Feanor's true motivations

[Urwen]

What if he didn't order the ship-burning out of hate, but out of love, in an effort to keep Fingolfin from following him, and force him to return back to safety? After all, despite everything, Fingolfin was still Finwe's son, and thus one of the final reminders Feanor had of his father.

Makes one wonder.....

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Urwen

What if he didn't order the ship-burning out of hate, but out of love, in an effort to keep Fingolfin from following him, and force him to return back to safety? After all, despite everything, Fingolfin was still Finwe's son, and thus one of the final reminders Feanor had of his father.

Is there anything you can think of to support your idea, other than that you like it?

I do not think that's the case as everything else that Feanor says and does paints his character differently.

Also, why do you keep trying to make everybody goodies? Feanor - and the rest of them - are much more interesting as grey characters.

[Urwen]

Like I said, Fingolfin is one of the few reminders Feanor has of his father.

Everybody? Do you see me portraying Morgoth and company as do-gooders? How about Pharazon? The Gaurwaith? Uldor and co.?

Yeah, thought so.

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Urwen

Like I said, Fingolfin is one of the few reminders Feanor has of his father.

That didn't make Feanor love Fingolfin very much before. In general Feanor doesn't look very favourably on both of his half-brothers. And if you think he was trying to spare Fingolfin, it implies an understanding that what he's doing is wrong and the words he proclaimed should not be followed. I don't think Feanor quite meets that point.

Originally Posted by Urwen

Everybody? Do you see me portraying Morgoth and company as do-gooders? How about Pharazon? The Gaurwaith? Uldor and co.?

Yeah, thought so.

Correction: you're trying to make the characters you like entirely good, making up alternative scenarios and explanations for their misdeeds. Why do you keep trying to excuse them?

For me, the beauty of many of these characters is that they have misdeeds. They have imperfections. And their imperfections make sense - they are driven by very realistic and relatable motivations and character traits.

[Urwen]

Because I like them. Don't you sometimes dream that evil characters you like (Feanor, Maeglin, and Maedhros, in my case) could be reformed?

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Urwen

Because I like them. Don't you sometimes dream that evil characters you like (Feanor, Maeglin, and Maedhros, in my case) could be reformed?

Reformed, or re-written? Because I would not have them rewritten for any reason.

[Andsigil]

Originally Posted by Urwen

What if he didn't order the ship-burning out of hate, but out of love, in an effort to keep Fingolfin from following him, and force him to return back to safety? After all, despite everything, Fingolfin was still Finwe's son, and thus one of the final reminders Feanor had of his father.

Makes one wonder.....

He wouldn't have been able to burn the ships without slaughtering the Teleri.

Burning the ships out of "love" seems to be a non-starter, therefore.