07-30-2004, 10:39 AM | #1 |
Fëanorophobic
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Character analysis: Fëanor, Fingolfin.
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 |
07-30-2004, 10:58 AM | #2 |
Fëanorophobic
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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. |
07-30-2004, 11:31 AM | #3 |
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Moving to Silmarillion forum.
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07-30-2004, 04:17 PM | #4 |
AngAdan
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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.
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07-30-2004, 04:24 PM | #5 |
Fëanorophobic
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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 |
07-30-2004, 06:17 PM | #6 | |
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Quote:
(Scaevola (latin) means left handed, but with a more dignfied conotation than Lefty has.)
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Gaius Mucius Scaevola Older, richer, and wiser than you "Mighty are the Ainur, and mightiest among them is Melkor, but that he may know, and all the Ainur, that I am Iluvatar, those things that ye have sung, I will show them forth, ... And thou, Melkor, shalt see that no theme may be played that hath not its uttermost source in me," |
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07-31-2004, 06:24 AM | #7 |
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Thanks for starting this thread Beren.
Just want to add a small correction: Fëanor's mothername was Fëanáro, which means 'Spirit of Fire' (fëa=spirit, náro=fire). Sorry for being so picky, but I'm fascinated by Quenya Elven names and would like to get it right. My view on Fëanor was that he was a great Elf who suffered perhaps most of all in Aman, his mother being the first Elf to die in the blessed realm, and his father being the first to get slain. These facts are often overlooked when Fëanor is discussed. However, he was probably well spoiled by his father, who loved him all to much. He was prideful and loved the work of his hands, and was eager to gain knowledge, a fact which Melkor knew how to turn to his favour. My view on Fëanor mostly follows that of Nerdanel, loving the young Fëanor before the lies of Melkor had begun to work on him, but condemning his later actions (the rebellion, Alqualonde etc.) and the choices he made.
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07-31-2004, 07:33 AM | #8 | |
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I will post my thoughts later. P.S. thank you for explaining your name, LS |
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07-31-2004, 10:20 AM | #9 |
Death of Mooters and [Entmoot] Internal Affairs
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Actually, the Quenya word for fire would be nár, o is the masculin ending.
I'll try to add some thoughts in this thread when I've read through the Silmarillion once more, and since I'm not planning to do that at the moment this thread will probably be buried deep before I can get to it. Ttt.
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Fëanor - Innocence incarnated Still, Aikanáro 'till the Last battle. |
07-31-2004, 11:04 AM | #10 | |
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07-31-2004, 02:15 PM | #11 | ||
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I also agree with your opinion condemning the adult Fëanor not the young one. Now for the compare and contrast part: Fëanor seems to be the complete antithesis of Fingolfin. The former is proud and hot-headed, while the latter is modest and complacent. Fingolfin refuses to follow Fëanor's oath. He also refused to raise sword against Fëanor when the latter threatened him. He rather preferred to show his submission to Fëanor in order to avoid bloodshed. And, IIRC, Fingolfin tried to convince Fëanor of yielding the Silmarils to Yavanna. I have another question to ask; we are told that the Elves go to the halls of Mandos after their death and stay there until their spirits are reincarnated. This account doesn't mention any sort of punishment for the "sinful" or reward for the "pious", so I wonder what Fëanor's fate was when he died. Was he punished in a way we don't know or did Earendil's voyage earn forgiveness for all of the Eldar? |
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08-01-2004, 05:42 AM | #12 | ||
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Eärendil earned forgiveness for the exiled Noldor, allowing them to return to the West, and made the Valar come to Middle Earth aiding the people there in their war against Morgoth.
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--Life is hard, and then we die. Last edited by Artanis : 08-01-2004 at 05:55 AM. |
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08-01-2004, 07:21 AM | #13 | |
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08-01-2004, 07:23 AM | #14 | ||
Fëanorophobic
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RTB, I didn't copy your opinion, we just cross-posted! Last edited by Beren3000 : 08-01-2004 at 07:26 AM. |
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08-01-2004, 10:38 AM | #15 |
AngAdan
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The result of the duel, inclduing 8 wounds to Morgoth, show that it was not entirely hopless. If you can woulnd an opponents in so chancey a thing as personal combat, you have some chance to beat him. Remeber that Morgoth was arleady much disapated by the first 455 years of the war of the Jewels, and that he would be toppled about a century later.
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Gaius Mucius Scaevola Older, richer, and wiser than you "Mighty are the Ainur, and mightiest among them is Melkor, but that he may know, and all the Ainur, that I am Iluvatar, those things that ye have sung, I will show them forth, ... And thou, Melkor, shalt see that no theme may be played that hath not its uttermost source in me," Last edited by Lefty Scaevola : 08-01-2004 at 10:41 AM. |
08-01-2004, 11:38 AM | #16 |
Elf Lord
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But isn't he the strongest of the Ainur that came to Ea? How can an elf, even if he was the greatest elf in Arda, can win? (Even if Morgoth wasn't that strong at the time, wickened from the power he gave to the earth. Or something like that? Heard it can be read in Morgoth's Ring)
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08-01-2004, 11:59 AM | #17 | |||
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--Life is hard, and then we die. Last edited by Artanis : 08-01-2004 at 12:02 PM. |
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08-01-2004, 12:34 PM | #18 | ||
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--Life is hard, and then we die. Last edited by Artanis : 08-01-2004 at 12:36 PM. |
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08-01-2004, 06:28 PM | #19 | |
AngAdan
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Last edited by Lefty Scaevola : 08-01-2004 at 06:36 PM. |
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08-02-2004, 02:54 PM | #20 |
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i had a lot to say... but after reading this thread, i'd have to say artanis said it better than i would
fëanor was a hothead, no doubt... but that is no reason to call one evil... i think his love was strong for his parents and children and he followed his passions in the way he saw as correct... maybe a bit too strongly, maybe not in the end, middle earth would have ended up a pretty gloomy place without fëanor
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