Quote:
Originally Posted by Inziladun
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?
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Well, he could definitely use some humility. But there are other answers as well. Turin - always, and blindly - preffered brute strength to secrecy. Why cast away the strongest weapon he has, in return for being yet another homeless vagabond? It didn't make sense to him. And whenever he tries doing exactly that, he still rises to the top of society - among the Outlaws, in Nargothrond, and at Brethil, he tries to blend in with the crowd, but his pride, ambition, thirst to avenge himself and his family etc (you name it) always brings him to a visible spot.
The funny thing is that as treacherous as that sword is, it proved to be the most "loyal" of Turin's possessions, and the closest one to him. (this was mentioned in
this thread, posts #32, #33, and #37). To summarise: they use "thee" and "thou" in their final dialogue. These are familiar pronouns. They underline the deeper connection Turin has with the sword and their
brotherhood. They are also connected by their shared death.
The whole issue with pride also brings the question of how Turin felt when he sneaked up to Glaurung to stab him. I can see him saying one thing to himself over and over again: kill Glaurung at any cost! And that cost was pride. He did not come up openly to the dragon and challenge him to a duel. Did he learn that in open combat he has no chance? But that's his
honour, his
pride! In my opinion, giving up those virtues for the sake of victory was a bigger deal for him than a scorched hand.
How true then are Glaurung's words, then?
Quote:
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"And now thou shalt know him: a stabber in the dark, treacherous to foes, faithless to friends, and a curse unto his kin, Turin son of Hurin!"
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Well, of course they are true, but what I mean is how much does Glaurung really slander Turin? All he did is take the consequences without taking all the build-up into account. It's easy to agree with Glaurung, and well, he's right. But he, like always, adds a bit of lie to the truth to serve his purpose. Or, rather, adds a bit of truth to the lie. He only says why Turin was wrong in doing what he did. He does not give the "other options", so to speak.
Also, Glaurung seems to be a physical representation of the Curse. Not only does he choose Hin Hurin out of all the inhabitants of Beleriand to pursue, but also how he twists the truth into half-lies. Morgoth "showed" Hurin a tampered version of what happened to his family. And Glaurung gives "tampered truths"... if that makes ny sense.
I never said that Turin's actions are necessarily right, of the best choices. But I am still sympathetic towards him.
I forgot to put "Wildman of the Woods" in my list of names, I'll edit it in.