Who Do You Feel Most Sorry For In The Silmarillion?

[Ásta]

Beleg. Although I felt pretty bad for Turin and Neinor. And their unborn child. That made me very sad that baby died too.

 

[Erestor Arcamen]

Beleg. Although I felt pretty bad for Turin and Neinor. And their unborn child. That made me very sad that baby died too.

I agree with you. Beleg is one of my favorite characters.

 

[Matthew Bailey01]

Ëarendil.


I obviously take Middle-earth too seriously!

 

[King Naugladur]

Erestor, Beleg had been warned by Melian that Anglachel had a wicked heart. If I were he, I would pick a sword not forged by a Dark Elf. Although I felt sorry for his death, I believe that he ought to be cautious when trifling with enchanted items.
However, the character I pity most is Mim. His kinsmen were wiped out by the Elves, his very son was killed by Androg, one of Turin's outlaws, he was forced to let those savages dwell in his halls, made to tolerate Beleg's presence, was denied lembas and scorned by everybody. Plus, he and Ibun were captured by the Orcs and, even then, he tried to save Turin, only to end up being killed by a man whose own son respected him.
King Naugladur.

 

[Becki Nightingale]

No one has mentioned Eru Illúvatar yet! He had to watch the whole of his beautiful creation be defiled by the evil intent of Morgoth. That must have been absolutely terrible for him.

 

[Erestor Arcamen]

I think that Melkor's doings were all part of Eru's plans, based off this quote, which I've always found beautiful:

Then Ilúvatar spoke, and he said: ‘Mighty are the Ainur, and mightiest among them is Melkor; but that he may know, and all the Ainur, that I am Ilúvatar, those things that ye have sung, I will show them forth, that ye may see what ye have done. And thou, Melkor, shalt see that no theme may be played that hath not its uttermost source in me, nor can any alter the music in my despite. For he that attempteth this shall prove but mine instrument in the devising of things more wonderful, which he himself hath not imagined.’

No matter how hard Melkor tried to do his own thing, the ultimate source was in Eru and would lead to things "more wonderful, which he himself hath not imagined."

 

[Becki Nightingale]

I think that Melkor's doings were all part of Eru's plans, based off this quote, which I've always found beautiful:



No matter how hard Melkor tried to do his own thing, the ultimate source was in Eru and would lead to things "more wonderful, which he himself hath not imagined."

Truly spoken and I stand corrected, conceding defeat more nobly than the noblest of armies!

I really should get back to reading the Silmarillion again, it's been too long.

EDIT: I am never using these smilies again...

 

[Erestor Arcamen]

What happened with the smilies?

I haven't read the Silmarillion in about two years and LOTR in about four. I really need to get my books and start reading them again.

 

[Firintuilo]

This is a tough question as simply there are just way too many candidates on the list of the forlorn and ill-fated characters of the Silmarillion. For this reason I would rather not name any character as most hapless.

When I read the Silmarillion for the first time during my teenage years I recall myself mercilessly condemning Feanor for his atrocious acts without giving a second thought to what led him towards madness. Now you guys have already mentioned an abundance of reasons as to why he is a character to pity, so I would rather only share a recent discovery of mine about one aspect of his character.

Apart from the death of Míriel, his mother, I think the fact that Finwe remarried and practically started this whole family business all over again must have added to his angst (I mean, he does seem like an angsty character, right?). Now I am fairly certain that many of those who ventured the journey from Cuiviénen (and even more of the Unwilling who stayed behind) had to cope with the loss of a mother or a father, but if I am not mistaken (correct me if I am), Finwe was the only one permitted to wed again. This leaves Feanor in the lonely and forsaken role of the only step-brother in elven history, and although I think it is safe to say that by the time of Findis' birth he must have been of age, meaning he was not a child anymore at all, it still imputes to his trademark haughtiness (even if it is stated in the Sillmarillion that he was daddy's favourite...).

Of course none of these justify his gone astray acts, let alone put him in the position of the character who deserves utmost compassion, but I think he too had his fair share of tragedy in the Silmarillion.

 

[Erestor Arcamen]

This is a tough question as simply there are just way too many candidates on the list of the forlorn and ill-fated characters of the Silmarillion. For this reason I would rather not name any character as most hapless.

