Thoughts On the Silmarillion

[the_gneech]

Finally reading The Silmarillion through for the first time. I’ve tried to read it a few times but always gotten bogged down before, but somehow I’m finally ready for it. The Tolkien Professor has helped quite a bit, if nothing else just by helping me keep the threads in my mind.

So far, I have two observations:

1) Fëanor is a prick.

2) Man, Maedhros never gets a break, does he?

That’s all for now! More insightful commentary later as my readings of this deep and stirring work continue.

-The Gneech

Originally published at gneech.com. You can comment here or there.

Comments

[stilghar.livejournal.com]

How peculiar that I come across this as my Pandora list segues through several selections from Blind Guardian's Nightfall in Middle Earth - essentially a metal opera based on the Silmarillion...

[jordan179.livejournal.com]

(1) A prick on an epic scale, causing the downfall of dynasties and civilizations.

(2) Nope. Even though he's a relatively sympathetic character for one of Feanor's sons.

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

Maedhros gets points for at least trying to do the right thing and minimize the damage the rest of his family is causing. I just keep picturing him giving a heavy sigh and saying "Can you guys stop being such epic jerks for TEN MINUTES?"

-The Gneech

[canisrufus-uk.livejournal.com]

I always felt sorry for Maedhros, He seemed to be pretty much the only one of the bunch with some sense of honour and responcibility.

As for Fëanor...... if he's been a bit less crazy jelious obsessive over the silmarils..... the trees could have been saved, and thousands of years of death and war perhaps averted.

I hope Námo/Mandos gave him a right ding around the ear when he showed up in the halls. :P

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

Plus he was hung off a cliffside by his wrist for years. That had to suck. How did he even eat?

-TG

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

And you notice, Fëanor never returned from the Halls of Mandos, either. I suspect he was in cosmic detention for pretty much ever.

-TG

[torakiyoshi.livejournal.com]

That pretty much covers it, but don't forget that Fëanor has been corrupted by working with Morgoth and his minions, who helped him learn the craft of jewelsmithing. I think that would make anyone a prick.

[bailiff.livejournal.com]

Watch out for the cunning cameo appearance by Gandalf under a different name! :)