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Macalaure · 05-01-2006, 10:00 AM

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.

05-01-2006, 10:00 AM	#2
Macalaure Fading Fëanorion Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: into the flood again Posts: 2,911	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.