[Anguirel]

Interesting, though not to me altogether surprising, that Celegorm is proving to possess the greatest potential for controversy so far!

I'll approach matters one by one.

His Hair

In the published Silmarillion Celegorm is referred to as "the Fair", which is not a moral nor a general epithet, as I see it, particularly as it is contrasted with his brother Caranthir, "the Dark."

In the Lay of Leithian Celegorm is again repeatedly called "the Fair", or "fair Celegorm." In the Shibboleth I believe he is described explicitly as having a mane of golden curls. It seems to me that we have an exception to Finarfin's line here.

For me this works rather well with the general image I get of Celegorm, and I see no reason not to believe it.


His Private Life

Two women are important in working out this mystery-Aredhel and then Luthien. We are told that an Elf loves only once, yet we should perhaps remember that the known exception to the rule was Celegorm's grandfather...

It seems to me that looking at it from Tolkien's point of view, Celegorm and Aredhel's romance was a possibility he toyed with, but eventually could not really ratify because of the cousinage problem mentioned by Aiwendil. However, there are many hints for those, like me, who wish to conclude otherwise.

Celegorm and Aredhel are both hunters of repute with wilful, courageous personalities. Celegorm is, as mentioned above, picked out as being close to Aredhel. They are only half-cousins, which perhaps makes a difference-"the Eldar wedded not to kin so near." And it is strongly hinted at in the passage where it's stated that Aredhel "gave her heart to none of [the Sons of Feanor]" that she could have done.

It works, too, on Aredhel's side. Why did she mislead Turgon about riding to Fingon, only to order a change in direction to Celegorm and Curufin? (Curufin's importance here seeming rather geographical.) Furtive, resurgent, nostalgic love. Why did she linger so long in Celegorm's country?

Whether Celegorm truly loved Luthien I am not certain. Undoubtedly he did if we discount the Aredhel idea, though. One or both of them must have been, in my eyes, his true love. Yet why would Celegorm the Fair treat his true love with so little decency? Perhaps Curufin's counsel led him astray.


His Death

According to the Grey Annals, Celegorm and Dior slew each other in the halls of Menegroth.


His Wildness

From the start, Celegorm is picked from the rest of the brothers in a fundamental way. He defies the Noldor characteristic of being a pupil of Aule, instead visiting the Halls of Orome, who teaches him the tongue of all fair birds and beasts.

An ability shared by no other Noldor, and only one human...(here's the rub) Beren.

So perhaps there is a hint that his love for Tinuviel was true after all. He is the closest Elves get to the Man he despises. Certainly I think that Tinuviel might have been his salvation had fate been happier. Of course it wasn't.

But all in all, a better and more fascinating Elf than he is usually deemed.