Best Father in Middle-earth

[Child of the 7th Age]

OK, it's Father's Day. So who gets your vote for best father in Middle-earth?

I'll post my answer later. (It may surprise you!)

sharon, the 7th age hobbit

[Gimli Son Of Gloin]

Pippin!

[Alkanoonion]

The best father in Middle-earth would be Elrond. smilies/cool.gif

[Kuruharan]

Denethor! smilies/tongue.gif

[Gorothlammothiel]

Does it have to be an actual father or can it be a father figure? If so i think that Gandalf was a good father to all the fellowship.

[akhtene]

To me Gandalf seems more of a GRANDFATHER figure (and not only by the age)

I'd also vote for Denethor, judjing by the worthy sons he raised.

[Luineglin]

i would have to say elrond

[Arwen Imladris]

Sam! smilies/smile.gif

[Lindolirian]

Bungo Baggins. Just look at the boy he brought up. " A solid second edition of his father" i belive it was. He must have been a pretty darn good dad to bring up the Ring Finder.

Arr, okay, Sam's the best

[ElanorGamgee]

What about the Gaffer? Sure, he may not have been a lot of fun, but he did bring up a pretty good son smilies/smile.gif

[Kalimac]

Hmmm. Denethor had good sons (yes, I'm going to be nice to Boromir - he tried, after all) but you couldn't exactly call him supportive. The Gaffer obviously loved Sam but you get the feeling that he'd also "lost control" of him extremely early - Sam had all these crazy ideas and the Gaffer ended up basically throwing his hands in the air and letting Sam do whatever he wanted. Honestly, I'd really like to say Bilbo (he did legally adopt Frodo, so he'd be an adoptive father, wouldn't he?) He was very generous, obviously, spent a lot of time with Frodo and the other young people, taught them everything he knew, listened to them, and threw great birthday parties smilies/biggrin.gif . What more could you ask?

[Elenya]

Mine's a tie with Bilbo and the Gaffer. They just both seem like such great fathers/father figures.

[Luthien_ Tinuviel]

Probably Bilbo. Definately not Thingol (he was mean!).

[Dúnadan]

Arathorn of course. Otherwise where would the fate of the hobbits rest?

[Luthien_ Tinuviel]

<font color="gold">Hey Dunadan! Welcome to the Downs!

[NyteSky]

Ok, so far there's been Bilbo, Denethor, Elrond, the Gaffer, Pippin, Sam, Bungo, Arathorn, and sort of Gandalf. Oh, and "not Thingol". I'm having trouble thinking of any other fathers that were more than merely mentioned in LotR and the Hobbit. Who have been left out?
Fathers were a rare commodity in ME apparently. My vote goes to Bilbo or Elrond. I'm particularly impressed on Elrond's dating policies. smilies/wink.gif I imagine other elves might have talked about Arwent and a... human! Quite a scandal. Happy Father's Day!

[Dúnadan]

Hey Dunadan! Welcome to the Downs!

Hey thanks. smilies/smile.gif

[Joy]

Mae govannan, Dúnadan. Elen sila lumenn' omentielvo. Welcome to the downs. Have fun and post often.

Back to the question at hand, I'd say that in LotR that Biblo, Thengel (Theoden's Father) and Arathorn (Aragorn's Father) were the best.

In the Sil, I'd say Earendil - well really his ancestors were good father's too.

[Gimli Son Of Gloin]

Pippin! Merry! Either one!

[piosenniel]

How about Beregond?

[lathspell]

the Gaffer... Eomund... Hurin... but most of all the father of Elendil (I forgot his name), but I'll put it down later.

greetings,
lathspell

[Veritas]

Sam, and Aragorn

[Eowyn of Ithilien]

Amrahil???? Earendil's father

[Child of the 7th Age]

Kalimac -- You took the words out of my mouth. When I posted the thread, I was thinking of two individuals, one of whom was Bilbo. I have an adopted daughter myself, so I definitely think adoptive father qualifies. I think he did a great job educating Frodo to the wider world outside the Shire. And Frodo was unusually polite - some of those manner must have come from Bilbo.

