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CTS-1
(Tue Jul 29 14:49:43)
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Hello, Everyone:
In this thread, I invite discussion on a topic near and dear to many people’s hearts: the psychology of Feanor. I would like to focus on one incident which I find rather interesting.
Tolkien, in his work, used the literary device of giving characters who were facing inevitable death great clarity of vision, reaching the point of prophesy at some points. Probably the best known example of this is the declaration of Huor to Turgon as Huor and Hurin covered the retreat of Turgon’s forces back to Gondolin. Having made a decision which would spare Turgon, his forces, and Gondolin’s secret location at the cost of his own life, Huor tells Turgon that a union of their descendants would be their salvation. Essentially, Huor, given clarity of vision by his decision to sacrifice himself, foretells the marriage of Tuor and Idril, the birth of Earendil, and the fact that Earendil was essential to the eventual breaking of the Doom of Mandos.
Now, whether you like Feanor as a character, loathe Feanor as a character, or have mixed feelings on the issue, the fact remains that he was the most talented and clever of the Noldor, in most matters of craft and war. So, after his fatal encounter with the Balrogs at the climax of the Battle Under Stars, Feanor was also granted the clarity of vision of the doomed:
“…But as they drew near to Eithel Sirion and were on the upward path to the Passover the mountains, Feanor bade them halt; for his wounds were mortal, and he knew that his hour had come. And looking out from the slopes of Ered Wethrin with his last sight he beheld the far off peaks of Thangorodrim, mightiest of the towers of Middle-earth, and knew with the foreknowledge of death that no power of the Noldor would ever overthrow them; but he cursed the name of Morgoth thrice, and laid it upon his sons to hold to their oath, and to avenge their father. Then he died…”
What I consider to be of interest here is the apparent disjunction between the (correct) substance of Feanor’s “death vision,” that the Noldor would not be able to conquer Morgoth by their own power, and his response to this vision. At first glance, Feanor appears to be, as his very last action before dying, confirming his sons along a destructive, contentious path which will consume them, in contradiction to the substance of Feanor’s vision- that the elves cannot take Angband by their own power. As indeed, the effects of Feanor’s oath did consume them. Of the seven children of Feanor, not one of them died in combat with the forces of Morgoth. Five died fighting other elves in unsuccessful attempts to gain the Silmaril of Beren and Luthien, one committed suicide, and one was condemned to a tortured eternity without peace or rest.
So, why would Feanor, if given such clarity of vision in his time of dying, send his children on this destructive path?
One theory, and one which seems obvious, relates to the monomania and obsessive behavior of Feanor. In the name of his obsession with revenge against Morgoth, Feanor had already abandoned friends and attacked elves who refused to help him. Even in the face of futility, he was willing to sacrifice the legacy of his entire house in order to keep his cause alive. Add to that obsessive streak an unhealthy dose of ego, and one gets a character who would consider revenging his death and loss to be far more important than the well-being and success of his own sons.
The only counter I can think of relates to the intellect of Feanor. Feanor may have been egotistical, headstrong, rebellious, obsessed, and so forth, but he did not have a history of espousing what he thought to be lost causes; he also had more raw intellectual firepower than any of the other Noldor. He left Valinor because he thought he had the power to successfully wrest the Silmarils from Morgoth. He charged Morgoth’s fleeing forces to the doors of Angband because he thought he could destroy them without difficulty. Even with his tactical mistakes, he almost survived the Balrog attack. When presented with a clear vision of futility, why would he wreck his legacy by sending his own children on the path of destruction? Even without taking into account any familial concern for his sons’ well-being, needlessly wasting his house’s resources on a futile mission is just idiotic. And Feanor was not an idiot.
I would also suggest two alternate explanations which would also depend on Feanor’s “death vision” showing more than just the futility of taking Angband by force of arms. What if Feanor could foresee the possibility that one or more of the Silmarils would be taken, not by force, but by stealth? Perhaps Feanor was forcing his children to take the Silmarils by any means necessary, including theft, and to pursue any who did succeed in stealing a Silmaril. This was, in fact, what really did happen- Beren and Luthien stole a Silmaril, and the sons of Feanor pursued that Silmaril to their own destruction.
An alternate theory which I would suggest is a bit of a reach; it involves Feanor having a great clarity of vision. The text is not clear on this point, but recall that Feanor is the brightest elf that the Noldor ever produced. If Huor, in his “death vision,” could prophesy that the salvation of Eldar and Edain would come from a joint descendant of Turgon and himself, what level of comprehension could the brilliant mind of Feanor manage? Would he be able to see the elements of the future, as it was foretold in the Music of the Ainur? Would he be able to comprehend the music?
