SWG Re-Read - "Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin" Discussion Post

[oloriel]

Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin

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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

Comments

[hhimring]

It is clear that the Silmaril is a requirement for getting to Valinor--Earendil, who apparently has the required genetic makeup spends a lot of time and effort trying to get to Valinor, but doesn't succeed until he has the Silmaril. Possibly Elwing's presence helps, too, but that is less clear.
This seems to be so because getting to Valinor is impossible and designed to be so, but for some reason the combination of Earendil and the Silmaril makes it possible. It's a sort of fairy-tale logic, but doesn't really bear looking at too hard, in some ways.
Perhaps that is why there is a slightly desperate air to the quoted speculations of "the wise".
(And the oddest thing is that Earendil's reaching Valinor and the decision of the Valar to go to the War were in the earliest versions not linked, apparently!)

Tolkien seems to have toyed with making Tuor a perpetually errant mariner at one point. It also sounds to me as if maybe he was toying with the idea of having him drown in the sea. Again, in the version we have "the wise" don't seem really to know--at least those in Middle-earth...

[indy1776]

It is clear that the Silmaril is a requirement for getting to Valinor

This. Being a bit cynical, the Valar don't want it falling into the Sea, so they let it through. (Or they set the enchantments to exclude anyone bearing a Silmaril in the off-chance the Noldor were successful.) I tend to think Idril and Tuor crashed in the Enchanted Isles and slept there until the Change of the World.

Again, in the version we have "the wise" don't seem really to know--at least those in Middle-earth...

What makes it even more interesting is that Pengolodh and Aelfwine still exist for many of the drafts. And they're on Tol Eressea in the Middle Ages. So if the wise don't know, it could very well include those in Valinor. Guess it's supposed to be one of those mysteries no one ever really knows the answer to. (Though you'd think the Valar would let Idril's family know, at least.)

[oloriel]

Though you'd think the Valar would let Idril's family know, at least.

Perhaps they know, but aren't allowed to talk about it. Otherwise, everyone will start bringing in stray mortals! ;)