My second choice was J.R.R. Tolkien. He was always berating himself for not being a good father, but everyone who knew him said that was not so. He spent a lot of time worrying about how to provide for his family, but still found time to tell them amazing stories and write the Father Christmas letters.

I figure he's an Elf-friend so he qualifies as being an honorary Middle-earth resident.

[Evenstar1]

Tolkien, himself, huh? Good one, Child!

My pick is Illuvatar. (Yeah, he was a father: the Ainur were the "offspring of his thought" and Men and Elves were his "children." Not to mention the rest of creation...) smilies/biggrin.gif

[Raefindel]

Oh! Evenstar1 that's the best answer of all!

[Lady Ancalima]

What about Sam? We didn't hear too much about him being a father but look how loyal he was to Frodo! He did have like 13 kids anyways... But I do agree with all the people who said Arathorn

[lathspell]

I don't think Iluvatar was a good father. He let his children fight themselves to death. They smashed the world he made for them. He let a whole army and an island drown to the bottom of the ocean, because he was ****ed off that the Meneltarma was cast down.

No, not a good father at all. smilies/smile.gif

greetings,
lathspell

[Luthien_ Tinuviel]

But Iluvatar was a good father because he let his children choose between good and evil. If they chose to do something that he didn't like, he wouldn't say "Hey Manwe, would you send Eonwe to tell so-and-so that I don't like what they're doing and they've got to stop." Overall, I think Iluvatar is kind of like God in Middle-Earth. smilies/biggrin.gif

[lathspell]

shouldn't Ilúvatar have told Manwë that a bit earlier than?... It was a bit late in my opinion smilies/wink.gif
God, God?? Nay, he was the One, he was Neo.

[Ithaeliel]

I'd have to say that Samwise Gamgee was a good father. He raised twelve lovely children. Now that is a task.

[Child of the 7th Age]

I should have pulled this one back up yesterday, but didn't get to it since we were celebrating Father's Day.

A penny for your thoughts, especially from the newer members who weren't around when this thread first went up.

sharon

[Finwe]

Haha! Even though Meela's going to kill me, I personally think that Denethor's one of the worst fathers around. I mean, Faramir pretty much had to raise himself, and look how Boromir turned out.

I think Celeborn is the best father in Middle-earth. (I'm surprised no one mentioned him!) I mean, he was smart enough to let Elrond marry his daughter, and didn't raise a fuss like his uncle Thingol or like Elrond later would. Although, with understandable reason, both Luthien and Arwen married humans.

[ambi]

Bilbo or Elrond. Feanor's dad (Finwe, wasn't that his name?) was also a good father in my opinion.

[Finwe]

Why thank you dear! I do try!

Personally, I think Finwe was a horrible dad. He obviously favored Feanor above Fingolfin and Finarfin, and did nothing to smooth things over between Feanor and Fingolfin. And he even went into self-imposed exile at the thought of his beloved first son being exiled. Now tell me, is that a good parent?

[Meela]

I won't kill you smilies/smile.gif
As much as I would love to say something good about Denethor, I will admit that he was a pretty pathetic father. Fortunately he'll be better the second time round. I mean, he's marrying me and he knows not to mess with me so the children will be safe.

Elrond, Celeborn, Imrahil, Theoden, Beregond, Faramir, Sam, and for some reason my head is saying Feanor. All good fathers.
That's al I can think of for now.
And also for some bizarre reason, I think Grima would have made a good father.

And I know Mothers Day has been and gone, but I want to give a hearty round of applause to Finduilas and Gilraen. Two wonderful mothers.

[Shieldmaiden of Gondor]

Lathspell, Iluvatar had no beginning and no end. He created the whole Middle-Earth and everything in it. He created everything. That sounds more like God than Neo. Neo was just a human. But I don't want to turn this forum into a huge religion debate, so I won't say anymore. I think the best M-E dad is probably Sam because he knew what being a dad was all about since he and Rosie had so many kids. Beregond comes to mind also.