This theory would be applied as follows. Feanor understands that his children are doomed, one way or the other; it is the effect of the Doom of Mandos and his own ill-conceived oath. He also sees that a Silmaril would be stolen, and that use of that Silmaril would be the only means to pierce the shroud hiding Valinor. His children had a part to play in making this happen, even if it was a tragic and inglorious one. Their attack on Doriath moved the Silmaril from the forests of Thingol’s kingdom to the havens at the mouth of Sirion. Their attack on those havens set into motion the events which united Vingilot and Earendil with Elwing and the Silmaril. So, even though Feanor’s children were doomed, their deaths and the damage they caused were necessary to the downfall of Morgoth, and only by making his children follow this seemingly futile path can Feanor finally get his revenge on Morgoth- and a revenge more complete than if his children had died fighting a limitless wave of Orcs, or Dragons.
This theory has two obvious problems. First, it would involve Feanor having a depth of vision equal to Manwe, albeit only in his death. Second, it would involve Feanor being willing to sacrifice all his children in the most Machiavellian “end justifies the means” move ever, if one takes into account all the destruction wrought by that oath, both on the House of Feanor and others. Although, one could fairly argue that Feanor might consider all that destruction a small price to pay if Morgoth finally got his.
Any thoughts?
Look- he's trying to think!
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Arc-en-Ciel
(Tue Jul 29 19:10:09)
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 UPDATED Tue Jul 29 19:11:42 |
As usual, beautifully written, insiteful and way beyond me to comment on...
But here's a little BUMP just for you, CTS!
This is were the Lepracaun lives. He tells me to burn things.
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CTS-1
(Wed Jul 30 07:38:38)
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Bueller? Bueller? Anyone?
Look- he's trying to think!
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Whoa! One of Feanor's sons commits suicide?!? 
Ai! After reading all that, now I want to read it! But I don't have the time to put into the Sil right now! 
I'm sorry I can't really contribute to the conversation...but hopefully this'll put it up for those more knowledgeable and wise to see.
I fear not the shadows of Men
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This makes me think of the issue of free will versus fate or destiny, something that comes up in many religions or philosophies. Is there such a thing as free will? Or is there such a thing as fate? You can find arguments for and against either.
Was Feanor exercising free will, or was he caught up in the fate brought upon him by the oath? Was he farseeing, or was he dancing to Illuvatar's tune?
It brings to mind, of course, Gollum and Frodo. Their fate is bound together because of the ring, and Gollum plays a role in the destruction of the ring -- but only as a result of Frodo and others exercising their free will by NOT killing Gollum.
"I hope that the forgotten people will not have forgotten how to fight."
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CTS-1
(Wed Jul 30 20:41:12)
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Your points, in turn, bring up the question: which acts are controlled by the Music of the Ainur, and which acts are genuinely born of the characters' own volition?
Look- he's trying to think!
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In answering the question of why would he urge his children to continue along such a destructive path, you have to ask what would happen if they did not follow the path. It is not outside the realm of possibility to suggest that in his "death vision" Feanor saw not only what would happen if his children continued along with their oath, but also saw what would happen if they broke their oath. Now I can't even guess as to what that might be, but I can say with a fair amount of confidence that it wouldn't be anything good.
Also as far as the free/will music of the ainur type thing, well thats just a real sticky wicket now isnt it.
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CTS-1
(Thu Jul 31 05:29:35)
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| UPDATED Thu Jul 31 09:29:58 |
A fair point, and one which I implied, although didn't explicitly state, when I said that the destruction of Feanor's sons was necessary to bring together Earendil and the Silmaril on the ship.
Perhaps the alternative would have been that they were just overwhelmed; no emissary was sent to Valinor...
Look- he's trying to think!
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Exactly. It's enough to drive a person bats!
"I hope that the forgotten people will not have forgotten how to fight."
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Which in my case isn't a very long drive.
 Oog make mission statement.
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CTS-1
(Fri Aug 1 07:10:37)
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That is a problem which does have some bearing.... if one fully understood the Great Music, what would be revealed, and what details would remain hidden?
Look- he's trying to think!
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I find it difficult to separate my (negative) reactions to Fëanor from the objective analysis of the enigmatic circumstance you're describing, which is only my just desserts because so many people are unable to separate their (positive) reactions to Faramir from an objective analysis of his treatment in the film, which is an issue with which I now seem inextricably linked, lol.
You've done an outstanding job in setting up a framework to analyze this passage, and I'd like to add a clue from the text...only instead of looking at this clue from "inside" of Eä, as your post accomplishes, this time I want to look at it from "outside" in an attempt to find some understanding of what Tolkien's intent was. I refer specically to one of the early passages about Fëanor, quoted below. His mother Míriel has passed on, and eventually Finwë took as a wife the Vanya Indis:
The wedding of his father was not pleasing to Fëanor, and he had no great love for Indis, nor for Fingolfin and Finarfin, her sons. He lived apart from them, exploring the land of Aman, or busying himself with the knowledge and the crafts in which he delighted. In those unhappy things which later came to pass, and in which Fëanor was the leader, many saw the effect of this breach within the house of Finwë, judging that if Finwë had endured his loss and been content with the fathering of his mighty son, the courses of Fëanor would have been otherwise, and great evil might have been prevented; for the sorrow and the strife in the house of Finwë is graven in the memory of the Noldorin Elves.
