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Originally Posted by Gorthaur the Cruel
I feel like Melian was somewhat weak than her apprentice in terms of queenship, & even in her choice for a husband.
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Another Galadriel/Luthien style debate, I see...
Personally, by calling Galadriel Melian's apprentice, I think you are endangering your very premise- since the strength and skills of Galadriel in later years may be attributed to the teaching she received from Melian.
However, the main point I'll debate now will be your last one- that Thingol was less than Celeborn. Granted, Celeborn was a great Elf, greater than most fans tend to give him credit, but he is no Elu Thingol, one of the greatest kings of all Elvenkind. Proud, yes. At times, overconfident. Sometimes harsh. But definitely a great king. And as far as the personality flaws go, we can see an echo of them in his great-nephew's treatment of Gimli upon learning of the Balrog's re-awakening.
Personally, I would call Galadriel/Celeborn a deliberate latter-day version of Melian/Thingol, in much the same way that Aragorn/Arwen were a deliberate latter-day version of Luthien/Beren. To say that the copy is greater than the original seems... flawed.
Unlike the Luthien, in her debate with Galadriel, Melian actually IS a Maia. And she matches Galadriel's feat of holding out against the Dark Lord- except that the Dark Lord she holds out against is Melkor, and she does it singlehandedly between his return to Middle-earth and the Coming of the Noldor, whereas Galadriel never leads the sole kingdom standing against Sauron. Ever.