Finrod and the Kinslaying

Surprisingly i agree with mr Hedgethistle again, as i did in the canon thread.

I think Tolkien wanted to portray this concept, but at the same time i would
not draw direct comparisons beyond the concept. Think of it as two
separate occurances which share a common principle, which is the
principle of one 'sin' being marred on all the race of the one 'sinner'.

Originally Elves would have (or could have) been thought to be
incapable of kinslaying (that was the impression i got), and so when it
occurs it redifines the very nature of the Elves, where once they were
incapable of it, now they are.

[in closing, there are almost too many possible parallels to the story
of Adam to dismiss this point of veiw]

[The Saucepan Man]

Where I would want to tweak your summation of my point though, is to replace the word "shame" with "guilt". It's a subtle difference, but an important one.

I am not so sure that the difference lies in whether the words used connote internal or external perceptions. One can feel ashamed of oneself, or be shamed in the eyes of others, just as one can feel guilty or be judged guilty by others.

The reason that I feel that "shame" is the more appropriate word in this situation is that it is, to my mind, more consistent with a feeling of responsibility for acts perpetrated by others. So, one can feel ashamed of acts carried out by others in one's name, whereas guilt tends to denote a feeling of personal responsibility (whether actual or perceived).

But that, as they say, is by the by.

but i would go with guilt...

think, we can be ashamed of a dirty bedroom
but guilty of a crime

[Galin]

Hmm, two quotes missing from this thread!

'... and because the people of Finarfin had had no part in the kinslaying of Alqualonde;' Concerning Galadriel and Celeborn, Unfinished Tales

But this was not new, and arose not (<- somewhat poetic phrasing alert) because the fair Galadriel had entered the tales, for the Quenta Silmarillion of the 1930s noted...

'The hosts of Fingolfin followed less eagerly, and at the rear came sorrowing Finrod and Inglor and many of the noblest and fairest of the Noldor; and they looked often backward, until the lamp of Ingwe was lost in the gathering tide of gloom; and more than others they carried thence memories of the glory of their ancient home, and some even of the fair things there made with hands they took with them. Thus the folk of Finrod had no part in the dreadful deed that then was done; yet all the Gnomes that departed from Valinor came under the shadow of the curse that followed it. For it came soon into the heart of Feanor that they should persuade the Teleri,...'

Obviously fix any Finrods and Inglors with Finarfins and Finrods however, as this came well before the revision of names.