noWizardme
Gondolin
Apr 17 2015, 10:48am
Views: 3505
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I think Tolkien makes a point out of this [that things might have been different in some way had Feanor agreed to sacrifice the silmarils, even though in practical terms he no longer has them to sacrifice] rather than brushing it aside. He thought it mattered deeply how you approach a decision and what mood you're in. The context of your choice affects many choices afterwards that you can't foresee. There's a strong parallel with Frodo at Elrond's Council too.
In the Flieger essay I mentioned over here-
http://newboards.theonering.net/...i?post=849627#849627 - Prof Flieger thinks the idea is that, had Feanor agreed to surrender the Silamarils for the common good, that would remove the anger and resentment that drives his next actions (which are to drive the Noldor into a frenzy, swear that terrible oath, massacre those who won't assist the Noldor to leave...)
Prof Flieger sees Feanor, an elf, as being bound by his fate within "The Music" in a way that Men are not. But this wouldn't make his yes/no choice completely futile either, she argues: the circumstances matter. Prof Flieger gives a parallel of killing someone in self-defence as opposed to killing in revenge: the practical outcome is the same, but the acts are judged differently.
I had thought that Flieger gave the following what-if for Feanor (but I can't find that now, so maybe it was me trying t think this through). Let's suppose Feanor's better feelings triumph and he agrees to give up the Silmarils to rekindle the trees. Maybe his fate is to go to Middle-earth and die trying to recover them anyway, but that would have a different meaning if he fell in battle as part of an official, Valar-sponsored invasion force. (Or, doubtless, other scenarios could be concocted...)
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"nowimė I am in the West, Furincurunir to the Dwarves (or at least, to their best friend) and by other names in other lands. Mostly they just say 'Oh no it's him - look busy!' "
Or "Hold off! unhand me, grey-beard loon!"
This year LOTR turns 60. The following image is my LOTR 60th anniversary party footer! You can get yours here: http://newboards.theonering.net/...i?post=762154#762154
(This post was edited by noWizardme on Apr 17 2015, 10:48am)
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