When I read the Silmarillion for the first time during my teenage years I recall myself mercilessly condemning Feanor for his atrocious acts without giving a second thought to what led him towards madness. Now you guys have already mentioned an abundance of reasons as to why he is a character to pity, so I would rather only share a recent discovery of mine about one aspect of his character.

Apart from the death of Míriel, his mother, I think the fact that Finwe remarried and practically started this whole family business all over again must have added to his angst (I mean, he does seem like an angsty character, right?). Now I am fairly certain that many of those who ventured the journey from Cuiviénen (and even more of the Unwilling who stayed behind) had to cope with the loss of a mother or a father, but if I am not mistaken (correct me if I am), Finwe was the only one permitted to wed again. This leaves Feanor in the lonely and forsaken role of the only step-brother in elven history, and although I think it is safe to say that by the time of Findis' birth he must have been of age, meaning he was not a child anymore at all, it still imputes to his trademark haughtiness (even if it is stated in the Sillmarillion that he was daddy's favourite...).

Of course none of these justify his gone astray acts, let alone put him in the position of the character who deserves utmost compassion, but I think he too had his fair share of tragedy in the Silmarillion.

First, welcome to the forum!

I agree, Feanor had lot happen to pity him, not that it justifies his atrocities, but the evil of Melkor I feel, really helped push him to the limit.

 

[MasterBaggins]

I gotta go with Luthien, Sauron, and Turin.

Turin, because his sister died, father was kidnapped, his sister/wife committed suicide, and then, he himself, committed suicide. (To me, suicide is worst than torture, but hey that's just me.)

Luthien, I mean, Beren died in her arms! That's traumatizing! And this is coming from someone who has experienced that, first hand. Then was capture and held prisoner by Sauron and Morogoth.

Sauron...well...I just feel sorry for him. Don't know why, but it just strikes across me as his backstory rather sad.

 

[Meisiluosi]

I'd go with Maedhros because he's easily my favourite and he's definitely one of the most tragic characters in the legendarium. But he did have a hand (no pun intended) in his own demise - and he stuck to his guns in a way that earns him my sympathy, admiration even - but doesn't exactly inspire pity. You can't feel too sorry for someone so wonderfully badass.
Same with Maglor. I do feel sorry for him - but what applies in Maedhros's case mostly applies in his case as well. He might have been the gentlest of the seven brothers but he was still a full-fledged Fëanorian.

Brandir the Lame it is. The poor sod really got the short end of the stick. The Silmarillion is full of such tragic tales - but I can think of only a very few characters in that book who had such completely, consistently f***ed up lives while being so undeserving of such misfortunes. And it's the relative lack of histrionic drama and graphic violence that make this particular destiny stand out for me. Brandir's pretty low-key, very believable and very relatable.

 

[Firintuilo]

I'd go with Maedhros because he's easily my favourite and he's definitely one of the most tragic characters in the legendarium. But he did have a hand (no pun intended) in his own demise - and he stuck to his guns in a way that earns him my sympathy, admiration even - but doesn't exactly inspire pity. You can't feel too sorry for someone so wonderfully badass.
Same with Maglor. I do feel sorry for him - but what applies in Maedhros's case mostly applies in his case as well. He might have been the gentlest of the seven brothers but he was still a full-fledged Fëanorian.

Brandir the Lame it is. The poor sod really got the short end of the stick. The Silmarillion is full of such tragic tales - but I can think of only a very few characters in that book who had such completely, consistently f***ed up lives while being so undeserving of such misfortunes. And it's the relative lack of histrionic drama and graphic violence that make this particular destiny stand out for me. Brandir's pretty low-key, very believable and very relatable.

Nice take on poor lame Brandir! The very essence of his (indeed, very relatable) tragedy might be that in spite of all the indignities he endured you are the first person even to mention his name. More recognition to that hapless fella!

 

[Meisiluosi]

Nice take on poor lame Brandir! The very essence of his (indeed, very relatable) tragedy might be that in spite of all the indignities he endured you are the first person even to mention his name. More recognition to that hapless fella!

