The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - Love in the Silmarillion/Friendship in LotR

**lindil** · 10-01-2002, 01:15 AM

The Silmarillion happens on a far larger scale, the LotR is in a way a microcosm and a completion of the Silmarillion.

The contrasts and tragedies are starker.
Only Saruman and Denethor completely fail, in the Silm, Feanor, his sons, Turgon, Maeglin, Eol, Thingol all meet tragic and unrepentant deaths, not too mention Hurin and his family. And many of the others Fingon, Mablung, Orodreth, Angrod and Aegnor
died fighting a hopeless battle. The few like Finrod and Glorfindel who died with complete honour were rare and still paid with their lives.

As Aragorn says, they pitted themselves against a foe beyond their strength.

The resolution of the first age is a pyhrric victory [ and of the 2nd also]
Morgoth is overthrown but his crop of evil lies dormant but a short while. And he has permanently crippled mankind.

Beren and Luthien's tale the ultimate love story in M-E is the brightest point in the Silm and it still leads to the death of Thingol and Dior and his sons and the destruction of Doriath, enmity of Dwarves and Sindar.

Indeed one can view the history of M-E as one long fall till the end of the War of the Ring, and then the Elves must all leave or fade.

One can of course see a distinct parallel in the Old and New testemants. Despite the many revelations and ups and downs in the OT the only real resolution comes with Christ.

In LotR the same roll is split in a most amazing way between Frodo, Sam, Gollum, Gandalf and Aragorn.

10-01-2002, 01:15 AM	#7
lindil Seeker of the Straight Path Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: a hidden fastness in Big Valley nor cal Posts: 1,680	The Silmarillion happens on a far larger scale, the LotR is in a way a microcosm and a completion of the Silmarillion. The contrasts and tragedies are starker. Only Saruman and Denethor completely fail, in the Silm, Feanor, his sons, Turgon, Maeglin, Eol, Thingol all meet tragic and unrepentant deaths, not too mention Hurin and his family. And many of the others Fingon, Mablung, Orodreth, Angrod and Aegnor died fighting a hopeless battle. The few like Finrod and Glorfindel who died with complete honour were rare and still paid with their lives. As Aragorn says, they pitted themselves against a foe beyond their strength. The resolution of the first age is a pyhrric victory [ and of the 2nd also] Morgoth is overthrown but his crop of evil lies dormant but a short while. And he has permanently crippled mankind. Beren and Luthien's tale the ultimate love story in M-E is the brightest point in the Silm and it still leads to the death of Thingol and Dior and his sons and the destruction of Doriath, enmity of Dwarves and Sindar. Indeed one can view the history of M-E as one long fall till the end of the War of the Ring, and then the Elves must all leave or fade. One can of course see a distinct parallel in the Old and New testemants. Despite the many revelations and ups and downs in the OT the only real resolution comes with Christ. In LotR the same roll is split in a most amazing way between Frodo, Sam, Gollum, Gandalf and Aragorn. __________________ The dwindling Men of the West would often sit up late into the night exchanging lore & wisdom such as they still possessed that they should not fall back into the mean estate of those who never knew or indeed rebelled against the Light.