Nolofinwe
The Shire
Jan 12 2013, 5:53pm
Views: 744
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Hurin, with the eyes of death
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Re-reading the Children of Hurin this week, I came across this passage I hadn't noticed the 1st time around. In chapter 2, during the battle of unnumbered tears, Hurin urges Turgon to flee, Turgon is reluctant, and Hurin says to him: "if [Gondolin] stands only a little while, then out of your house shall come the hope of elves and men", and also "from you and from me a new star shall arise." Looking at the genealogies, I assume this means Aragorn. (Turgon's granddaughter is Idril, Hurin's cousin is Tuor, Tuor and Idril's grandson is Elrond, Aragorn's forefather.) It amazes me that he would foresee a hero born so many years in the future for a problem that hadn't arisen yet. On the other hand the word "star" lends itself to Earendil, being the morning star and a descendant of Turgon and Hurin. But is Earendil the "hope of elves and men"? Anyone else have thoughts on this? It is my opinion that he was most assuredly refering to Earendil, who's voyage West with a Silmaril set in motion the return of the Valar to Middle Earth which led to the defeat of Morgoth, the destruction of Thangorodrim and the end of the First Age. Sauron coming to power after the expulsion of Morgoth into the Void had not entered the minds of anyone, perhaps save Sauron himself, and even then, only in his dreams. Hurin saw 'with the eyes of death' that the only hope for victory over Morgoth depended on Turgon escaping the Arnoediad and returning to Gondolin, if only for a short while (from the perspective of the first born). Having read all of the accounts of the Elder Days, I must say that, while I enjoy and appreciate what C. Tolkien did in "The Children of Hurin", that is, constructing a tale of the Elder Days to stand alone, " 'tween it's own covers." that accounting of Turin and the waning years of the First Age, leaves out many details that are included in the versions contained in Silmarillion, Lost Tales, & History of Middle Earth. From the house of Hador & Turgon a new star shall rise.... From Tuor (House of Hador) and Idril (House of Turgon/Fingolfin/Finwe) came the salvation of Men and Elves. So, it is my opinion that Hurin's statements to Turgon can only refer to Earendil.
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