Fëanor burned the ships, Fingolfin was forced to lead his people to the Helcaraxë, the path of grinding ice that linked Valinor to Middle-Earth. The harsh conditions of that crossing caused many of Fingolfin's people to die, including his own wife. After Fëanor's death, Fingolfin was established as the high king of the Noldor. He went to challenge Morgoth in a one-to-one duel. He managed to wound Morgoth's legs but was slain and Fingon his son established as high king in his place.

[Valandil]

Moving to Silmarillion forum.

[Lefty Scaevola]

Feanor appears predominatly motivated by hubris that anythings else, even to the exclusion of fatherly love, when seemly the hopelessness of the war against Morgoth, he reinforces the oath of his sons to fight it.

[Beren3000]

Yeah, that's the main "big point" of discussion I was planning to bring up. Thanks for doing so, Lefty Scaevola (do you mind if I ask what Scaevola means?)

Here's the question: how do you people judge Fëanor? Is he a villain who, "moved by hubris", blasphemed Eru and the Valar and caused so much misery and pain? Or is he a hero whose courage allowed him to stand up to the mighty Valar themselves? I think LS made his point of view clear already.

Myself, I agree with the first choice. I totally condemn Fëanor.
Will elaborate later

[Lefty Scaevola]

Originally Posted by Beren3000

Is he a villain who, "moved by hubris", blasphemed Eru and the Valar and caused so much misery and pain? Or is he a hero whose courage allowed him to stand up to the mighty Valar themselves?

Both, the Valar needed a good kicking at that point, and Feanor was the height of elequence and rhetoric when he moved the Noldor, and then answered Eonwe. But the robbery and murder of the Falmari at Alaquonde is right out, and further condenming his sons, rather than freeing them to make their own choices, after seeing the hopelessness of the cause, makes him a terrible monster, an indicia of pure sociopathy, self centerdness, valuing nothing but his own pride, desires, and impulses. But even sociopaths get some things right, even for wrong and evil motivations; the Noldor were needed to disapate Morgoths power.

(Scaevola (latin) means left handed, but with a more dignfied conotation than Lefty has.)