Titus Turambar: Tragic Tales

[Pitchwife]

Originally Posted by Mnemosyne

For me I think the most fascinating thing behind Turin is that you can't be entirely sure how much of the tragedy has to do with what he is (Hurin's son) or who he is (generally speaking, a jerk).

I think in the last bracket you're being too harsh on Túrin. His interactions with Sador Labadal and Mîm the Dwarf show he could be kind, compassionate and generous, as well as brave, stubborn and arrogant. After all, if he had no redeeming features there would be no tragedy; if we couldn't sympathize (if not identify) with him to some degree, we wouldn't feel his fate to be tragic, would we?
Actually, I find him one of the most well-rounded characters Tolkien created, and the childhood story in the Narn is very interesting in showing how the influence of both his parents contributed in forming the man he grew up to be. At the risk of sounding misogynic, it appears to me that his less amiable traits (i.e. those that helped the fulfilling of Morgoth's curse) were largely due to Morwen; the Narn describes her as "stern of mood and proud" - to which we might add 'unwilling to accept advice' (witness her leaving Doriath against the counsel of Thingol and Melian) and 'quick to judge others severely' (witness her reaction when Túrin gave his knife to Sador, compared to Húrin's). We find all this in her son, mixed with Húrin's valour, endurance and great-heartedness (is that a word?).

Originally Posted by Hookbill

Many times Turin is gifted the opportunity to settle down and not go after his doom, but each time, when a new danger arises, he straps on his sword and goes out.

Of course he did, and I find it hard to fault him for it. He was a natural born leader of the kind that leads from the front and felt it his duty to risk his own life and happiness to protect those who depended on him. When people act like they feel they must and thereby become guilty and doom themselves, that's when true tragedy happens.

Great thread, Hookbill, and thanks for bumping Peake up on my reading list!