Character Analysis Thread

[Nazgûl-king]

I thought this would make some interesting discussions; here is the thread to analyze the various characters of Middle-earth. Each week we can choose another character or a specific character relationship (such as the relationship between Merry and Pippin) to study. Would anyone here be interested in such an idea, and if so which character or characters would you guys like to start with?

Edit:

This is as for as I had planned the project:

Week 1: Merry and Pippin
Week 2: The Nazgûl
Week 3: Gandalf and Saruman
Week 4: Boromir and Faramir
Week 5: Frodo, Sam, and Gollum
Week 6: Treebeard
Week 7: Beorn
Week 8: Bilbo Baggins
Week 9: Fëanor
Week 10: Maeglin
Week 11: Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli
Week 12: Gríma Wormtongue
Week 13: Húrin

[Thinlómien]

Even though there probably exists a lot of discussion on those topics on this forum already, why not. It could be interesting.

[Boromir88]

Well Thinlo, I don't think many of those threads specifically deal with characters, they just go along with the discussion. I don't know if there's been a "structured" discussion for the characters (like the CbC discussions).

Perhaps you can tell us a bit more, Nazgul-King, as far as how you wanted this to go. Like the first week talk about key hobbit characters? The Fellowship? Elves?...etc

[Nazgûl-king]

Ok, let’s start with the characters Merry and Pippin! Here are some questions to get us started:

1. How do you think the relationship between Merry and Pippin has grown throughout the course of the story?

2. What do you think was the biggest event in their characters development? Why do you think this event caused this development?

3. How do you think their being separated (with Merry in Rohan and Pippin at Gondor) effected their characters development?

4. Merry ends up being the master of Buckland and Pippin the Thain of the Shire, how do you think the things they went through on their journey prepared them for taking these positions and would they have gotten them had they not gone through what they did?

[MatthewM]

No offense Nazgûl-king, but that sounds like I'm taking a test. Where's my blue book?

[Beanamir of Gondor]

Hmm, yes. It does feel sort of like we're being quizzed on how well we can go back and check through facts, and apply them to character development, or something... (Not that I wouldn't do this for fun, being an English major and all though I think your questions are a bit too broad.)
But I think MatthewM's frustration could carry over to other 'Downers. Is there any way to restructure this thread so it feels a bit more like discussion? Unless, of course, Nazgul, you actually do want your thread to be run like a literary criticism forum? I'd be up for that, but a lot of other people might not...

[ArathornJax]

What are your general impressions of Merry and Pippin and their role in the story?

I have always thought that Merry and Pippin were extra baggage until they were seized t the Falls of Rauros and taken by the Uruk's there. I think that journey began the transformation of them as characters, or let us as readers see them more in depth. I also think that at this point the wisdom of Gandalf in trusting to friendship proved itself over a great Elf Lord in the company. Here Merry and Pippin allowed Frodo and Sam to be able escape with the Orcs and Uruk's taking Merry and Pippin and high tailing it towards Fangorn.

However, I don't think Merry and Pippin changed that much yet. They have a lot of fun at Isengard and the foolishness of Pippin the Orthanc Stone shows that they are still kinda of treating this as a journey.

I think the other area where they really grew up there experiences from when Pippin looked into the Stone forward. Merry's relationship with Theoden and with Dernhelm climaxing with the stabbing of the Witch King brought tenderness and the horrors of war to him. I think this experience changed Merry and his exposure to Theoden and the army of Rohan brought him leadership experience that he personally needed.

Pippin had his moments in Minis Tirith, especially in saving Faramir. His experience before the Black Gate in killing the Troll and coming to terms with what he thought was his own end, rounded him off.

I think both reflect the sense of a solider going off to war treating it like a holiday or an adventure. Then the realities of it begin to hit and they begin to take their toll on the individual. This can be devestating or refining depending on the support and healing they receive. Merry and Pippin were able to heal and be tempered from their experiences and exposures.

However, one thing that I really like about Merry and Pippin is that though they mature in the story, their base character traits stay the same. The retain their sense of humor and who they are. They are tempered, but they are themselves and that is refreshing I think to see. People go through major struggles yet still remain their positive and refreshing outlook (and humor).

Not sure if that is what people have in mind, but I just kinda of went with what I know of the story, the characters and my own inferences. Overall, I enjoy Merry and Pippin and the role they play in the story.

