[the guy who be short]

Originally Posted by morm

First I must say I disagree whole-heartedly with Gurthang and TGWBS about their view of Feanor. He is no hero. He was a great and mighty elf. I would agree that he was one of the greatest, if not the single greatest elf in Middle-earth. But greatness doesn't equate to being a hero. I have always thought of him more as a villain.

There is a world of difference between a villain and a tragic hero, which is one of the best ways in which one can describe Feanor. Hero doesn't necessarily mean angelic.

It is true that he was great in art and craft, so much so that he made the silmarils; however couldn't one argue that Sauron was also great in craft.

No. Sauron "crafted" to conquer the races of ME. Feanor, to begin with, crafted for beauty and an appreciation of art.

He threatened Fingolfin at sword point with his life merely because Fingolfin spoke to their father and gave his council.

Enter tragedy.
The animosity betwixt Feanor and Fingolfin was due to Morgoth's lies. Feanor cannot be held accountable for being poisoned by a god - one whose foul intentions not even Manwe could discern at the time.

The kin slaying! What a nefarious act of cowardice that was!

Tragedy. Feanor had to do something; if he halted and turned back then, he would look like an idiot. The text actually claims that the Teleri began the fighting:

When he judged that his strength was enough, he went to the Haven of the Swans and began to man the ships that were anchored there and to take them away by force. But the Teleri withstood him, and cast many of the Noldor into the sea. Then swords were drawn...

Here we see his intent to steal the ships, which isn't perhaps the most moral thing to do. However, it was the Teleri throwing the Noldor into the sea that actually began the violence. Though not the best defence, and I'll admit a flimsy one, it can be argued that Feanor did not intent to kill anybody.

That is true but Feanor had a great power of influence and he used that to stir up his people into open rebellion of the Valar

This is where the romance comes in. The words Feanor uses are so beautiful, so moving. Such hurt at the least will I do to the Foe of the Valar that even the mighty in the Ring of Doom shall wonder to hear it. If that doesn't stir something in you, there's seriously something wrong.

Leaving his kindred near Helcaraxe to either perish or return in shame. Again what great cowardice is demonstrated.

Tragedy. Lies of Melkor -> Distrust of Fingolfin -> Abandonment of Fingolfin.

Feanor did everything he did driven simply by egotistical motives.

If you're referring to the creation of the Silmarils, that was done in pursuit of art. His "evil" actions were largely the cause of the lies of Morgoth.

In short, the "evil" of Feanor is not evil in the sense of the Fallen Angel Morgoth, or his angelic followers including Sauron. The Fall of Feanor is a tragedy, something that would not have happened had the first fall not occurred. It was preventable, which makes it all the more tragic. And it wasn't his fault. Well, mostly.