Turgon of Gondolin
New Member
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2013
- Messages
- 11
For me the two most upsetting events in The Silmarillion were what happened to HĂșrin and the entire fall of Doriath.
It wasn't HĂșrin's capture, per se, it was how Morgoth abused him and finally, setting him free, twisted everything he saw, heard, and knew, until ultimately the truth was revealed and he was broken. This was Morgoth's cruelty highlighted in perfect form, with no other motivations or reasons wrapped around itâcruelty for cruelty's sake.
As for the fall of Doriath, the death of Thingol and the departure of Melian, leading to the fighting between the Dwarves of Nogrod and the Elves of Doriath, followed by the deaths of Beren and LĂșthien, which opened the doors for the sons of FĂ«anor to invade and commit fresh murders ⊠all of this together is one of the most horrible culminations of events, for all of it was caused by greed for a worldly object.
If we change "upsetting" to "tragic", though, I think it would have to be FĂ«anor's pride in the Silmarils which led to him denying them to the Valar, which led in turn to everything elseâthat's the greatest tragedy of all, I think, for in this we see the marring of FĂ«anor who wasâlike him or notâsomething special and unique in the history of Arda. That said, I believe this was a necessary tragedy, for without it all the events that unfolded after may not have been possible. We can't know, any more than any of the Valar, what was in Eru's heart for his Children. It may have been that FĂ«anor played one of the most important roles in the unfolding of Eru's third theme.
It wasn't HĂșrin's capture, per se, it was how Morgoth abused him and finally, setting him free, twisted everything he saw, heard, and knew, until ultimately the truth was revealed and he was broken. This was Morgoth's cruelty highlighted in perfect form, with no other motivations or reasons wrapped around itâcruelty for cruelty's sake.
As for the fall of Doriath, the death of Thingol and the departure of Melian, leading to the fighting between the Dwarves of Nogrod and the Elves of Doriath, followed by the deaths of Beren and LĂșthien, which opened the doors for the sons of FĂ«anor to invade and commit fresh murders ⊠all of this together is one of the most horrible culminations of events, for all of it was caused by greed for a worldly object.
If we change "upsetting" to "tragic", though, I think it would have to be FĂ«anor's pride in the Silmarils which led to him denying them to the Valar, which led in turn to everything elseâthat's the greatest tragedy of all, I think, for in this we see the marring of FĂ«anor who wasâlike him or notâsomething special and unique in the history of Arda. That said, I believe this was a necessary tragedy, for without it all the events that unfolded after may not have been possible. We can't know, any more than any of the Valar, what was in Eru's heart for his Children. It may have been that FĂ«anor played one of the most important roles in the unfolding of Eru's third theme.