Silmarillion - Chapter 16 - Of Maeglin - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Aiwendil · 08-28-2007, 05:20 PM

Though I must apologize for the long delay in these discussions, it occurs to me that between chapters 15 and 16 is really a fitting point for such a break. “Of Maeglin” marks a change in tone for The Silmarillion. While most of the narrative up to this point has been written in a high ‘mythological’ or ‘historical’ style, telling more concerning peoples and populations than individual persons, most of the material from here on the focus is more squarely on a few characters whose lives and deeds dominate the later history of Beleriand. Indeed, the specific concern of this chapter is to relate the origins and early life of its title character, Maeglin.

Such a tale naturally begins with his parents; thus we are introduced to Aredhel and Eol, two of the more intriguing of Tolkien’s characters. Aredhel comes across as proud and willful, which traits further emphasized by her friendship with the sons of Feanor. Indeed, her decision to travel through Nan Dungortheb strikes me as rather like the kind of rash thing one of Feanor’s sons might do. She is what you might call a real Noldo’s Noldo, if you take my meaning. Eol, on the other hand, is something of an anti-Noldo. He is “the Dark Elf” who, far from basking in the light of Valinor, makes his dwelling amid the “tallest and darkest” trees in Beleriand, where “the sun never came”; and he dislikes the Noldor, blaming them for the troubles that arose in Beleriand after their return. In one thing, though, he is like the Noldor – in his love of craft and smith-work.

The strange relationship between Eol and Aredhel is never fully expounded, and this lends it a certain enigmatic mystery and tempts one to fill in the gaps. Of her captivity and marriage we are told only that “It is not said that Aredhel was wholly unwilling, nor that her life in Nan Elmoth was hateful to her for many years.” In any case, it is out of this strange union that Maeglin arises, in whose character it is easy to see those of his parents blent. He cares more for his mother than his father, and of course he prefers to escape to Gondolin rathern than remain in the twilight of Nan Elmoth. Yet in his dark disposition and in his love for mining we see elements of Eol.

The chapter ends by telling the reader explicitly what these events have brought about: “amid all the bliss and glory of that realm [Gondolin], while its glory lasted, a dark seed of evil was sown.” This is an instance of Tolkien’s characteristic foreshadowing; we know now that Maeglin’s presence will lead to tragedy in Gondolin, but to learn what that tragedy is and how it comes about, we must read on.

The story of Aredhel and Eol is mentioned as far back as the Lost Tales, but it was not told in full until much later in the evolution of the Legendarium. In the “Fall of Gondolin” from the Lost Tales, the story of Eol and Isfin (the later Aredhel) is referred to but “may not here be told”. In the writings from the 1920s and 1930s there were a few further references to the story, which appears to have been very much in flux. Isfin is lost either in Doriath or in Taur-na-Fuin, and the texts disagree on whether she accompanied Meglin when he escaped to Gondolin.

The final story was more or less achieved in its essentials in the “Grey Annals” of the 1950s; at the same time or shortly thereafter a full narrative form of the tale was written, which was used as the basis for the version in the published Silmarillion. Some revisions were made to this text around 1970, in what turned out to be some of Tolkien’s last work on the Legendarium. Christopher Tolkien made a few changes to the text for its inclusion as chapter 16 of The Silmarillion, removing certain details of the timing and numbering of days in the flight of Aredhel and Maeglin from Eol, as he felt that these details were out of place in the Quenta Silmarillion.

Additional Readings
HoMe II – first references to the story found in “The Fall of Gondolin”.
HoMe III – the story is mentioned in the abandoned “Lay of the Fall of Gondolin”
HoMe IV, V – further references in the Annals, the “Sketch of the Mythology”, and the “Quenta Noldorinwa”.
HoMe XI – the “Grey Annals” version and the full narrative; also, “Quendi and Eldar” contains an (apparently) rejected account of Eol’s origins.

08-28-2007, 05:20 PM	#1
Aiwendil Late Istar Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 2,224	Silmarillion - Chapter 16 - Of Maeglin Though I must apologize for the long delay in these discussions, it occurs to me that between chapters 15 and 16 is really a fitting point for such a break. “Of Maeglin” marks a change in tone for The Silmarillion. While most of the narrative up to this point has been written in a high ‘mythological’ or ‘historical’ style, telling more concerning peoples and populations than individual persons, most of the material from here on the focus is more squarely on a few characters whose lives and deeds dominate the later history of Beleriand. Indeed, the specific concern of this chapter is to relate the origins and early life of its title character, Maeglin. Such a tale naturally begins with his parents; thus we are introduced to Aredhel and Eol, two of the more intriguing of Tolkien’s characters. Aredhel comes across as proud and willful, which traits further emphasized by her friendship with the sons of Feanor. Indeed, her decision to travel through Nan Dungortheb strikes me as rather like the kind of rash thing one of Feanor’s sons might do. She is what you might call a real Noldo’s Noldo, if you take my meaning. Eol, on the other hand, is something of an anti-Noldo. He is “the Dark Elf” who, far from basking in the light of Valinor, makes his dwelling amid the “tallest and darkest” trees in Beleriand, where “the sun never came”; and he dislikes the Noldor, blaming them for the troubles that arose in Beleriand after their return. In one thing, though, he is like the Noldor – in his love of craft and smith-work. The strange relationship between Eol and Aredhel is never fully expounded, and this lends it a certain enigmatic mystery and tempts one to fill in the gaps. Of her captivity and marriage we are told only that “It is not said that Aredhel was wholly unwilling, nor that her life in Nan Elmoth was hateful to her for many years.” In any case, it is out of this strange union that Maeglin arises, in whose character it is easy to see those of his parents blent. He cares more for his mother than his father, and of course he prefers to escape to Gondolin rathern than remain in the twilight of Nan Elmoth. Yet in his dark disposition and in his love for mining we see elements of Eol. The chapter ends by telling the reader explicitly what these events have brought about: “amid all the bliss and glory of that realm [Gondolin], while its glory lasted, a dark seed of evil was sown.” This is an instance of Tolkien’s characteristic foreshadowing; we know now that Maeglin’s presence will lead to tragedy in Gondolin, but to learn what that tragedy is and how it comes about, we must read on. The story of Aredhel and Eol is mentioned as far back as the Lost Tales, but it was not told in full until much later in the evolution of the Legendarium. In the “Fall of Gondolin” from the Lost Tales, the story of Eol and Isfin (the later Aredhel) is referred to but “may not here be told”. In the writings from the 1920s and 1930s there were a few further references to the story, which appears to have been very much in flux. Isfin is lost either in Doriath or in Taur-na-Fuin, and the texts disagree on whether she accompanied Meglin when he escaped to Gondolin. The final story was more or less achieved in its essentials in the “Grey Annals” of the 1950s; at the same time or shortly thereafter a full narrative form of the tale was written, which was used as the basis for the version in the published Silmarillion. Some revisions were made to this text around 1970, in what turned out to be some of Tolkien’s last work on the Legendarium. Christopher Tolkien made a few changes to the text for its inclusion as chapter 16 of The Silmarillion, removing certain details of the timing and numbering of days in the flight of Aredhel and Maeglin from Eol, as he felt that these details were out of place in the Quenta Silmarillion. Additional Readings HoMe II – first references to the story found in “The Fall of Gondolin”. HoMe III – the story is mentioned in the abandoned “Lay of the Fall of Gondolin” HoMe IV, V – further references in the Annals, the “Sketch of the Mythology”, and the “Quenta Noldorinwa”. HoMe XI – the “Grey Annals” version and the full narrative; also, “Quendi and Eldar” contains an (apparently) rejected account of Eol’s origins.