[Keneldil the Polka-dot]

Believe it or not, some people have a different opinion. The quest for the Silmaril was not the only evidence put forward for Beren. I'd hardly say he was a pansy.

Sure, Hurin was the bomb: he chopped trolls like a mad man, he spit in Morgoth's eye, he sat chained in a chair for 28 years, he was the greatest mortal warrior ever. In the end Morgoth still got what he wanted from Hurin. And he died in despair, possibly by suicide. As long as you are tossing "ifs" out there...if Beren had sat in Hurin's chair he would have defied Morgoth for twice as long. When Morgoth unchained him Beren would have said "Put the football game on and bring me a beer."

Hurin was captured in a failed battle of the long failed war in which the Noldor never even got close enough to see the jewels they were fighting for. Beren and one elf maiden accomplished what the Hurin and the Noldor were trying to do when Hurin was captured.

Obviously no one is saying Hurin was a wimp. In all reality, I waver some. Defying Morgoth to his face is arguably the single bravest act in the whole Silmarillion.