[Noxomanus]

The best dad probably was never mentioned and that was the father who kept his children out of all wars and troubles and sackings and all other evil in ME....

[Ophelia]

Father's day? What father's day ? We have only mother's day but if father's than father's it is . My vote goes to ......... humm..... I can't think of any good example ...... No , actually my head is full of examples only I can not make up my mind which one is the best . But the best one yet to cross my mind is definetly J. R. R. Tolkiens father , for whithout he's invaluable giving to this world I doubt this site's or this topic's existance . So let's give a big hand for Mr. Tolkien senior smilies/biggrin.gif

[Estella Brandybuck]

He was only briefly mentioned in this thread, but I think Théoden was a very good father/father figure before and after he was corrupted by Wormtongue. Although it's hard to tell what he was like before Wormtongue came along, I think we can assume by the way Éomer and Éowyn turned out, and by the fact that Théodred died in a fairly noble way (if I recall correctly), that he did a pretty decent job. He was also so kind to Merry, and of course, Merry loved him as a father. And (again, if I recall correctly) his last thoughts were of Éowyn, who was practically a daughter to him.

And I agree with everyone else about Bilbo - just the fact that he was kind enough to take Frodo in after he was orphaned makes him seem like a great father figure to me.

As for Arathorn... don't get me wrong, I'm sure he was a great man, but I don't really consider him to be a good father. Not that it was his fault he was killed when his son was only a toddler, of course, but I've always seen Elrond as more of a father to Aragorn than Arathorn. Again, I'm not dissing Arathorn, I'm sure that, had he survived, he would've been a very good father; I just don't think he was around long enough to have been proven as such. To me, it was Elrond (for the most part) who raised Aragorn into the man we all know him as.

Now my personal favorites (besides Théoden) have to be Sam and his Gaffer. I think that the latter did a mighty fine job with raising the former (and come on, how can you not love the Gaffer? smilies/wink.gif ), and Sam just seems like a wonderful father figure to me. Besides, do you really think Rosie would've continued having all his children if he wasn't a good father to them? smilies/wink.gif

[Trippo The Hippo]

I would say the best farther figure in ME would be Bilbo. He instilled a courage in Frodo that never failed.

[ June 18, 2003: Message edited by: Trippo The Hippo ]

[Novnarwen]

Denethor is absolutely the best father EVER... Trying to burn his son, that is just soooooo toughtful!!


*Nova giggles*

Okey I am only joking....I think Denethor is the most horrible father ever. Well, in an other way not.. He tried to save his son, by killing him... Is that wrong??
hehe

Okey then, I agree with Alkanoonion

The best father in Middle-earth would be Elrond


Elrond is a great father I think....HE is very toughtful.....

*Nova* smilies/wink.gif

[ June 18, 2003: Message edited by: Novnarwen ]

[Orofaniel]

I would probably say Elrond too.....

I think Denethor is the most horrible father ever.

I agree with you. He was horrible smilies/smile.gif

That's my opinion,though....

[Dashuka]

Denethor was a terrible father to Faramir. Don't get me wrong but I gotta give some credit to Feanor, I'm not sure why though. Elrond, was...well...an ok dad.I think Aragorn was a pretty good dad as well.

[Finwe]

I think Fëanor ranks along with Denethor on the list of the Top 10 Worst Fathers in All of Arda. Look at the way all seven of his sons turned out! Maedhros got his hand chopped off. Maglor went mad, and started singing his little Elven heart out. Celegorm, Curufin, Caranthir, Amrod, and Amras all got themselves killed in the end! The only with any sense was Maglor, and he still went batty in the end.

As you can see, I do NOT think that my son made a good father! (As if I'm the one to talk smilies/frown.gif )

[Meneltarmacil]

I see that some of you put down Arathorn for the list. However, since he died when Aragorn was only 2 years old, your votes should go to Elrond, who raised him from then until he was 20.