Edit: I will answer one question that is specific. Thain and Master of Buckland were inheirited positions, and so Merry and Pippin would have received those positions when their fathers passed away. I think their experiences in the War of the Ring refined them and made them ready for their roles. Anything else would be speculation as Tolkien never touched on that aspect.

[Eönwë]

Originally Posted by ArathornJax

I think both reflect the sense of a solider going off to war treating it like a holiday or an adventure. Then the realities of it begin to hit and they begin to take their toll on the individual. This can be devestating or refining depending on the support and healing they receive. Merry and Pippin were able to heal and be tempered from their experiences and exposures.

Isn't this what it was like for Tolkien?

[Lindale]

Originally Posted by Nazgûl-king

Ok, let’s start with the characters Merry and Pippin! Here are some questions to get us started:

1. How do you think the relationship between Merry and Pippin has grown throughout the course of the story?

3. How do you think their being separated (with Merry in Rohan and Pippin at Gondor) effected their characters development?

Hmm. You really sound like my English Lit professor, but tis ok, I love my course anyway.

Merry and Pippin have been close since the beginning of the book. They conspired with Sam, remember, to find out the whatnots about Frodo and Bilbo? It seems to me that Merry, Pippin, Sam, and Fatty were like a little clique (for want of better term, the thing I wish to use is barkada in my language), but as they needed someone to remain behind in Crickhollow, and since Fatty (who as far as Tolkien was concerned not related to the big powerful families. Tolkien was quite fond of telling stories of the high-and-mighty, generally speaking, wasn't he?)

They show quite a lot of loyalty to Frodo, even at the darkest moments. But it stroked me as a sort of naivety--remember the mushrooms and the bathroom songs? They were fond of their weird cousin Frodo, and more so of the weirder cousin Bilbo. When the Black Riders came, it was a sort of instinct of fear and flight, but good thing they for all their childish naivety held on to their wits.

Skipping this to the Council of Elrond, Gandalf saw, or took a risk anyway, that these two "blokes" would mature--kinda like the risk he took when he persuaded Thorin take Bilbo in The Hobbit. For one, I do not think it was too big a risk that Gandalf took, since when he appeared as Gandalf the White to Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli, he said something "Their coming is like the falling of little rocks that starts an avalanche." But as aforementioned, even with Treebeard in Isengard they were still childish, especially Pippin with the Palantir.

Now this Palantir incident at the movie, which was a good addition, we see that Merry had at the time more maturity, so to speak, when he asked "Why do you always have to look?" Jackson may have added this to have Merry as a sort of foil for childish Pippin, who had already asserted his childishness in the FotR movie when he played with the arrow in the skeleton that fell, that caused the goblins in Moria to learn of the intruders' presence.

But at the book, he is maybe just like Pippin:

"'A beautiful, restful night!' said Merry to Aragorn. 'Some folk have wonderful luck. He did not want to sleep, and he wanted to ride with Gandalf--and there he goes! Instead of being turned into a stone himself to stand here for ever as a warning.'

"'If you had been the first to lift the Orthanc stone, and not he, how would it be now?' said Aragorn. 'You might have done worse. Who can say?..."

When they parted, Merry left at Rohan and Pippin at Minas Tirith, they both get a sort of whack-on-the-head that the world was not just fun and games. The threats, the Wizard business that they thought were matters of play, they suddenly were torn from their shells.

There was a good point, a good reason, why Theoden wanted Merry to remain behind. He saw the child in Merry, although he did not realize that Merry was clamoring to be treated as a grown-up. When Eowyn, who also is a character who "has to grow up" (but this is debatable, if we do Feminism). So jumping, we can say that during the ride and the battle Merry was suddenly faced, with another character who thought that war is just another game, with the terrible harshness of war. And not just the orcs, he was suddenly with the number-two evil, the Witch king.

Well, to simplify things Tolkien wanted his heroes to win, and Eowyn and Merry, who both had their epiphanies during and after the battle at Pelennor, survived. Eowyn's case is interesting, but let's just leave that at that.

Pippin now. The Palantir incident, and meeting Denethor and putting up with his madness, this contributed to his awakening that he had such potential. He didn't even understand the subtle political strife between Aragorn and Denethor! The meeting with Beregond and Beregond's son provides him company, and if you allow, some fun. A sort of consuelo for the absence of his dear friend Merry.

