The Fëanor inside Fëanor Sons

[Anguirel]

Today you get...

Maglor

Maglor is my personal favourite character in Tolkien, yet I feel a certain distance when discussing him-more so than usual, even, with Silmarillion characters. I think that this is not unrelated to the fact that if working from the Translator Conceit, Maglor's Noldolante must have been one of the primary sources for what was to become the Silmarillion. I sometimes, well, often, like to speculate where Maglor's influence lies. I conclude that he must be most deeply felt in the Rape of the Silmarils, battles like the Nirnaeth, and the later Kinslayings-but not of course his final deed, after which he disappeared.

Oh blast it, I can't resist, I'm going to plug this thread of mine in passing: The Vanishing Harper.

What Maglor inherits of Feanor is of course the outstanding creativity and artistry. But I'd rather have Maglor's than Feanor's any day, because Maglor realises his skill doesn't give him any moral strength without humanity too. He's also escaped the curse of over-confidence, but I always imagine him with severe problems of under-confidence...without which he could have taken control of his brothers and protected them.

He lets himself be led by love. In this way he inherits Gawain's tragedy-he, not Maedhros, loses all his brothers, indeed everyone who means anything to him. He has to leave Elrond and Elros so as not to taint them; he has left a wife in Valinor.

Maglor inherits his mother Nerdanel's deeper wisdom; his sensible reaction of rejoicing at seeing the Silmaril in the sky, and his logical motive for breaking the Oath, are almost prophetic.

He has a rarely explored military side too. He, not Maedhros, holds the very hardest part of Beleriand to defend, and succeeds for a good long time. He joins Maedhros in his defiance on Himring. Bor and his sons swear to follow Maedhros, but also Maglor. And Maglor avenges the treachery against his brothers in the Nirnaeth, killing Uldor the Accursed.

It seems here that Tolkien is using a notion of moral virtue being rewarded by success in battle-"My strength is as the strength of ten/Because my heart is pure." I get the feeling sometimes that, despite popular misconceptions of a dreamy, pacific, melancholy bard, with Maglor in charge the whole Feanorion show might have run a good deal more smoothly.

EDIT: Of course this is something of an impossibility, as Maglor simply lacks the authority. But had he been, say, born the eldest son, I think his ability and tact might have led to ultimately happier results.

[Aiwendil]

Macalaure wrote:

Maybe I should have written "unnecessary misdeeds", like the burning of the ships, for example. The betrayal of Fingolfin was unnecessary - Fëanor doesn't care and Maedhros stands aside. Interesting to see that he only disobeys and does not oppose him.

True, and a good point. But I still tend to think that it's not that Feanor was missing the sense of compassion that Maedhros had - rather, Maedhros is missing some of the recklessness and anger that Feanor had.

But he doesn't solve anything, he only avoids the problem. One hour after Maedhros is back, everything is settled. It's really hard to interpret Maglor's intentions here.

He at least delays a potentially violent confrontation. It's true that he doesn't solve anything, but I suspect that many in Feanor's host (and particularly the likes of Caranthir, Celegorm, and Curufin) did not want to treat with Fingolfin yet. And it wasn't Maedhros's leadership that allowed him to settle things; it was Fingon's rescue of him. I don't necessarily think that Maglor did the right thing; but I think I can understand why it might look like a good move to him.

I think you underestimate Celegorm. He wouldn't allow Curufin to manipulate him and Curufin is smart enough to know that.

I don't think that Curufin would have been manipulating Celegorm - it seems to me that Celegorm was quite comfortable letting Curufin be the brains of the operation. But, as you said, Celegorm seems to have the greater charisma and therefore is better suited to take the role of leader publicly.

[Anguirel]

Today I reach that magnificent pillar of anti-heroism

Celegorm

Celegorm is one of the more heavily revised of the sons of Feanor-I'll be saying why that's important later. There is a case, if you approach the issue with a mind as admittedly partial as mine, for claiming he's been much maligned.

As for his resemblance (or not) to his father...perhaps it's the blonde curly hair that does it, but Celegorm seems to me far more of a conformist by nature than Feanor. In Valinor he apparently got on well enough with the Valar to be given Orome's hound, and was apparently the son of Feanor closest to Aredhel, Fingolfin's daughter, with whom he shared a similarity of temperament. Along with many other slightly revisionist readers of the Silmarillion, I see a rejected romance here. More on that in its proper place.

In terms of ability, Celegorm, as noted by Macalaure, inherited the fire of Feanor's oratory. Yet I would suggest that this was not tantamount to inheriting the talent entirely-Curufin seems to have received Feanor's more "persuasive" rhetoric.

Apart from that Celegorm has Feanor's impetuosity and ruthlessness in battle more than any of his brothers. The usually unsung star of the Dagor-Nan-Gileath, it was Celegorm who led the attack which reduced Morgoth's armies to the proverbial leaves blowing in the wind. Amidst the disaster of the Bragollach, The Grey Annals tell us that he managed to cut loose with Curufin and reach Minas Tirith in time to save Orodreth's life as the latter fled from Sauron. I like this version as it makes the political scene in Nargothrond much deeper. Finrod isn't lying when he tells Beren (I think) that Celegorm and Curufin have "helped him in every need." It also adds a dimension to the "wolf-hunts" of the brothers-every wolf killed is vengeance for Orodreth's defeat.