I infer from this passage -- and always have from the moment I first read it -- that Fëanor himself is part of the roots of evil as it exists in Middle-Earth. Morgoth was its source, but Fëanor was the embodiment of that part of each inhabitant of Arda that carries with it a small bit of the Discord of Melkor. As such I don't see Fëanor as a tragic figure but as an antagonist of the first order.
Tolkien has suggested in this passage that had Finwë left well enough alone that much of what came to pass might not have done so. But what might not have done so? Assuming that such attention from Finwë would have "mellowed" Fëanor in some way, Melkor would still have been unchained -- Fëanor had no role in that. Fëanor would probably have still created the Silmarils, and Melkor still would have coveted them. Melkor and Ungoliant still might have done all that they did to extinguish the light of Aman. In fact, absent the atmosphere of tension among the Eldar fostered by Fëanor, they might have been less ready to defend themselves.
And so, with the improved "raising" of Fëanor, all those events might still have happened, and yet Tolkien still chose to create the image of evils having been avoided. So what makes the events evil is Fëanor's involvement in them, in the way he was destined to involve himself rather than what might have been otherwise.
Indeed, Tolkien goes on in that same paragraph (continued below) to absolve Finwë and Indis of blame by noting the value that came of their union:
But the children of Indis were great and glorious, nd their children also; and if they had not lived then the history of the Eldar would have been diminished.
But due to the Oath of Fëanor, and the havoc it wreaked, they all died anyway, it should be noted.
So Fëanor's sacrifice of his sons in pursuit of either a lost cause or in pursuit of a vengeance that could only be achieved through that sacrifice seems to me perfectly in character. Fëanor had very strong feelings for Melkor, feelings of hate that bound them together. Hatred of one's opposite? Or of one's rival in power? Or, down deep at the most basic level, one's rival in evil?
Oog make mission statement.
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CTS-1
(Wed Jul 30 18:33:56)
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| UPDATED Thu Jul 31 11:20:45 |
I suppose the difference in the way we approach the issue is in our answer to the question: "Is Feanor evil?" Your statement indicated that you believe that the evidence can be read either way, and that you conclude that Feanor is an important element in the genesis of evil- a fair assessment. And, I think we are all in agreement, nobody would want him as a next-door neighbor. Or even next-mile neighbor.
I have always considered Feanor not to be evil, but totally amoral, with a nasty streak to boot. Think of an Ayn Rand novel character gone haywire, only even more self-absorbed (yes, Tolkien showed it was possible), with extremely bad manners and no long range perspective, to boot. In essence, a brilliant mind attached to a walking bag of short-term appetites.
I submit that, perhaps only in his death, or when faced with great loss (as in the realization that he could never re-make the Silmarils, if they were destroyed) could he think beyond his own self-gratification. Feanor wasn't evil per se, because he was not capable of addressing issues of good and evil in any meaningful way.
Look- he's trying to think!
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Feanor may not have been an idiot, but he was a fool. Even if he perceives that his sons cannot take back the Silmaril, it is conceivable that they can become a pain in Morgoth's ass by trying. I think this is Feanor's motivation here, nothing so farsighted as you suggest.
Now, as to the condusiveness of this edict to Feanor's purpose. Feanor's #1 thing is to get the Silmarils back, and his revenge on Morgoth comes in second. So his goals are not accomplished, since his heirs do not regain possession. Morgoth's downfall is rather the will of Eru, and it is his purpose that is served by Feanor's pride. This is a common theme for Tolkien, as Eru tells Morgoth in the Ainuridael (I can't spell in English, let alone Quendi) that even Morgoth's discord will further the beauty of Eru's creation in Arda.
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CTS-1
(Sat Aug 2 23:46:10)
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But, is the destruction of his children and dispossession of his house worth all that?
Look- he's trying to think!
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Was it only in death that this far-sightedness occurred? I can think of one example where it was not in death: As the Gondorian Army arrives in Lindon to aid Arthedain (too late), and Eärnur rides to meet the Witch King, Glorfindel prophesies then and there that "not by the hand of man will he fall" (of course it turns out to be by the hand of woman). Yet Glorfindel was not near death, and as far as we know never died at all, except that once before, in the fall of Gondolin. Ah, perhaps it was a rain check?
Oog make mission statement.
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CTS-1
1 hour ago (Tue Aug 19 20:28:29)
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Sorry it took forever to get back to you...
Tolkien uses the "foresight of death" several times, of which Feanor's revelation is just one. There was Huor's revelation, and the revelation of Brandir to Turin right before Turin killed him. Have not decided how Finrod's prophesy of the manner of his own death fits into this...
Anyway, my point is that Tolkien uses this device several times in The Silmarillion.
Look- he's trying to think!
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sinaes
(Tue Aug 5 01:41:29)
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I'm like a good haines t-shirt: tagless 
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Oog make mission statement.
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sinaes
18 hours ago (Tue Aug 19 03:39:56)
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I'm like a good haines t-shirt: tagless
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