Most upsetting incident in Quenta Silmarillion

[Illuin]

by Inderjit S
I mean, if it wasn't for Feanor, we would be stuck with tepid and rather banal tales about the Elves dancing around Manwe singing sonorous soporifics.

Yes, this very concept has been discussed as of late - over here.....

http://thetolkien.forum/showthread.php?t=19013&page=3

 

[Eledhwen]

The poll results are interesting; they show a spread across the book, with no one event gathering a significant number of votes over the others.

I voted Hurin's capture, because it was such a lonely, solitary torture, watching his family destroy themselves. Many of the other incidents had passion, valour and comradeship; but the sheer length of the lonely suffering of Hurin was well upsetting.

 

[Sauron]

The treachery of the Easterners Ulfang and Uldor. Had it not been for them, the Fifth Battle (othewise known as the Nirnaeth Arnoediad) would have been another great victory for the Eldar and the Edain -the greatest, in fact.

 

[Ingwë]

I voted Maeglin's treachery to me it is the saddest of the above. I could also go for the Fifth Battle where all brave warriors were slain

 

[Illuin]

by Ingwë
I voted Maeglin's treachery to me it is the saddest of the above. I could also go for the Fifth Battle where all brave warriors were slain

Yeah, but as far as Maeglin, you knew that was coming. My choice changes all of the time. Recently, it is the death of Huan (being that I’m involved in animal rescue and all). He was under the “Doom” only because he was being loyal to his master. And if it were not for the fact that he was doomed (unfairly, I believe) along with the Noldor; Carcharoth would have been puppy chow. After Sauron reneged regarding his repentance/judgment, and went into hiding following his mentor’s defeat; I think Huan would have been assigned the task of sniffing out and fetching the wuss; either "retrieving" him for judgment; or violently mauling the coward to death (albeit, only physically) .

 

[Prince of Cats]

I think Feanor not giving up the Silmarils (not that it mattered, they were already stolen) for Yavannah to remake the trees was almost or as upsetting as the other moments (like when the two sons of Feanor tried stealing Luthien). OK maybe those two times are a little insignificant in the long run but they got me upset

 

[Burzum]

I was actually most upset by Sauron's defeat at the fangs of Huan. Sure, Sauron isn't renowned as a warrior, but he gets beaten by a dog and begs for mercy of an Elf-maiden? Damn...

Then there is Ar-Pharazon's defeat, conducted by Eru himself. I sincerely hope that the hosts of Numenor would have devastated Valinor; and it seems like Ar-Pharazon could have dealt at least a noticeable damage, had Eru not intervened.

For a more "normal" choice, I'd go with the death of Aredhel. She is my favourite female character in the whole mythology, due to the rather free, individualistic spirit she seems to possess, and yet she dies without doing anything, except for having a child that later does something.

 

[Aglarband]

The Kin Slaying was easily what upset me the most when I read the books. I reread that section a few times to make sure i was getting it all right. Having already read the Hobbit and LotR it was hard to swallow that the elves were cable of such atrocities.

 

[ltnjmy]

I voted for the death of Beleg by the person he most loved- Turin - as the most upsetting incident - - but there were many others. I don't know - there were so many tragedies - almost epic in scope - that make me love the Simarillion more than any of Professor Tolkien's masterpieces.

When Nienor finally found out about her relationship with Turin and bid him farewell as "twice beloved" - I cried when I first read that.

The death of Finrod Felagund inside the depths of his own tower defending Beren was also quite intense for me and when the servants of Caranthir, Curunir and Celegorm abandoned the sons of Dior in the wilderness and they could not be located - I thought that was very, very sad...

 

[Ingwë]

Yeah, but as far as Maeglin, you knew that was coming

Well, the fact that one knew he was going to do it doesn't make it it less cruel.
Looking at the poll again, I now find several other incidents equally grievous: Thingol’s challenge to Beren, if he were to have Luthien’s hand in marriage, The accidental slaying of Beleg Cuthalion by Turin and The Kinslaying at Alqualonde

 

[Tyelkormo]

I think Feanor not giving up the Silmarils (not that it mattered, they were already stolen) for Yavannah to remake the trees was almost or as upsetting as the other moments (like when the two sons of Feanor tried stealing Luthien). OK maybe those two times are a little insignificant in the long run but they got me upset

Actually, I don't think this was insignificant at all - had Feanor waived his right to the Silmarils, it would have fallen upon the Valar to catch the thief. Now it's not that easy, of course, because there would have been the added issue of vengeance for Finwe's death, but with a little bit of talking to Namo, that could have been solved, I'd say ("I gave you the stones, now give me my dad" )

But in the end, Feanor had invested too much of his spirit into his creations to let go and I think this is one of Tolkien's core theme, to be willing to sacrifice something "so that it can be saved for others". Feanor could not do it, Olwe could not do it, Thingol could not do it, and neither his heirs. Turgon could not do it, and so he went down with his city. In the end, not even Sauron could do it, having invested so much of himself into his creation that its destruction was his demise.