Yep, Brandir needs (and deserves) more love!
I totally feel for Finduilas and Beleg and Nienor and ... just everyone who's ever had the misfortune of getting close enough to Túrin for some of that spectacularly and abysmally bad karma to rub off on them. But none of them got so mercilessly ditched by pretty much *everybody* who ever mattered to them.
And though he was bloody right about Túrin from the start, he never gets any apology from anyone, although - despite some (understandable) bitterness and jealousy on his part - his primary concern was always for the well-being of his people and happiness of the woman he loved.
Poor, poor sod.

 

[Dor-nu-Fauglith]

Turin, Hurin, Morwen, Nienor, Fingolfin, and even Yavanna.

The Children of Hurin needs no introduction, Tolkien really can be brutal sometimes. Fingolfin I feel sorry for, guiltless was he, yet that did not save him from the doom that was upon the Noldor. He saw the destruction of his kin and died a most heroic death.

And Yavanna, she sang the trees into existence and laboured long, only for such a thing of beauty to be utterly destroyed, and the light of it to perish forever until the recovery of the Silmarils.

 

[Rutheaserce]

The whole House of Fëanor (and I guess the House of Finwë, too). Morgoth basically ruined everything for them (well, excluding Miriel Therindë's death) by telling all these lies to Fëanor (indirectly). Then a bunch of stuff happen and a bunch of elves die, and Fëanor gets blamed. His sons have "daddy issues," Fëanor has "daddy issues," Nerdanel has "husband issues," and well... I think that they could have been an example of the "perfect" family had none of those things happened. But it makes for a wonderful, heart-wrenching story, so I suppose it's okay in the end.

 

[JoyridingTilion]

Turin of course, since everything he tries goes horribly wrong thanks to Morgoth. I had a lot of sympathy for Feanor early on as well, but not after he started acting like a douche.

 

[Belnorn]

Honestly for me it was Turin. His whole bloodline was cursed by the biggest jerk of all of Arda, Melkor. Turin was the opposite of Tuor, his cousin. Where everything good happened for Tuor. Everything went to the dumps for Turin.

Like when he destroyed a bridge believing this would help a town. Ended up destroying the town. Due to the fact that no one could escape. Or when he accidentally killed his best friend because he couldn't see in the dark. And the worst of them all. Marrying his own sister.

Sure he and his sister were under a spell caused by the first dragon. Yet, that sucks. Also when he killed the dragon. The illusion broke. Turin killed himself. His sister jumped into the river to kill herself. And for the most part people of Arda don't really care about him.

However before the changes made by son of Tolkien, he was destined to get revenge. And at the end of days, return and kill Morgoth.

But he got shafted once again. So his life sucks.

 

[Matthew Bailey]

I have a hard time saying who was most pitiable.

Tolkien felt that to be Túrin and Fëanor.

These two were supposed to return at the End of Times to slay Morgoth himself, to take revenge upon him.

But I find all of Tolkien's characters to be tragic. The Epic and Myths of Middle-earth ARE Tragedies. They are all about loss, and the passing of the Great and Wonderful things out of the Depths of Time that once drove Humanity (and the Eldar) to such great heights that their fall was all the more tragic and pitifully heart-wrenching.

It took me a very long-time to understand this, as when I was younger all I saw was armies of Orcs and Elves fighting each other, and Magic Swords, and Rings....

When I finally started to learn more about Tolkien's beliefs, and look at the Theology and Metaphysics of the world itself, I began to notice how deeply sad everything within Middle-earth is; how nothing really ends as Bilbo's ending for his book:

And they lived happily for the rest of their days.

Only Sam, Peregrin, and Meriadoc can be said to have come even close to this, and even they were both touched by tragedy and loss.

MB

 

[Eledhwen]

When I finally started to learn more about Tolkien's beliefs, and look at the Theology and Metaphysics of the world itself, I began to notice how deeply sad everything within Middle-earth is; how nothing really ends as Bilbo's ending for his book:

And they lived happily for the rest of their days.

Only Sam, Peregrin, and Meriadoc can be said to have come even close to this, and even they were both touched by tragedy and loss.

MB

You're right, of course! When Galadriel spoke of having fought the long defeat, it's easy to overlook that her life had spanned thousands of years and she was still defending her land and people against the same enemy. They won the war, of course, but at great cost.