Eöl

[Kuruharan]

This thread got me thinking about Eöl. Why is he considered to be such a disreputable character? Melian refers to his “dark heart” with regard to Anglachel (Gurthang). Now, admittedly his son Maeglin was a disreputable character, and undoubtedly picked up some propensities from his father. But, Maeglin had his own issues.

Looking at Eöl’s character and experiences he seems to have been more of a loner than being particularly bad.

His nickname “Dark Elf” came from the fact that he liked the twilight and night and lived in a dark wood. This is not particularly shocking because originally everything was night as there was no sun. His dislike of the Noldor was understandable. He blamed them for the return of Morgoth, for taking Teleri lands in Beleriand, and for the Kinslaying. On the whole, he seemed a bit nostalgic for the good old days of the early First Age. He was also friends with the Dwarves (oh, the horror!) When his wife and son decamped on him, I would not say that he behaved in a particularly irrational manner by going after them.

It is true he did not behave himself in a particularly noble manner when he was brought before Turgon. However, how would you feel if somebody you did not like in the least was telling you that you had to stay with them for as long as their kingdom endured and could not go home again?

I don’t think Eöl was bad. I think he was just a bit of an anarchistic hermit, but I’m curious as to other opinions.

[the phantom]

He was pretty silly to blame the Noldor for the return of Morgoth. That makes no sense.

Morgoth's fortress was already there waiting for him and he obviously came back to it before the Noldor arrived. The Noldor merely chased after him (and if they wouldn't have then Eol would've found himself on the end of an orc spear before too long).

How could he think the Noldor somehow caused M's return? Did he think they approached him in Valinor and said "Hey, Morgy, let's bust out of this joint and go to Beleriand and then have a big war with each other" or something like that?

Plus, he called the Noldor "invaders and usurpers of our homes". The Noldor plopped down in regions where there weren't many people, so there weren't even any homes to invade even if they wanted to. I don't recall any tale of the Noldor attempting to move into a populated area and forcing the inhabitants to leave.

Eol was a silly, silly elf.

[Lalwendë]

This story troubles me too. I often wonder why he deserved to be put to death in such a manner, it seems wholly inappropriate to me. Why was he called a 'dark elf'? Does it simply refer to his status as one who did not see the light of the Valar, or does it imply more?

The story is very mysterious. Did he 'bewitch' his wife into staying with him, or did she stay because she wished to? I get the feeling that it was the latter, and that she later changed her mind in some way. She must have known that to return to her home with her son would mean that her son would have to remain there, and possibly Eol knew this too. To me, he was possibly an Elf who had no alliances apart from those to his loved ones, and he was driven half-mad when his son and wife left. It's one of those 'grey' areas...

[A_Brandybuck]

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

Did he 'bewitch' his wife into staying with him, or did she stay because she wished to? I get the feeling that it was the latter, and that she later changed her mind in some way.

Fact is, that he bewitched her (or the trees), while she was in "his" wood, so she couldn't find out again. It is proximate, that he could Aredhel hinder to leave the wood. I think that this is the reason why she stayed there. The fact, that she could escape in a very easy way, make me thinking, that (granted that my suggestion above is right) she must have conviced him, that she really has loved him, that he put the spell away.
Or it is just as Lalwendë said, she has loved him and after some time, her feelings went in the other direction.
His friendship with the Dwarves are IMHO not a cause, why he was called "Dark Elf". The enemyship has begun while the sacking of Doriath by the Dwarves.
IMHO it was not normal that an Elf loves the dark woods and avoids the sun, so the other Elves put the "title" "Dark Elf" on him.

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

A loner and a sad story. Not too sure about his attitudes toward women though. (She-elfs, whatever...)

He wasn't bad, but not especially likeable either. And don't use the 'loner' image as an excuse. Remember Tom Bombadil. (Actually, we should always remember Tom Bombadil, it just so happens that he can be contrasted here.)

[Kuruharan]

How could he think the Noldor somehow caused M's return?

He might not have been accurately informed of the reasons why the Noldor returned. Although, on the other hand, he knew about the Kinslaying.

I often wonder why he deserved to be put to death in such a manner

I think Turgon did not really like him to begin with. When Aredhel died, that probably pushed him over the edge, which led Eol to being pushed over the edge.

Actually, we should always remember Tom Bombadil, it just so happens that he can be contrasted here.

This is a good counterpoint. One does not necessarily have to be grumpy to be a loner.

[the phantom]

I often wonder why he deserved to be put to death in such a manner, it seems wholly inappropriate to me.

I don't know about that. I think that's usually what happens when you answer a polite greeting from a King disrespectfully and then kill his sister.

[Rilwen Gamgee]

And don't use the 'loner' image as an excuse. Remember Tom Bombadil.

Well, Tom wasn't exactly a "loner", but I see what you're getting at.

I agree, Eöl was not necessarily bad, just... "ill-moraled". The possible reason why most people associate him with evil is because he lusted after Aredhel. No approaching her politely with flowers or kind words, just reeling her in against her will. He was also possessive: forcing her to "shun the sunlight" and forget her family.

But, really, with all that aside, he treated her relatively well...

[Kuruharan]

I think that's usually what happens when you answer a polite greeting from a King disrespectfully and then kill his sister.

Well, that second one was sort of an accident, but your point is taken.

Probably the act that weighs most heavily against Eöl is his attempted killing of Maeglin. (Although, was this really a bad thing?)

Eöl likely felt betrayed and humiliated by what had happened. There was an open rift between Maeglin and Eöl before they split, but the text makes no mention of Aredhel ever mentioning her thoughts on the matter to Eöl. (Not that he would have agreed with her considering his orders not to consort with the Noldor, but still…) The text also makes no mention of Eöl’s reaction when he learned Aredhel was dead. (I suppose it is remotely possible he was not told, since she did not die until after Eöl was in the clink.) However, that Aredhel begged Turgon for mercy even after Eöl had tried to kill her son indicates that she still loved him to some extent.

As Lalwendë indicated, Eöl’s actions there were of someone driven to desperation by the loss of everything he held dear.

I am strongly reminded of Denethor.

[Evisse the Blue]

I think that with Eöl (and a few other few characters) Tolkien came close to creating a 'grey' character. That is - he's not wholly evil, nor can I entirely excuse his behaviour. He obviously behaves irrationally in his hatred for the Noldor and a couple of other instances - but I don't think he is the kind of person that does evil for the sake of it - that is, he does not act evilly, he reacts 'evilly' or better said, 'rashly', turning this story into a tragedy... And in a tragedy everyone more or less is at fault and everyone has to suffer.

Not only Eöl is to blame for what happens in this story. Aredhel shouldn't have left her brother when he begged her not to, Turgon should have tried to win Eöl over and prove his kindness instead of saying "I will not debate with you', and Eöl himself should have been less impulsive, not to mention Maeglin, who was the truly disturbed one (a true First Age sociopath )... But that's not something that could have been done, because these acts define the characters themselves: Aredhel left because she was independent and carefree, Turgon was really proud and scared of being unable to preserve his stronghold and position...and Eöl, as Kuruharan said was driven to it by the loss of everything he ever had (good comparison with Denethor, another 'grey' character.)