The Fëanor inside Fëanor Sons

[Macalaure]

I haven’t found a thread about this topic, so I start this new one:

I came to think, that somehow the characteristics of Fëanor seem to be distributed amongst his sons – each of them owning some of his traits and all together adding up to the whole.

Which parts of Fëanor didn’t translate into his sons? Which parts of his sons don’t come from him, but from Nerdanel – or out of the blue?

[Macalaure]

So, I’ll start by giving my own thoughts so far first.

Maedhros
To me, there are three qualities that mostly make out Maedhros: leadership, conscience and, let’s say, clear-thinking.
After the death of his father and his return from Thangorodrim, Maedhros is the undisputed leader of Fëanor’s Sons. Not even Celegorm questions his authority. Though Maedhros exercises his authority differently than his father, it’s surely a gift from him.
The misdeeds of him and his brother lie heavily on him (interestingly not Alqualonde). He wishes he could fulfill the oath without it, but can’t. Still he disapproves unnecessary violence. This sort of self-reflection cannot be found in Fëanor at all, so it is one of Nerdanel’s gifts.
Maedhros is a very clear and practical thinker. We see it at the debate after his rescue and at the end, arguing with Maglor. His counsels almost seem unemotional and cold, but behind them there is always the fulfilment of the oath (except when he didn’t listen to Fingolfin prior to the Bragollach). I think it’s hard to decide whether this ability is from his father or mother. Fëanor’s temper often overcame his intellect.

Maglor
There’s few of Fëanor in Maglor. He’s a singer and a writer while his father was more of a linguist. The important parallel is in his creativity, or inspiration. Though Fëanor did not write (to our knowledge) anything, he made many works of art. This we find again in Maglor.
As Maedhros, Maglor has a strong conscience, though of a different type. Maglor is far less top-heavy than he and more the emotional type. The misdeeds rip into his heart, which is not the case with his elder brother at all. This trait, of course, is absolutely not Fëanor.
There’s only one short occasion where Maglor is in charge of his brothers – when Maedhros is hanging out at Thangorodrim. It’s interesting to see what happens when Fingolfin arrives: Maglor changes the sides – of the lake. Without Maedhros Fëanor’s Sons seem pretty help- and clueless.

Celegorm
A very charismatic person. His words in Nargothrond are said to have been of equal power as Fëanor’s once have been. Though he is not a leader (as we see at Lake Mithrim), he’s ambitious. He wants the power of all elven kingdoms in his hands (yet never tried to overthrow Maedhros) – even more than he wants the Silmarils.
Charisma, unscrupulousness, ambition, no question where all that came from.

Caranthir
We know few about him but his temper. Since Curufin is said to resemble Fëanor’s temper, and Caranthir to be the “harshest and most quick to anger”, it seems that he outperforms even his father in this discipline of questionable quality. Is there any more to him except being haughty and ill-tempered?
Maybe he’s more devoted to his father and the oath, because he doesn’t question things.

Curufin.
He is said to resemble Fëanor the most. He had his skill in craft and also in mind (temper as well as rhetorics), not to mention the perilious moods. So, what doesn’t he have?
Ambition. Curufin seems to ever stand behind Celegorm. I always get the feeling that he is the “evil brain” within this duo.
Inspiration. I think this is the main difference. Despite all his abilities we don’t get to know anything that he has actually made. Even Angrist was made by the dwarves. Curufin is not the artist his father was.

Amrod and Amras
Very difficult, since we do not know too much about them. As Celegorm they’re hunters, and that seems to be it.
Maybe this is a little far-fetched, but they are the ones that live far south of their brothers with not much near them in every direction but wild country. I can’t find the quote right now, but doesn’t Fëanor use to explore Aman with his sons back in the days? Maybe it’s this restlessness of the heart that found its way into the twins.


Now, is Fëanor just a part of the sum of these parts?
Partially, I would say. There’s that fire, that burns inside him, that he seems to not have passed onto one of his sons. Their sum does not yield that genius that was Fëanor. His bad traits, however, all seem to have found their way.


I’m looking forward to your opinions.

[Anguirel]

Macalaure, I suspect when you sat down to write that topic you thought "Right. How do I delay Anguirel's history revision?"

Of course I'm hooked. I'll be quite happy to give this a go.

Maedhros

As the eldest-born, he attracts allegiance although his contemplative character is in some ways unsuited to it. He accepts it as his duty.

