Silmarillion - Chapter 21 - Of Túrin Turambar

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Formendacil

In like manner, Túrin chooses each of the actions that makes the curse more operative, rather than less, and the tragedy of the Narn is precisely that Morgoth's curse worked hand-in-hand with Túrin's own actions.

Indeed. Yet, my point is that it needn't have been so.

Anyone can make mistakes, of course, in Tolkien's Arda as well as this world.
Túrin's problem, though, is that he continually makes the same sort of mistakes time and time again. It is that which makes me so unsympathetic toward him.

Also, one can point to his personality as an impediment (as I already did), and make the case that his lot was harder because of that. I take it as a basic tenant, however, that Eru Ilúvatar would not have allowed his Children to have been oppressed by Morgoth beyond their ability to endure. Túrin had the capability to overcome both the curse, and the demons within himself, he just doesn't seem willing to try.

Originally Posted by Formendacil

Like Galadriel55, this does not make me lose all sympathy for Túrin--if anything, I sympathize with him more because of it, because his repeated failures are what bring him down to a sympathetic level. Túrin without his drastic miscalculations would leave us with Boromir as he seemed at the Council of Elrond: brash, over-confident, full of himself--but even more so. Túrin is dislikable because of his successes: he is the greatest warrior, a convincing leader, a charismatic figure about to make whole nations change their polices. If Túrin were successful in these endeavours, he would be insufferable; the fact that his choices are so wrong (despite what we know are fairly noble, if over-proud, intentions) is what makes him a tragic figure.

Like I said, it would be another matter if Túrin had kept on failing for different reasons, and things which were outside his control. I just don't see that as being the case though.

x/d with Squatter