Morthoron
Hithlum
Jul 12, 4:37am
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I started thinking about the actual fate of those who betray others in Tolkien or conspire to do so. I am ignoring simple cases of disobedience to authority. I am also not including the events in the chapter The Conspiracy Unmasked.
I'm probably missing some characters, but here are the ones I could think off-hand. Anyway, I think the above should show that Tolkien did not write simple stories with predictable morals.
No, Tolkien was more nuanced. Which is why listing a few of these as "betrayals" does not actually consider the morality of certain situations, and how the characters turned from evil, rejecting their former loyalties when they could no longer, in good conscience, follow their former masters.
Beregond:
The Steward of Gondor has lost his mind and is in the act of killing himself and his son, Lord Faramir. The guards surrounding Denethor were going to allow this suicide/murder to happen. This is blind loyalty without morality -- the type of blind loyalty that allows for the death of the Steward and his heir. At Nuremberg, Nazis using the excuse "I was just following orders" was not accepted as a defense. Beregond never attacked Denethor, but he did save Faramir from being murdered by a madman.
Both Beregond and Aragorn recognized that Beregond broke his oath, and Beregond by all rights could have been executed. But Aragorn, as king, showed mercy, stripped him of rank, and instead allowed him to be Captain of Faramir's guard (whom he had saved). This showed wisdom on Aragorn's part.
Gandalf:
Not quite sure if "betrayal" can be used regarding Gandalf's actions. He was serving the wishes of the Valar, not some earthly prince. Denethor, in his madness, abrogated his responsibilities as Steward, leaving of vacuum of control. Minas Tirith would have fallen without Gandalf assuming command. Gandalf's sole goal was defeating Sauron. Remember, Gandalf was also a "guest" at Meduseld when he drove Saruman out of the unwilling King Theoden.
Easterlings at Nirnaeth Arnoediad:
Tolkien is quite explicit that the sons of Ulfang (who had died prior to the battle), Uldor, Ulfast, and Ulwarth were slain for their treachery. the remainder of the Easterlings that served Morgoth were sent into Hithlum and were there shut in by Morgoth and he denied to them the fertile lands of Beleriand. It may have taken quite a long time, but it's fairly certain their descendants in turn fell in the War of Wrath, and Hithlum was utterly destroyed.
Huan:
The Hound of Valinor was one of Oromë's pack. Being a sentient creature of Valinor, gifted by the Valar with speech and prophesy, Huan took pity on Luthien and abandoned Celegorm, who had become altogether evil, sending Beren to certain death at the hands of Sauron and kidnapping Luthien, plotting to marry her and force Thingol into an alliance.
The question remains if Huan was a Maia, and thus served a higher calling (Tolkien had various yes and no comments about Huan's genesis); in any case, he was a rational being and rebelled against Celegorm's evil. Again, blind loyalty to one who has turned faithless and treacherous is not a "betrayal".
Anglachel
Seriously? The blade and its twin Anguirel were crafted by Eöl the Dark Elf, and the black heart of their creator went into their making. Eöl had gifted Anglachel to Thingol as a fee for allowing him to dwell in Nan Elmoth; however, Thingol never wielded the sword, as Melian warned him that there was malice in the blade. It is fitting from the standpoint of justice that Anglachel eventually drank Túrin's blood for having killed Beleg. Otherwise, I'm not sure Anglachel could be considered loyal to anyone, given its evil inception.
Morgoth, Sauron, Saruman:
Justice may not be swift in Middle-earth (and I'm not sure where you got the idea that swiftness is a prerogative for Tolkien), particularly for Valar and Maiar; however, it is served eventually.
Dead Men of Dunharrow:
A perfect example of the penalty for oath breaking.
(This post was edited by dernwyn on Jul 12, 3:25pm)
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