Tolkien seems to invite the reader to search for comparisons in the tale of the fall of the Noldor in Valinor and the tale of the Sindar in Middle-Earth. There are so many parallels! However, there is a key thematic difference in “Of the Sindar” that shows a huge difference between the two groups of elves and how they respond to the threat of Morgoth. Ultimately, while the actions of Feanor and his followers fragment and destroy his people, Thingol’s consistent purpose is to unite and protect his people from the looming threat of Morgoth’s power. Some examples of the parallels I saw in the text:
- Prior and up until Morgoth’s attack, there are three distinct sets of elves in both Valinor and Beleriand. In Valinor, we have the Teleri, the Vanyar, and the Noldor, and in Beleriand, we have the Nandor (or Laiquendi), the Sindar, and Cirdan’s Falathrim (who are culturally different enough from Thingol’s people I’m counting them as separate).
- Much like in Valinor, Morgoth’s attacks bring with them tragedy, although in Beleriand’s case the danger comes entirely from without and not from within. In both cases, Morgoth’s attack results in the death of a king (Finwe in Valinor and Denethor in Beleriand). In each case, one of the three groups of elves suffers horrific losses (the Teleri in Valinor and the Laiquendi in Beleriand).
- There are two charismatic leaders at work in both places: Feanor in Valinor and Thingol in Beleriand. Both seem to have the ability to inspire loyalty in everyone around them.
Considering all these similarities, a word about Thingol and his actions in this chapter. When Morgoth begins his attack in Beleriand, Melian’s Girdle doesn’t yet exist. Thingol’s kingdom is vulnerable to the sudden flood of orcs and foul creatures from the north. Thanks to the Dwarves, the Sindar at least have formidable weapons, but they are not prepared for a large-scale invasion like this. Thingol immediately responds by uniting his people, not through a fiery speech but through pledges of loyalty nurtured over years of friendship and shared trials of living in the twilight of Beleriand. Cirdan attempts to respond but is cut off, and Denethor responds and marches to a battle that is ultimately successful but also ends in tragedy for both his own family and his people.
What happens next is interesting as Thingol immediately goes into vengeance mode. Feanor is on a mission of vengeance as well – his father has been killed and his possessions stolen, not to mention his pride insulted. Feanor’s vengeance is very personal and is inflicted upon other people in violent and traitorous ways. Thingol’s motivation for vengeance comes from his position as a leader – Denethor and his people were his responsibility.
They were only in Beleriand because they had heard about Thingol, and they only marched to battle – of their own will – because Thingol had asked for their help and the Nandor loved him. Thingol considered Denethor long-lost kin and had welcomed them as such, and he directs that thirst for vengeance exactly where it should go – against the Enemy. He slaughters orcs “in heaps” (Thanks for that, Tolkien. :)). Instead of a Kinslaying, we have a Kin-Avenging.
Even after the dust settles, Thingol’s priority is still his people, not his jewelry. He gathers as many of his people as he can to Doriath within Melian’s field of protection. Yes, he is isolating himself, but consider his situation: This is not the protected land of Valinor guarded by the Valar. In Thingol’s mind, this is the most efficient way to protect the greatest number of people. At this point, I don’t think the idea of a Kinslaying would even occur to Thingol. After centuries of struggling in Beleriand outside the light of the Trees, building up defenses and forging alliances and depending on his kinsmen and people to support him, no wonder he finds the Kinslaying so repulsive – and loathes the Noldor for it.
And I can’t help but think – since Elwe should have been king of the Teleri in Valinor – that he feels he should have been able to protect the Teleri as well. Though Thingol will lose to temptation later in the story, here he is an exemplary king. All of his thought is for unifying his people and for keeping them – all of them – safe. Thingol remains in communication with Cirdan despite their distance, and if he could have managed to get to the Falathrim I’m sure he would have. It’s true that without the arrival of the Noldor, Thingol may not have lasted that long – but Feanor could have learned a thing or two from Elu Thingol.
Tag: thingol
“And Húrin cast it at the feet of Thingol with wild and bitter words.
‘Receive thou thy fee,’ he cried, ‘for thy fair keeping of my children and my wife! For this is the Nauglamír, whose name is known to many among Elves and Men; and I bring it to thee out of the darkness of Nargothrond, where Finrod thy kinsman left it behind him when he went forth with Beren son of Barahir to fulfill the errand of Thingol of Doriath!’
