[Guinevere]

Thank you, Lalaith, for bringing up this topic!
This has also bothered me ever since I read the Silmarillion.
I have read all your contributions with the greatest interest and agree especially with the opinions of Morwen Tindomerel, the Numenorean and Lalaith.

I agree that Turin (and Morwen) in some measure brings trouble on himself by his pride and rashness, but I cannot see such characterflaws in Hurin. He is only valiant and loyal and has in no way deserved such a terrible fate and finally to be forsaken by everyone and end his own life in complete hopelessness and despair.

After having read Narn i hin Hurin where the characters are more developped, the tragedy and injustice of Hurins fate touches me even more.

What I keep asking myself is why Tolkien wrote such a discouraging story? Is it, as Lalaith suggested, an expression of his bleakest and most pessimistic side?

It's especially the contrast to the mood in LotR that strikes me. In LotR you get the comforting feeling that there is a meaning behind it all, a merciful prividence. The sacrifices that are made there are not meaningless, and courage, loyalty and pity are rewarded. It's just this balance between melancholy and hope that makes me love LotR so much.

How can the same author write something so hopeless??

Even in the Silmarillion the Valar interfere on some occasions with mercy (As in the case of Maedhros, or Beren and Luthien etc) But there is no pity or mercy, not even a sign of hope for Hurin who in my eyes should have deserved the greatest reward for his steadfastness before Morgoth.

Well, I guess there is no answer to these questions. It really is a pity Tolkien never completed his work!
All the same, it was a comfort to see that other people have similar thoughts about it (and can put it much better into words than I.)