I never knew quite what to think of Eöl and Aredhel. On the one hand, it’s never explicitly said Aredhel wanted to marry Eöl so that’s a clear red flag in my opinion. On the other, it’s really hard for me to imagine Aredhel doing anything against her will. And if you think about it, they are very similar in some ways. Both of them desire freedom, ( Read more... )

What is it about Finrod and Turgon that they were the ones Ulmo chose? That’s my biggest question for this chapter. The only explanation I can come up with is that they didn’t originally desire to go back to Middle Earth (unlike Galadriel, for example). Maybe that meant they would they would give up more readily their new homes when the time came. ( Read more... )

There are people too self-centred to be good parents, and Fëanor belonged in that group. With his last breath he cursed not only Morgoth, but his sons too. When Fëanor made his oath, there’s no mention of him forcing his sons to take it too. From the narrative, it seems they did so willingly. But in this moment, he’s dying, and asking his sons to ( Read more... )

Something that really caught my attention is how little the Valar seem to involve themselves when it comes to Men. The only Power they were exposed to at the beginning was Morgoth, and while that was true of the Elves, at least the Valar did something about it when they found out. When Men appeared? No help would come from them until someone ( Read more... )

Something interesting about Melian is how, despite knowing so much about the events that will happen, she doesn’t get very involved. I thought differently at first, that she had more influence than the Valar, but it’s not so. She limits herself to giving advice without forcing anyone to follow it, much like Gandalf would do in the future. And her ( Read more... )

“I will diminish, and go into the West, and remain Galadriel”. I wonder at the last bit. It could mean that had she taken the ring and become a Dark Queen, she would have gained a new named, much like Melkor and Sauron. But I think it could have another meaning too.  Maybe Artanis would have taken the ring, and this is her saying she’s not that ( Read more... )

I already said I don’t see why Finwë was chosen as king of the Noldor. In this chapter, is even more obvious why I doubt Finwë’s aptitude as king. What I find objectionable is not just his obvious favour of Fëanor over the rest of his family, but also over the rest of the Noldor he’s supposed to be ruling. He leaves everything to go with Fëanor on ( Read more... )

What I love about this bit is how hinsight is not 20/20 (we see this in Túrin’s story too). For every tragic event there isn’t one clear incident that could be call the catalyst, but a lot of different ones that contribute to the end result (the end result being despair, death and generally bad times for all involved). 

Was the extreme love of Finwë for Fëanor a bad thing? Is everything bad that happened Finwë’s fault for marrying again? Something I love about the way The Silmarillion is written is how it leaves the answers to questions like these ambiguous. Go not to the text for answers, for it will say both yes and no.

Something else that caught my attention ( Read more... )

Anyone else doesn’t get why Ingwë was chosen as High King of the Eldar? I don’t know, for me it’s weird that the High King happens to be Manwë’s favourite guy...Then again, it’s difficult to see why Finwë was chosen King of the Noldor from what we see of him in the Silm.