And for all those who lambast Feanor and his sons it should be noted that Maglor was the only one who had ever sought a Silmaril for himself (as opposed to Beren, who sought it for someone else) and then threw it away. Yes, it did hurt him, but he could have chosen the fate of Maedhros - he didn't, he threw it away.

"But love not too well the work of thy hands and the devices of thy heart" This warning from Ulmo (in my perception the most sensible of the Valar) to Turgon could have been given to many others, but all too likely, much like Turgon, they would have ignored it when the time comes.

 

[chrysophalax]

Now it's not that easy, of course, because there would have been the added issue of vengeance for Finwe's death, but with a little bit of talking to Namo, that could have been solved, I'd say ("I gave you the stones, now give me my dad" )

I think that's the first time I've heard that particular bargain put forth. Something original, yay! I'd love to be a fly on the wall for those negotiations!

 

[Elthir]

(...) And for all those who lambast Feanor and his sons it should be noted that Maglor was the only one who had ever sought a Silmaril for himself (as opposed to Beren, who sought it for someone else) and then threw it away. Yes, it did hurt him, but he could have chosen the fate of Maedhros - he didn't, he threw it away.

You make some good points above, but I would just add here that Tolkien himself doesn't seem so sure about the fate of Maglor. For the published Silmarillion Christopher Tolkien took up the conception as it was worded in the late 1930s, but there is other evidence that Maglor cast himself into the Sea.

Specifically letter 131 to Milton Waldman (probably late 1951), and a later version of a section of The Lay of Leithian seems to echo the idea in this letter (the form of the name in the Lay here is Maelor).

 

[Alcuin]

...there is ... evidence that Maglor cast himself into the Sea.

Maglor wandering the seashore given leave of his sensibility, mourning the death of the guards and his blasphemous Oath until the tsunami of the ruin of Númenor swallows him up is more attractive to me.

 

[Mimzy]

I'm gonna say the ruin of Doriath. Sure, the events at Alqualonde and the treason of Gondolin were horrible, but the Dwarves and Feanorians ended up killing women and children and basically ruining the beautiful things Melian and Thingol made. It's just so disgusting.

 

[Sulimo]

I choose other, because I believe that the root of the problem is the issue. Its gotta be when Melkor mars the music of the Ainur. At this point this rebellion allows all these upsetting events to take place. Otherwise I cannot quantify which tragic story effects me most. They all move me in various ways, but the open rebellion of Melkor at such a crucial moment to me is most distressing.

 

[Bard the Bowman]

I know that other tragedies did a lot more damage to the forces of Good, but I was distraught to read of Finrod's death. The first time I read the Silmarillion, I had to put the book down. Finrod was so noble and strong and brave, and the fact that he died for a promise which he made; one he could have easily refused. And he died defending Beren (WTF? Beren you weakling). Beren was the hope, so his death kept that hope alive.

 

[Mouth_Of_Sauron]

I think Feanor not giving up the Silmarils (not that it mattered, they were already stolen) for Yavannah to remake the trees was almost or as upsetting as the other moments (like when the two sons of Feanor tried stealing Luthien). OK maybe those two times are a little insignificant in the long run but they got me upset

likewise. the sorrow of Yavannah is always a tough part of the book to get through. for me, anyways

 

[Andreth]

To me, the most upsetting incident in the Silmarillion has always been the tale of the Children of Hurin as a whole: the first time I read about it, in the book of lost tales, I decided I would never ever read it again, so sad and upsetting it was. Luckily, I broke my vow but to me, Hurin's captivity and all that befell upon his family has always been of special meaning.

 

[Maiden_of Harad]

The poll covered about every major tragedy in the book! Still, I voted for the Fall of Gondolin. So much beauty was destroyed all because of that evil elf...
Hurin was given a hard fate, too. And the kinslaying was ghastly.
I wonder I could write tragic tales like that. And I wonder what inspired Tolkien as he wrote such stories.