I'm sorry I cannot agree. Tolkien himself says repeatedly that Men *are* the masters of their fates, just as plainly as he says Elves go to Mandos. We must therefore accept that as truth.
But just because Men have the potential to master their fate doesn't mean they can do so automatically or without effort, an effort Turin never made.
Melian by warning Turin to be wary of his passions was clearly indicating that these could be used against him. And that by mastering them he would also master the curse.
It *cannot* be coincidence that every single mistake leading to disaster in the Narn is made in a state of unreasoning emotion, by Morwen, Turin, Nienor and Hurin. Now unless you're suggesting Morgoth was controlling their minds, (which he clearly cannot or Hurin couldn't have withstood him all those years) the House of Hurin *must* take some measure of responsibility for the damage they do to themselves and others.
It is true all of them usually had good reason to be distraught and irrational, Hurin especially, but by letting uncontrolled emotion govern them they left themselves open to Morgoth's manipulation. It is clearly not a case of all decisions being wrong but of wrong decisions being made repeatedly and Morgoth taking full and malicious advantage of the fact.
To believe anything else robs the House of Hurin of their Free Will, which Tolkien also frequently and emphatically affirms as central to the nature of the Children of Eru.
[ May 18, 2003: Message edited by: Morwen Tindomerel ]
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