But even a child will recognize the folly that Denethor's madness implied when he tried to burn Faramir alive. He is jolted to life, faced with a madman, a madman with authority, and he jumps to Gandalf for help, since he knows that he has no power over Denethor. I think it is at this point that Pippin understand the gravity of the whole War of the Ring business, now that he has no more idle time for his fun and games, now that there is no more Merry with whom he cannot laugh.

Ahh, my analysis ends here, I have another paper to do. Adios!

[Nazgûl-king]

ArathornJax, that is what I had in mind, I had intended for the questions to spark discussion. So anyway, I think their separation with Merry in Rohan and Pippin going to Gondor played a part in their development as well, as it enabled them to kind of branch out a little and find their own individual strengths.

[Nazgûl-king]

Sorry it took me so long to update: This time I am going to try things differently, I got the idea for a character analysis from another site and that was how they had it set up but that idea didn’t seem to go over so well here so I'll try a different approach this time:

This week: The Nazgûl

Know by many other names, the nine servants of Sauron use fear as their greatest weapon. They are completely loyal to Sauron, though I wonder what their loyalties were before they were given the nine rings. We know that at least three of the nine were Black Númenóreans and that one of the nine was an Easterling.

In the book Fellowship of the Ring it is said that "at all times they can smell the blood of living things, and they desire and hate it." I find this interesting, and I suppose their hatred for the smell of the blood of living beings could come from the fact that they themselves are not living but are in a state between life and death and thus the smell of the blood of the living torments them. Any thoughts on this?

[Bêthberry]

Sorry to interrupt this Boromir-love-in, but I've had a chance to read this thread from the start and have a few questions about the Nazzies.

Originally Posted by Nazgûl-king

This week: The Nazgûl

Know by many other names, the nine servants of Sauron use fear as their greatest weapon. They are completely loyal to Sauron, though I wonder what their loyalties were before they were given the nine rings. We know that at least three of the nine were Black Númenóreans and that one of the nine was an Easterling.

In the book Fellowship of the Ring it is said that "at all times they can smell the blood of living things, and they desire and hate it." I find this interesting, and I suppose their hatred for the smell of the blood of living beings could come from the fact that they themselves are not living but are in a state between life and death and thus the smell of the blood of the living torments them. Any thoughts on this?

Okay, other than having to fight desperately against remembering that it was the Spanish Inquisition who used fear as their greatest weapon, or as one of their greatest weapons, or as among their greatest weapons, I find this trait bloody interesting. It reminds me of course of vampires, who are also trapped between life and death and whose taste for blood is a torment. And I cannot recall there being any discussion here on the Downs of the Wraiths as in any way similar to vampires. (Of course, I haven't read all the threads and so I could have missed it!) The only specific vampire reference I can recall is that of Luthien.

Anyhow, Nazgûl-king, can you give us a more precise reference for this quotation? Much as I love FotR, I don't have time to reread all of it searching for this quotation. And I really would like to see how far to extend this similarity.

[Nazgûl-king]

Originally Posted by Bêthberry

Sorry to interrupt this Boromir-love-in, but I've had a chance to read this thread from the start and have a few questions about the Nazzies.

Okay, other than having to fight desperately against remembering that it was the Spanish Inquisition who used fear as their greatest weapon, or as one of their greatest weapons, or as among their greatest weapons, I find this trait bloody interesting. It reminds me of course of vampires, who are also trapped between life and death and whose taste for blood is a torment. And I cannot recall there being any discussion here on the Downs of the Wraiths as in any way similar to vampires. (Of course, I haven't read all the threads and so I could have missed it!) The only specific vampire reference I can recall is that of Luthien.

Anyhow, Nazgûl-king, can you give us a more precise reference for this quotation? Much as I love FotR, I don't have time to reread all of it searching for this quotation. And I really would like to see how far to extend this similarity.

It is from the chapter A Knife in the Dark, on page 214 of the version of the book that I have. It is said by Aragorn after Frodo hase been stabbed, and when Merry asks Aragorn if the Black Riders could see. Hope that helps you!

[MatthewM]

skip spence, you are right, Boromir is my favorite character and everything that you explained in your last post is what I have been saying for quite some time now, and I'm glad you feel the same way about him. My whole essay is in defense of Boromir, because all too often people will deem him "evil" because they have no knowledge of his circumstances. Most of which you have pointed out.