Then Thingol looked upon the great treasure, and knew it for the Nauglamír, and well did he understand Húrin’s intent; but being filled with pity he restrained his wrath, and endured Húrin’s scorn. And at the last Melian spoke, and said: ‘Húrin Thalion, Morgoth hath bewitched thee; for he that seeth through Morgoth’s eyes, willing or unwilling, seeth all things crooked. Long was Túrin thy son fostered in the halls of Menegroth, and shown love and honour as the son of the King; and it was not by the King’s will nor by mine that he came never back to Doriath. And afterwards thy wife and thy daughter were harboured here with honour and goodwill; and we sought by all means that we might to dissuade Morwen from the road to Nargothrond. With the voice of Morgoth thou dost now upbraid thy friends.’
And hearing the words of Melian Húrin stood moveless, and he gazed long into the eyes of the Queen; and there in Menegroth, defended still by the Girdle of Melian from the darkness of the Enemy, he read the truth of all that was done, and tasted at last the fullness of woe that was measured for him by Morgoth Bauglir. And he spoke no more of what was past, but stooping lifted up the Nauglamír from where it lay before Thingol’s chair, and he gave it to him, saying: ‘Receive now, lord, the Necklace of the Dwarves, as a gift from one who has nothing, and as a memorial of Húrin of Dor-lómin. For now my fate is fulfilled, and the purpose of Morgoth achieved; but I am his thrall no longer.’”
–J.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion, “Of the Ruin of Doriath”
the fall of beren will be swift and without mercy
who gave thingol a blog
There’s a verse in the Lay of Leithien about lùthien’s mantle being of lilies white that stuck with me
In Beleriand, King Thingol upon his throne was as the lords of the Maiar whose power is at rest,
whose joy is as an air that they breathe in all their days,
whose thought flows in a tide untroubled from the heights to the deeps.J.R.R Tolkien, The Silmarillion
thingol + siblings, for the meme?
I keep thinking about how Olwe must have felt when he sailed West on the land-ferry with Thingol still lost, and how Thingol must have felt when he finally emerged from his trance in Nan Elmoth to discover that his brother had left him behind.
Granted, I don’t think Olwe had much of a choice, really. With Thingol missing, he was the de facto leader of the Teleri, and someone had to go with the ones that wanted to make the crossing and didn’t miss the boat. It can’t have been an easy decision to make, though – even on the off chance he might have still had reason to believe that his brothers and their kinsman would be able to follow at a later date. Which. Technically, was not wrong? Even if at least one of those paths led through Mandos first.
I don’t know where Elmo was in all this. Was he with the Elves who were originally with Thingol when he was lost? Was he part of the search party for Thingol, along with Cirdan, when Olwe made the crossing? All I know is that when Thingol was found again, Elmo was probably one of the first to go straight to his side.
I tend to think that, because Elmo stayed in Doriath at his eldest brother’s side, and because we hear nothing of him ever again, that he was one of the casualties in either the first or second Sack of Menegroth. Or maybe he made it out. Maybe he survived, made it to the Havens, or more likely out to Balar. Maybe he made it through the War of Wrath, and took the first opportunity to sail West that he got. Who knows? I’d believe just about anything, although honestly I’m most likely to personally go with the option that causes the most pain.
I like to think that the three were close when they were young, despite something of an age spread. And while I am relatively set in the headcanon that something happened to at least one of their parents – whether that be something as grim as being taken by the Rider/Morgoth, or simply choosing to stay behind in Cuivienen when Orome came and urged them West – I am not entirely sure whether I prefer that loss making them more distant from each other, or tightening their little family circle even more.
‘I marvel at you, son of Eärwen,’ said Thingol, ‘That you would come to the board of your kinsmen thus red-handed from the slaying of your mother’s kin, and yet say naught in defence, nor seek any pardon!’
Then Finrod was greatly troubled, but he was silent, for he could not defend himself, save by bringing charges against the other princes of the Noldor; and that he was loath to do before Thingol.
The Silmarillion Chapter 15, J.R.R. Tolkien (via hilarius-and-felix)
ephal ephalak idon hi-akallabeth 