Faithfulness in Middle Earth

[Lyta_Underhill]

The Fëanorians are an excellent example of that. The idea that they had, of following Morgoth "to the ends of the Earth" after the Silmarils, and to avenge the murder of Finwë (go me!) was a good one, but the degree to which they clung to that oath fast became unhealthy.

Perhaps it is more an illustration that an oath taken for the wrong reasons cannot redound to good ends. Vengeance is born of hate, and the real end of the Oath is the regaining of material things, the Silmarils, a sign that the loyalty is misplaced onto a thing and not an ideal. The Oath was too influenced by Morgoth for its fulfillment to end in prosperity, for Fëanor had been marred by that time and his works subsequent were of impure motive. If the kernel of the Oath had been a reasoned taking down of Morgoth (as the Valar should have done, IMO), then it would bear better fruit. The fault in the turn of events is not entirely Fëanor's here, but the Oath is ill-favored because of Fëanor's fall.

On the larger theme of disloyalty, perhaps it reflects the emptiness of swearing fealty to an impure or material end. Perhaps this mars the idea of loyalty in itself. I haven't fully explored this thought, but it is an interesting thing to speculate upon! Thanks for introducing yourself and the topic, Mungo of Bracegirdle!

Cheers,
Lyta