I know if I were in Boromir's shoes I would have acted the same way. He was with four little people that he wasn't even sure truly existed until the Council, one ragged guy who claimed his country's rule (in turn supplanting his father), an elf and dwarf (two races Boromir had probably little to no communication with in his life), and this wizard guy who came as he pleased to Gondor to browse their libraries and who tried to tell Denethor how to rule things. So, as Captain General of my country, the most important warrior of Gondor, I would have acted the same exact way as he did. He did what he thought was right, and he did it with responsibility. Indeed, he died with his honor and greatness intact.

I suppose you could be right about the test quote- although it's still going to take awhile to sink that one in my thick skull. I get that Boromir was "overly" proud, and some see that as negative. I don't. You have to be bossy and proud in my opinion to be a strong leader of Man's greatest armies. Look at Ulysses S. Grant- would the Union have won the Civil War if Ulysses didn't push and push regardless of bodies lost? If he did not push for Unconditional Surrender, would the Union still have been united? Doubt it. I get ragged on for my proudness all the time. I care not!

Boro88- Nice comparisons.

[Nazgûl-king]

Ok, I have decided to switch weeks 3 and 4 so...

This Week: Boromir and Faramir

I find the relationship between the two brothers to be quite interesting; one of the points I find interesting is the fact that their mother's death, while detaching Denethor from the family, only seems to have drawn Boromir and Faramir closer together. The reason for this I think is, that when faced with grief Denethor seems to keep to himself and try to deal with it alone, while Boromir and Faramir seem more likely to turn to others for strength, as when their mother died Boromir and Faramir drew closer after their mothers death, most likely I think because they turned toward each other for strength, while Denethor tried to deal with the loss alone. I also find it interesting how, even though Denethor quite openly favored Boromir there was no jealousy or rivalry between the two brothers. So what are your thoughts on the sons of Denethor?

[MatthewM]

I have been working on an essay entitled "A Defense of Character: Boromir" (www.swordofboromir.com) for over two years now, and one section of my work is entitled "Boromir and Faramir", discussing the incredible relationship of the Sons of Denethor. Here is a part of that section...

In quoting The Lord of the Rings, I use the Houghton Mifflin 1994 paperback edition, with Revised “Note on the Text” by Douglas A. Anderson with the 2002 New Line Cinema cover design.

I. Boromir and Faramir

When speaking of Boromir, it might be hard to keep the name of Faramir away, and vice versa. So in that respect I shall speak first of the two sons of Gondor. They were brothers, warriors, and best friends. Although we never read a direct conversation between them, we can tell by the way each talked of one another how much they valued their companionship. Better evidence beyond the text of The Lord of the Rings lies in The Return of the King: Appendix A under Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion:

“Yet between the brothers there was great love, and had been since childhood, when Boromir was the helper and protector of Faramir. No jealousy or rivalry had arisen between them since, for their father’s favour or for the praise of men. It did not seem possible to Faramir that any one in Gondor could rival Boromir, heir of Denethor, Captain of the White Tower; and of like mind was Boromir. Yet it proved otherwise at the test.” (p. 1032)

This description of brotherly love and unity devoid of all jealousy is a profound and bold statement about the relationship between Boromir and Faramir. Being a child, it is easy to get jealous or scornful towards another, especially a sibling. Tolkien informs us by this passage that those negative qualities were not present in the growing relationship of the two, apparently regardless that Boromir was “bossy” (Letters, p. 323). Taking into account Boromir’s status in Gondor as its finest warrior (which in my opinion made bossiness an alright trait), great humbleness must have been displayed by Boromir for him to believe that not one in Gondor could challenge his little brother. This bond is essential to understand as one thinks of the dream that came to both Boromir and Faramir, and the claiming of the long journey to Rivendell by Boromir.