I think, in terms of personal prowess, he is probably equal to or superior to his father. We see a number of learning processes taking shape within him. The confidence at the beginning, imagining he can counter Morgoth's treachery at the embassy with his own. After the salutory lesson he then learns, you're right to say that his actions mostly fit into one Grand Plan-defeating Morgoth. Unlike Celegorm and Curufin, he doesn't let the idea of the Silmarils cloud the more important part of the Oath-taking the fight to the Dark Enemy of the World. So he cultivates Men and Dwarves. He talks peace with Thingol (at the one point when Maglor and Daeron may have met). He forms the Union.

It's interesting how the repentance part of Maedhros' character overlaps with Maglor's throughout the different versions-it was originally he who adopted Earendil's sons, for example. You feel that for more consistency, several deeds such as the search for Dior's sons should have been Maglor's too. But as it is we have a far more complicated, contradictory character.

The two flawed, worshipped clans in my head since childhood were first, Feanor's sons, and second, King Lot's-Sir Gawain and his brothers-as I've said before. Maedhros in his strange, divided way definitely recalls the conflicted Gawaine of Malory. Luckier than Gawaine, he does not outlive all his brothers-but he's not that much luckier...and you can be sure the loss of five will have lest terrible marks. He gets a grander death than Gawaine though, defiant self-destruction: a Don Giovanni moment.

If we're talking in Homeric terms, Maedhros is a combination of Hector and Ajax-humanity, prowess, but a darker madness beneath.

Come to think of it, I'm not going to explore all the sons now. You can expect the other six coming up later, as told by me for the umpteenth time.

[Aiwendil]

Very interesting topic, Macalaure. In a way, Feanor's sons can each be seen as representing one aspect of their father. Feanor's character seems to me to be more complex than that of any of his sons, as if he were the summation of all their personalities.

I do disagree on a few points regarding the interpretation of these characters' personalities.

The misdeeds of him and his brother lie heavily on him (interestingly not Alqualonde). He wishes he could fulfill the oath without it, but can’t. Still he disapproves unnecessary violence. This sort of self-reflection cannot be found in Fëanor at all, so it is one of Nerdanel’s gifts.

I'm not so sure. I think Feanor would disapprove of unnecessary violence. In his mind, the attack on Alqualonde was necessary - and note that he did attempt a non-violent solution first (arguing that the Teleri join him). Moreover, he does seem to show remorse on one occasion: his accidental slaying of Amrod at Losgar (see HoMe XII).

There’s only one short occasion where Maglor is in charge of his brothers – when Maedhros is hanging out at Thangorodrim. It’s interesting to see what happens when Fingolfin arrives: Maglor changes the sides – of the lake. Without Maedhros Fëanor’s Sons seem pretty help- and clueless.

I see Maglor's move here as a wise one. It seems to me that, relations not being particularly good between the host of Fingolfin and the host of Feanor at that time, there was a danger of violence if the two hosts were to meet (particularly with people like Caranthir present). By moving to the other side of the lake, Maglor may not have provided a long-term solution, but at least in the short run he avoided an unpleasant confrontation.

So, what doesn’t he have?
Ambition. Curufin seems to ever stand behind Celegorm. I always get the feeling that he is the “evil brain” within this duo.

I agree that he seems to stand behind Celegorm, but I don't think this reflects a lack of ambition. I think that if Curufin had had his way, Celegorm would have become King of Nargothrond, but Curufin would have been the true power behind the throne.

Inspiration. I think this is the main difference. Despite all his abilities we don’t get to know anything that he has actually made. Even Angrist was made by the dwarves. Curufin is not the artist his father was.

This is an interesting point. I wonder whether, perhaps, Curufin did produce works of art and craft that are not mentioned. In any case, it is surely significant that it was Curufin's son, Celebrimbor, who made the Elvish Rings of Power.

[Macalaure]

posted by Anguirel
He talks peace with Thingol (at the one point when Maglor and Daeron may have met).

Maedhros talks to Thingol face to face? That's only in the HoMe, isn't it? (I'm not through it, yet)

posted by Aiwendil
I'm not so sure. I think Feanor would disapprove of unnecessary violence. In his mind, the attack on Alqualonde was necessary - and note that he did attempt a non-violent solution first (arguing that the Teleri join him). Moreover, he does seem to show remorse on one occasion: his accidental slaying of Amrod at Losgar (see HoMe XII).

