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Originally Posted by Galadriel55
He is like a noble version of Gollum. We pity that wretched creature, with Slinker pulling on one side of his mind and Stinker on another. But Turin is, in a way, quite similar. He doesn't wear a loincloth and isn't skin-and-bones and doesn't feed on raw fishes. And he doesn't have the Ring gnawing at him. But he has other things, like the curse. And the greatest similarity is how they both carry guilt in their concience; they remember things that they are trying to forget.
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There is a closer similarity between the two, I think, in that both made the choices they did because of innate characteristics. The Ring called to Gollum so acutely because it recognised in him a kindred spirit. Gollum's basic personality was against him, but that doesn't absolve him of responsibility for his own choices, such as killing Déagol so easily.
Likewise, Túrin being so much like his mother personality-wise probably made things harder for him, but still one would think that with all the advantages he had, such as the fostering in Doriath and having the benefit the wisdom of Thingol and Melian, he could have learned some patience or humility.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Galadriel55
Ah, but he tried that, didn't he? He was trying to be as much of a threat to Morgoth as he could, and he tried to "make it right this time". But he always failed, time and again, whether it was by power of the curse or his own actions. I think that when he died, everyone was relieved. He said himself that he casts a shadow wherever he goes, but, sadly, his solution is not to distance himself from others to avoid helping Morgoth, but rather to assume a fake identity.
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Yet even when he hid the name of Túrin, he clung to Gurthang, the one item which above all others would identify him. Why? Was it an internal rebellion against hiding his true identity? Was he too
proud to let go of his past life completely, though he was
also too proud to return to Doriath where he could openly be the son of Húrin Thalion?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Galadriel55
And that made me think of an interesting thing. In Nargothrond and in Brethil the people knew who he really was, but they kept quiet about it. Was it just because they respected Turin, or maybe were afraid of his anger?
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Probably both, in Nargothrond. With Brethil, it was likely more of a courtesy.