Despite the love the brothers had for one another, Tolkien makes clear the differences between Boromir and Faramir:

“Boromir, five years the elder, beloved by his father, was like him in face and pride, but in little else. Rather he was a man after the sort of King Eärnur of old, taking no wife and delighting chiefly in arms; fearless and strong, but caring little for lore, save the tales of old battles. Faramir the younger was like him in looks but otherwise in mind. He read the hearts of men as shrewdly as his father, but what he read moved him sooner to pity than to scorn. He was gentle in bearing, and a lover of lore and of music, and therefore by many in those days his courage was judged less than his brother’s.” (Appendix A, p. 1032)

Concerning appearance an anomaly presents itself in The Return of the King when Pippin first see’s Denethor’s face as he is reminded of Aragorn and not so much of Boromir (p. 738). None the less, Boromir and Faramir must have borne somewhat similar looks to their father as Appendix A reads. Concerning personality, it might be pondered on how the brother’s had such a wonderful relationship if they were so unlike in the above regards. The answer seems to lie in Faramir’s accepting and humble personality, as he questions Frodo on Isildur’s Bane:

“If it were a thing that gave advantage in battle, I can well believe that Boromir, the proud and the fearless, often rash, ever anxious for the victory of Minas Tirith (and his own glory therein), might desire such a thing and be allured by it. Alas that ever he went on that errand! I should have been chosen by my father and the elders, but he put himself forward, as being the older and the hardier (both true), and he would not be stayed.” (The Two Towers, p. 656)

Although not directly showing how humble we learn Faramir to be, this passage tells us how well Faramir truly knew his older brother and was used to such things. In the Letters, Tolkien writes that Faramir was “accustomed to giving way and not giving his own opinions air” (p. 323). “Rash” and “anxious” catch as somewhat negative (yet human) terms to Boromir’s personality, and it is understood here that Faramir knew how to handle his brother in these certain situations in which Boromir took on these normal human traits.

[skip spence]

It did not seem possible to Faramir that any one in Gondor could rival Boromir, heir of Denethor, Captain of the White Tower; and of like mind was Boromir. Yet it proved otherwise at the test.

Originally Posted by MatthewM

Taking into account Boromir’s status in Gondor as its finest warrior (which in my opinion made bossiness an alright trait), great humbleness must have been displayed by Boromir for him to believe that not one in Gondor could challenge his little brother.

To be fair, when it's said that Boromir was of like mind, it means that he too thought that no one could rival himself, not that no one could rival his kid brother. As heroic Boromir might have been, humility wasn't one of his chief traits.

[MatthewM]

Originally Posted by skip spence

To be fair, when it's said that Boromir was of like mind, it means that he too thought that no one could rival himself, not that no one could rival his kid brother. As heroic Boromir might have been, humility wasn't one of his chief traits.

I disagree - Boromir believed nobody could rival his brother.

"It proved otherwise at the test" - the proof is right there. The test was the temptation of the Ring. Boromir tried to take it, thus he failed the test. Faramir opted to let Frodo go. Thus he passed the test.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Like skip, I've always understood the line about Boromir being of like mind as a tongue-in-cheek reference to Boromir's high opinion of himself. I can see that the words can be interpreted differently if a reader wishes to see them more positively in regard to Boromir, but I never read that meaning from them. It is precisely the roundabout way of expression which is so slyly accurate!

[skip spence]

Originally Posted by MatthewM

"It proved otherwise at the test" - the proof is right there. The test was the temptation of the Ring. Boromir tried to take it, thus he failed the test. Faramir opted to let Frodo go. Thus he passed the test.

Still I'm afraid you're mistaken... Let me break it down. This is how you've interpreted the quote:


Faramir thinks that Boromir is the top man in Gondor.

Boromir thinks that Faramir is the top man in Gondor.


To say "it proved otherwise at the test" is to say that what they thought beforehand didn't turn out to be true. But to say that both were mistaken wouldn't make any sense in the context of the story. Who then was the top man in Gondor? It must be someone else.

If you read the passage as I (and Estelyn) do however it makes perfect sense to say "Yet it proved otherwise at the test":


Faramir thinks that Boromir is the top man in Gondor.

Boromir thinks that Boromir is the top man in Gondor.


It proved otherwise because Faramir passed the test his elder brother failed, like your said yourself. They were both wrong: Faramir, not Boromir, was the unrivalled one.

[Nazgûl-king]

Ah, I see this topic is doing good now.

This week: Gandalf and Saruman

Gandalf and Saruman are both important characters in Lord of the Rings, I find it interesting how they seem to be two different sides of the same character. Everything Gandalf is Saruman seems to be the opposite, when Gandalf returns he even goes so far as to say that he is “Saruman as he should have been”. So what do you guys think of these two Istari?

[ArathornJax]

Seems to be a theme in the thread; that of pride and ego versus selflessness and sacrifice. Anyway, going through Unfinished Tales I found some interesting comparisons.

