I was struck the other day by something which may or may not have relevance. Tolkien's dislike of Lewis's Screwtape Letters. His reason was Lewis's 'trivialising of evil', treating it as a joke, something to play with. Isn't this what Hurin does with Morgoth? Defying Him in such a mocking, dismissive way. Hurin failed to take Morgoth seriously. There's a difference between refusing to bow down to evil, & being dismissive of it. Again, we come back to pride. Hurin seemed to believe that Morgoth couldn't do anything to break him or his family - if he even considered his family at that point. Hurin wasn't just putting himself at risk, he was putting his wife & children at the same or worse risk.
There does seem in the whole family this same trait, lack of thought for others. Turin returns to Dor Lomin without a thought of what the effect of his behaviour will be on his people. Turin & Hurin both place so much emphasis in their role as 'Lord', but seem not to consider the effect of their behaviour on their people. They all seem totally self obsessed, until they are forced to acknowledge the existence of others. When Nienor kills herself, does she for a moment consider the effect on Turin & others?
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