Was Huan a traitor? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

skip spence · 11-06-2010, 11:47 AM

Technically and from the POV of Celegorm Huan certainly was a traitor. But we can hardly blame him though, can we? He only did what any good soldier should, that is, disobeying orders when those orders go against his moral convictions. This is actually an often recurring theme in Tolkien's work, the conflict between different loyalties, let's say between a worldly authority and a divine authority.

For example, contrast how Beregond defies a direct order from Denethor to save Faramir, and how Feanor and his sons refuse to back away from their Oath even though they often are forced to do Wrong because of it. Who looks better in your eyes?

11-06-2010, 11:47 AM	#2
skip spence shadow of a doubt Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Back on the streets Posts: 1,125	Technically and from the POV of Celegorm Huan certainly was a traitor. But we can hardly blame him though, can we? He only did what any good soldier should, that is, disobeying orders when those orders go against his moral convictions. This is actually an often recurring theme in Tolkien's work, the conflict between different loyalties, let's say between a worldly authority and a divine authority. For example, contrast how Beregond defies a direct order from Denethor to save Faramir, and how Feanor and his sons refuse to back away from their Oath even though they often are forced to do Wrong because of it. Who looks better in your eyes? __________________ "You can always come back, but you can't come back all the way" ~ Bob Dylan Last edited by skip spence; 11-06-2010 at 08:34 PM. Reason: strange word-jumbling