Oath and Oath Fullfillment - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Boromir88 · 09-19-2004, 03:15 PM

Quote:

I just noticed this thread never really went anywhere and decided to try and revive it.

And I Thank you for that Encaitare.

As for another oath I just remembered, the Men of Rohan's oath to Ghan-Buri-Ghan and the Woses. Ghan led Rohan around the orc lines, Rohan pledged to leave Ghan's men in peace.

Tuor of Gondolin · 09-20-2004, 11:15 AM

Hoping this comment isn't off topic:

Of course a key question is what happens if it is impossible or inherently evil to
fulfill an oath. Recall the debate in UT between Maglor and Maedhros, the
conclusion of which seemed odd to me. Why would two elves who had been in
Aman assume it was impossible to appeal to Iluvatar to negate their oath?

Even in a sort of Nordic-type M-E (as related to oaths and oath-taking) you'd
think the pre-Christian Christian philosophy which seems implicit in Middle-earth
would allow some sort of "escape clause" when fullfilling an oath was impossible or evil.

Gurthang · 09-28-2004, 09:49 AM

Back when the horse-lords first came down to help Gondor, Eorl pledged that the Rohirrim would come to Gondor's aid in other times of trouble. As a result, they were given the land which became Rohan. That oath is key in the story because Theoden decided to follow it and went in haste to Minas Tirith. Had he not fulfilled this oath, the story would have had a much different ending.

09-20-2004, 11:15 AM	#2
Tuor of Gondolin Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Pennsylvania, WtR, passed Sarn Gebir: Above the rapids (1239 miles) BtR, passed Black Rider Stopping Place (31 miles) Posts: 1,548	Hoping this comment isn't off topic: Of course a key question is what happens if it is impossible or inherently evil to fulfill an oath. Recall the debate in UT between Maglor and Maedhros, the conclusion of which seemed odd to me. Why would two elves who had been in Aman assume it was impossible to appeal to Iluvatar to negate their oath? Even in a sort of Nordic-type M-E (as related to oaths and oath-taking) you'd think the pre-Christian Christian philosophy which seems implicit in Middle-earth would allow some sort of "escape clause" when fullfilling an oath was impossible or evil. __________________ Aure Entuluva! Last edited by Tuor of Gondolin; 09-20-2004 at 11:18 AM.

09-28-2004, 09:49 AM	#3
Gurthang Sword of Spirit Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Oh, I'm around. Posts: 1,401	Back when the horse-lords first came down to help Gondor, Eorl pledged that the Rohirrim would come to Gondor's aid in other times of trouble. As a result, they were given the land which became Rohan. That oath is key in the story because Theoden decided to follow it and went in haste to Minas Tirith. Had he not fulfilled this oath, the story would have had a much different ending. __________________ I'm on a Mission from God.