First, Saruman as we know, is linked to Aule while Gandalf is linked to Manwe. Gandalf/Olorin felt he was too weak to go and that he feared Sauron, thus showing to Manwe another reason why he should be sent. Curumo/Saruman was froced to take Aiwendil/Radagast because Yavanna wife of Aule begged Curumo to do so. This may explain the contempt that Saruman had for Radagast in the FOTR. So, to summarize the first compare, we see that both Mair were sent to Middle Earth as ambassadors to the free people there.

Another compare is that both were sent in the bodies of men (who aged but did not die from old age) and their former life became as a dream that they reflected on, and wanted to get back to as long as the remembered their duty and to fulfill it. I find it interesting in UT that Tolkien made the connection that unlike the mistake the Valar did with being overprotective of the Eldar and showing their glory to get the Eldar to comply, the Istari were not allowed to show their power or their true self at any time. The Istari were forbidden to rule the wills of men and elves. Thus the reason for the humble bodies. The Istari were to seek to persuade and advise to unite men and elves in love and understanding so they would oppose the oppression and captivity that Sauron wanted over them.

Another compare is that upon arriving at Middle Earth at the Havens (Saruman first, Gandalf last of the five Chief Istari appointed to the North of Middle Earth; does this imply there may have been lesser or more?), both undertook journeys. Saruman went with the two Blue Wizards to the east where the Blue did not return, and Gandalf focused on the North, West and south assuming Gondor. We know from the text that Gandalf did not reveal himself in this journey but studied the hearts of men and elves to get to know them better.

To contrast. Saruman upon returning from his journeys went to Gondor and then settled in Isengard. Gandalf never settled but continued to wander to inspire hope in the hearts of men. I believe that both could continue their missions from where they abode or wandered, Gandalf would just have more presence and personal connectiosn by being a pilgrim, though early on it appears that Saruman did wander at least up to Fangorn and built a relationship with Treebeard.

Saruman arrived with raven black hair and a fair voice and was very skilled with crafts by the hands. Indeed his Elven name Curunir means man of craft.

Gandalf was the least tall of the five that arrived, and was clad in grey, had more grey hair and looked aged. Cirdan though perceived him to be the wisest and thus gave him the Red Ring, Narya, knowing that Gandalf would need it to "kindle all hearts to courage."

Further contrasts are that Saruman fell from his high calling and became "proud, impatient, and enamoured of power sought to have his own will by force, and to oust Sauron, but was ensnared by that dark spirit mightier than he.'

Gandalf on contrast, is much different and I believe much of this comes from his fear of Sauron and his own proclaimed feeling of being weak. Gandalf had an "eager spirit" when it came to doing his task "opposing the fire that devours and waste and with the fire that kindles and succors . . ." Gandalf's joys and his swift anger were hid by his garments so much that only those close to him could see the inner flame inside of him. He could be kindly and merry to the young or the simple minded. The text further reflects that he could be sharp and rebuking at times, but that this did not come from being proud, nor did he seek power or praise.

The final contrast of course is that Saruman failed at his task, and when killed at the "hand of an oppressed slave" and his spirit departed wherever "it was doomed to go (according to UT)", leaving Middle Earth. Gandalf on the other hand suffered greatly and died, and was sent back and successfully fulfilled his assignment and was taken back to the West.

So much for the compare and contrast. Is Saruman the opposite of Gandalf? I would have to say that when they were selected and then sent, no. I believe from the text that they had different abilities and varying interests, but this did not make them become opposites in Middle Earth at first. Like all of us, it is the choices they made that eventually made them become opposites. Saruman gave up on his mission and got caught up in the quest for power, domination and control, even wanting to supplant Sauron. This was contrary to their mandate from the Valar. They were not to seek to control or dominant the will of men or elves. They were to inspire, persuade and unite the free people against Sauron. Gandalf stayed true to that mandate and as such, fulfilled it. Thus because he chose to remain true to the mandate of the Valar, that brought about the opposition and Gandalf's statement that he had become as Saruman should have.

For me, this is one of the themes of LOTR, obedience to duty/calling, fulfilling it and magnifying it or giving in to pride, desire for control and domination, and thus losing one's way and purpose. We see it here with Gandalf and Saruman, and see it with other characters, both major and minor throughout the book.

[Nazgûl-king]

This week: Fëanor

This week is our first analysis of a character from The Silmarillion, so what are your thoughts on Fëanor the maker of the silmarils?