I think Elrond was a good father overall, but he could have been more lenient with Arwen's dating preferences.

[Orofaniel]

I see that some of you put down Arathorn for the list. However, since he died when Aragorn was only 2 years old, your votes should go to Elrond, who raised him from then until he was 20.

I think Elrond was a good father overall, but he could have been more lenient with Arwen's dating preferences.



I totally agree! Couldn't have said it better myself.... smilies/wink.gif

Námarië

Orofâniel smilies/biggrin.gif

[Neferchoirwen]

Bilbo served as a great role model to Frodo, and even sought after the young hobbit when his parents died.

Gandalf was also a father figure. Grandfather or father, he was a figure that the whole fellowship depended on, and Gandalf never failed them---except for fighting that Balrog, which is an act that he actually owed to himself.

Elrond is the kind of father to me who seems wise, and with that experience, he also has that humility that makes him not flaunt his wisdom too much.

All of these father figures make me stop and wonder and say "now why can't my grandpa be like these guys?"

Oh well, life can't be perfect.

Describing my own dad, he reminds me of the Gaffer and Bilbo. His dad, my grandfather is more like Elrond.

[ July 07, 2003: Message edited by: Neferchoirwen ]

[Noxomanus]

I'd say my own father is more like a Wizard,subtle and quick to anger smilies/smile.gif,yet at the same time understanding and kind. His father must be more like the Gaffer,full of old-fashioned wisdom and beliefs.

[Everdawn]

Elrond i think is the best father. Because he has seen so much and only wants the best for Arwen and her overall life. He also basically just about was father to Aragorn himself.


Now saying this, I think that Aragron would have been a great father too.

[Lalaith]

Feanor was definitely the worst father in Middle Earth (except perhaps Eol). He had no real love for his sons, he only saw them in terms of his own egotism, as tools to further his own ends.
Aldarion was also a bad father.

Good fathers - Elrond, who inspired such affection in Arwen, and was kind and understanding to Aragorn. (Please people, don't think about the Movie Elrond, who was a totally different kind of father)
Hurin, who had a better understanding of his children than their mother did.
And Theoden,as adoptive father, for the reasons others mentioned.

[Neferchoirwen]

don't think about the Movie Elrond, who was a totally different kind of father

I always thought they were the same smilies/confused.gif And I also thought that his urging Arwen to change her mind shows how much he loves her as well. You know, like any other father whose child is going away.

[Everdawn]

I would have to agree, Théoden was a great adoptive father. I mean look at him, he has so much love for his son as well as Éomer and Éowyn.

[Finwe]

The reason Aldarion was such a bad father, as everyone claims, was that he wasn't meant to be a father in the first place. There are some people who are meant for marriage and having children, and Aldarion was just not one of them. He was a free spirit and his heart was given to the Sea. It wasn't his fault that he was forced into a marriage and having a child. He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

[Meneltarmacil]

It's between Bilbo and Theoden for me. It just seems like they bonded so well with ther adopted children (Frodo, Eomer/Eowyn)

[Neferchoirwen]

how can you not love the Gaffer?

He grew on me, alright, especially in RotK. The way Sam kept quoting Gaffer shows how obedient he is, and therefore how obedience is so simple and yet undermined my most of us. Gaffer's the kind that shows love in a different way, but it's love nonetheless.

I'm not dissing Arathorn, I'm sure that, had he survived, he would've been a very good father

It's understood. But if I remember right, he thought of Aragorn's welfare to his death, though I don't remember whose idea it was to bring him to Rivendell in the first place. That started it all for Aragorn's well-being, I guess.

[Silmiel of Imladris]

Elrond is a great dad and I give him two thumbs up but what about Thranduil? I know we don't know much about his relationship with Legolas because they were never in a book together but Legolas turned out ok so Thranduil has my vote. smilies/smile.gif