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Originally Posted by lmp
So is Saucy right? And if so, what do we make of it?
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I think he is, and I think what we make of it goes back to earlier observations that the list has little merit without some context.
If the context is simply that two given characters go into a cage and fight to the death, then you can sort out the beginnings of a list rather easily (I expect that's mostly what drives the current rankings, with a few notable exceptions). A theme of Tolkien's is that evil choices lead to self-defeat, whereas self-sacrificing choices lead to victory. Consequently, while evil or deeply flawed characters bring more ability and/or will to project raw power onto the field, in practice they are not as "powerful" as they might seem since their attitudes towards power and its use and the choices they make ultimately leave them vulnerable.
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Originally Posted by lmp
I suddenly see a lot of what Tolkien feared in himself, in Fëanor.
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Nice insight!