Turin Turambar

[Alatar_69]

Was Turin Turambar the master of his own destiny or did his destiny master him? In other words was he always doomed by the curse or did his certain choices lead to his own doom?

[Galorme]

"Farewell, O twice beloved! A Túrin Turambar turun ambartanen: Master of doom by doom mastered! Oh happy to be dead!"

I think we have our answer.

[the phantom]

Interesting question.

I'm not a fan of suicide, but I think in Turin's case it was acceptable, and was actually the method he used to master fate. He was cursed with a really, really nasty curse (a present from Morgoth, and Glaurung too) and realized that things would always continue to go wrong around him no matter what, so he decided that he would refuse to do any more evil by killing himself.

Also, I remember a quote speaking of the last battle at the end of the world, and though the idea was likely not complete, Turin was said to have mastered the doom of men, or something to that effect.

I suppose you could say that doom mastered him because he killed himself, but I think by doing that he actually stopped the doom that was placed upon him. I think Morgoth intended for him to do more evil before he died, possibly in Doriath, but he chose death instead.

My view's probably a bit slanted though, since he's one of my two favorite characters.

[ December 18, 2002: Message edited by: the phantom ]

[Legolas]

Remember Gwindor's words?

Now when Túrin learnt from Finduilas of what had passed, he was wrathful, and he said to Gwindor: 'In love I hold you for rescue and safe-keeping. But now you have done ill to me, friend, to betray my right name, and call my doom upon me, from which I would lie hid.'

But Gwindor answered: 'The doom lies in yourself, not in your name.'