Túrin Afflicts the Afflicted

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

All this seems a strange coincidence, if that's what it is. Or, did Tolkien mean something by putting all that in Túrin's tale? Was it a statement that a strong body and fighting prowess ought to give way more often to gentle wisdom? That in Arda, it really is the "weak" who are strong?

Possibly, but Maedhros would disagree.

I want to write some more, but I don't have time. Very quickly: Turin is strong, passionate, and believes in the sword. Gwindor and Sador once too beleved in the sword. They were disillusioned. Brandir is a sightly different case; he was never particularly fond of the sword, and IIRC that had nothing to do with his injury. Turin thought that he was powerful enough to take on Morgoth's army. Sador and Gwindor (and Brandir too) knew better.

PS: Beleg also knew better, so it's not only the crippled. (THough Beleg did not have this illusion in the first place...)