Alqualonde was necessary to Fëanor, but to Maedhros, too, I would say. He regrets a lot of his deeds, but never the first kinslaying.
But, as you say, the slaying of Amrod was an accident. I think that's something different.
Maybe I should have written "unnecessary misdeeds", like the burning of the ships, for example. The betrayal of Fingolfin was unnecessary - Fëanor doesn't care and Maedhros stands aside. Interesting to see that he only disobeys and does not oppose him. Also interesting to see that Maglor doesn't stand aside. Either his conscience hasn't yet kicked in, or he's a weaker person and does not dare to disobey his father. I would pick the latter.

I see Maglor's move here as a wise one.

But he doesn't solve anything, he only avoids the problem. One hour after Maedhros is back, everything is settled. It's really hard to interpret Maglor's intentions here. Maybe he wanted to solve it, but wasn't able to convince his brothers.

I agree that he seems to stand behind Celegorm, but I don't think this reflects a lack of ambition. I think that if Curufin had had his way, Celegorm would have become King of Nargothrond, but Curufin would have been the true power behind the throne.

I think you underestimate Celegorm. He wouldn't allow Curufin to manipulate him and Curufin is smart enough to know that.

[Anguirel]

Today you get...

Maglor

Maglor is my personal favourite character in Tolkien, yet I feel a certain distance when discussing him-more so than usual, even, with Silmarillion characters. I think that this is not unrelated to the fact that if working from the Translator Conceit, Maglor's Noldolante must have been one of the primary sources for what was to become the Silmarillion. I sometimes, well, often, like to speculate where Maglor's influence lies. I conclude that he must be most deeply felt in the Rape of the Silmarils, battles like the Nirnaeth, and the later Kinslayings-but not of course his final deed, after which he disappeared.

Oh blast it, I can't resist, I'm going to plug this thread of mine in passing: The Vanishing Harper.

What Maglor inherits of Feanor is of course the outstanding creativity and artistry. But I'd rather have Maglor's than Feanor's any day, because Maglor realises his skill doesn't give him any moral strength without humanity too. He's also escaped the curse of over-confidence, but I always imagine him with severe problems of under-confidence...without which he could have taken control of his brothers and protected them.

He lets himself be led by love. In this way he inherits Gawain's tragedy-he, not Maedhros, loses all his brothers, indeed everyone who means anything to him. He has to leave Elrond and Elros so as not to taint them; he has left a wife in Valinor.

Maglor inherits his mother Nerdanel's deeper wisdom; his sensible reaction of rejoicing at seeing the Silmaril in the sky, and his logical motive for breaking the Oath, are almost prophetic.

He has a rarely explored military side too. He, not Maedhros, holds the very hardest part of Beleriand to defend, and succeeds for a good long time. He joins Maedhros in his defiance on Himring. Bor and his sons swear to follow Maedhros, but also Maglor. And Maglor avenges the treachery against his brothers in the Nirnaeth, killing Uldor the Accursed.

It seems here that Tolkien is using a notion of moral virtue being rewarded by success in battle-"My strength is as the strength of ten/Because my heart is pure." I get the feeling sometimes that, despite popular misconceptions of a dreamy, pacific, melancholy bard, with Maglor in charge the whole Feanorion show might have run a good deal more smoothly.

EDIT: Of course this is something of an impossibility, as Maglor simply lacks the authority. But had he been, say, born the eldest son, I think his ability and tact might have led to ultimately happier results.

[Aiwendil]

Macalaure wrote:

Maybe I should have written "unnecessary misdeeds", like the burning of the ships, for example. The betrayal of Fingolfin was unnecessary - Fëanor doesn't care and Maedhros stands aside. Interesting to see that he only disobeys and does not oppose him.

True, and a good point. But I still tend to think that it's not that Feanor was missing the sense of compassion that Maedhros had - rather, Maedhros is missing some of the recklessness and anger that Feanor had.

But he doesn't solve anything, he only avoids the problem. One hour after Maedhros is back, everything is settled. It's really hard to interpret Maglor's intentions here.

He at least delays a potentially violent confrontation. It's true that he doesn't solve anything, but I suspect that many in Feanor's host (and particularly the likes of Caranthir, Celegorm, and Curufin) did not want to treat with Fingolfin yet. And it wasn't Maedhros's leadership that allowed him to settle things; it was Fingon's rescue of him. I don't necessarily think that Maglor did the right thing; but I think I can understand why it might look like a good move to him.

I think you underestimate Celegorm. He wouldn't allow Curufin to manipulate him and Curufin is smart enough to know that.

I don't think that Curufin would have been manipulating Celegorm - it seems to me that Celegorm was quite comfortable letting Curufin be the brains of the operation. But, as you said, Celegorm seems to have the greater charisma and therefore is better suited to take the role of leader publicly.