SWG Re-Read - "Of Túrin Turambar" Discussion Post

[oloriel]

Of Túrin Turambar

The Graphics Post has been updated again! New banner by lignota.

Welcome this fortnight's chapter discussion!

Important: This is not a spoiler-free zone. It is hard to discuss any chapter in depth without referring to things that happen in later chapters. Proceed at your own risk! Furthermore, it’s perfectly fine to jump in, even if

Comments

[anna_wing]

Thoughts:

1 Turin's history perfectly illustrates the saying "wherever you go, there you are."

2 If only he had just sat down and had a cup of tea and a biscuit before making any major decisions.

3 I agree that Morgoth's curse was real. Like any of the Valar he was involved in the Song, so events could move in directions he wanted, with a bit of help from Turin's own character flaws.

4 Turin was probably accepted in Nargothrond from a combination of his own charisma, which must have been considerable, and the Nargothronders' residual guilt about the business with Beren.

5 Assuming that Glaurung was basically a Maia wearing a dragon body, when it was killed he could have gone anywhere, including Mandos, if he had wanted. Or Turin's reference could just have been a rhetorical device. I would not assume that Men had any accurate understanding of Mandos or its function.

6 Anglachel was probably an early experiment with AI by Eol that either went wrong or ("the dark heart of its maker" etc) was negatively influenced by Eol's own personality issues. Presumably Thingo's personality was strong enough to override any similar issues with Aranruth. Although perhaps both swords influenced their owners' decisions to the latter's detriment - one does have to wonder what Thingol was thinking of over the whole Silmaril business.

[oloriel]

2 So true.

4 Excellent point about the Beren thing. Gwindor actually says as much when talking to Finduilas. And in Doriath, too, Thingol's guilt over how he treated Beren made Thingol accept Túrin into his house... so it makes sense that would work in Nargothrond, too. (Not to mention Húrin's heroic stand in the Nirnaeth, of course!)

5 Not sure Glaurung would have that freedom, though, being so firmly tied to Morgoth! Normal Men might not know too much about Mandos, but Túrin is almost a Sinda by education, so he'd probably know as much (or little?) as Melian lets her people know...

6 The Silmarils seem to make anyone act silly, so Thingol probably didn't need the help of Eöl's spirit. Besides, was Aranrúth made by Eöl at all? I remember Anglachel and Anguirel, but I cannot honestly remember who (and when) made Aranrúth!

[anna_wing]

I cannot honestly remember who (and when) made Aranrúth!

You are right, I was thinking of Anguirel and got the names mixed up. But I do wonder how many of Turin's bad decisions were enabled by Anglachel's personality (it clearly had one, and not a very nice one either). One thinks of Elric and Stormbringer.

[oloriel]

Hm. Túrin's proved that he's perfectly capable of bad decisions even before getting his hands on Anglachel (such as following the outlaw's custom of indiscriminately attacking and robbing anyone before Beleg came along, or as staying with the outlaws instead of returning to Doriath, or as - apparently randomly! - attacking the three Dwarves that ran from him and his band (i.e., were no threat)), so I'm not sure he needed any help from Eöl, though. His own character flaws, and the curse of Morgoth, might have been quite enough...