We don't know anything about his role in the Nirnaeth except that, though wounded, he escaped. But in his last battle, the Second Kinslaying, he sought out the enemy king Dior and slew him personally, though falling himself. Celegorm is not effete or lacking in warlike credentials!

Celegorm, politically, is also playing Maedhros' "Let's Fulfill the Oath" game. But his strategy has two-no, wait, three-besetting flaws. First, his flexible and consequentialist morals-he's willing to go down far worse means for far more remote ends than Maedhros. Second, he's gripped by the idea of the Silmarils, and the personal power they represent, and they, not Morgoth's defeat, are his ultimate aim. Third, his love-life.

Celegorm is not described as leaving a wife in Valinor, I don't think, which leaves us with two options-tragic Celegorm spurned by Aredhel and Celegorm the wild bachelor-until he meets Luthien. I think, myself, that in Aredhel's search for him we see her indecision, and that she had been a cruel coquette in Valinor, and now regretted it. Celegorm never saw her again, and his desire for another dark beauty, Luthien, was an attempt to compensate. Possibly. I'm aware that may be rather soap opera-esque for some of you...

Final note-Celegorm in the oldest versions of the Lay of Leithian was the founder and reigning King of Nargothrond. This is hard to incorporate with the new material, but is an interesting line of thought to consider. The Celegorm in this version acted honourably, despite feeling apparently genuine love for Luthien, and ended up helping the lovers.

EDIT: If anyone's still interested in my Orkney parallel, then Celegorm is Agravaine to Curufin's Mordred.

[Aiwendil]

Anguirel wrote:

perhaps it's the blonde curly hair that does it,

I know that Celegorm is said to have golden hair in the Geste, but I seem to remember that this was changed. Isn't it later said that the only Noldor with blond hair were those of the house of Finarfin?

In Valinor he apparently got on well enough with the Valar to be given Orome's hound, and was apparently the son of Feanor closest to Aredhel, Fingolfin's daughter, with whom he shared a similarity of temperament. Along with many other slightly revisionist readers of the Silmarillion, I see a rejected romance here.

I rather doubt this - they were first cousins, and a romance between them would have been seen as incestuous. Celegorm may have a dark side, but he's no Maeglin. Moreover, Maeglin's incestuous love for Idril is said to have been a consequence of the Kin-slaying (it's "evil fruit" I believe). So I have a hard time believing that such a thing would have arisen in Valinor before the flight of the Noldor.

[Lalaith]

was apparently the son of Feanor closest to Aredhel

Interesting take, Ang.
I'm not saying you're wrong, about the romance aspect, but I always took a different view, that the friendship was platonic, nothing more. And that was something I always saw as a redeeming feature of Celegorm, any chap who is willing to hang out with (ie hunt with) a girl as a friend and equal can't be all bad. Makes his lousy behaviour to Luthien all the more disappointing.
Anyway, this is a splendid thread and I must peruse more closely.

[Macalaure]

Aiwendil wrote:
He at least delays a potentially violent confrontation. It's true that he doesn't solve anything, but I suspect that many in Feanor's host (and particularly the likes of Caranthir, Celegorm, and Curufin) did not want to treat with Fingolfin yet. And it wasn't Maedhros's leadership that allowed him to settle things; it was Fingon's rescue of him. I don't necessarily think that Maglor did the right thing; but I think I can understand why it might look like a good move to him.

I agree. It might just have been the best conceivable action in his situation. It's sad we don't get a closer look at how Fëanor's sons came to the decision.

I don't think that Curufin would have been manipulating Celegorm - it seems to me that Celegorm was quite comfortable letting Curufin be the brains of the operation. But, as you said, Celegorm seems to have the greater charisma and therefore is better suited to take the role of leader publicly.

I disagree. Celegorm had enough brains of his own. It was him alone who talked Maedhros into attacking Doriath. Still Curufin's counsels were, doubtless, more than useful to him.

Anguirel wrote:
But in his last battle, the Second Kinslaying, he sought out the enemy king Dior and slew him personally, though falling himself. Celegorm is not effete or lacking in warlike credentials!

I should have noted that above, but Celegorm, to me, is the most skilled in warfare among the brothers in the beginning. Without his deeds, the Dagor-nuin-Giliath could have ended badly. He's later surpassed by Maedhros after his time in and over Angband.
It's hard to compare it to Fëanor's abilities. The battle of Alqualonde gives me a quite disorganized impression (excused - they hardly had any time for maneuvers), and in the second battle he is carried away by his emotions and pays for that.

Celegorm slew Dior? The Silmarillion says "There fell Celegorm by Dior's hand...".
By the way, a brilliant scene: The two "the Fair"s fighting each other.

Celegorm is not described as leaving a wife in Valinor, I don't think, which leaves us with two options-tragic Celegorm spurned by Aredhel and Celegorm the wild bachelor-until he meets Luthien.

Yet another parallel to Maedhros. Though so different in most respects, they share a surprising lot.
But I don't see any parellels between Aredhel and Lúthien, except hair colour. Celegorm and Aredhel (absolutely platonic relationship to me, too) seem to share something. I cannot describe it. But he doesn't compensate with Lúthien. I'd say it takes the coldness of a Curufin to not fall in love with her.

[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.