Feanor - Overrated? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Lyta_Underhill · 07-09-2003, 10:06 AM

Somehow, I can't stop reading these threads about Fëanor...an addiction, I suppose! Another view: Fëanor was the "greatest of the Noldor," and the Noldor were known for their love of artifice and skill with creation of "things." Thus, their greatest danger is becoming enamoured of these things, rather than valuing the artistry that goes into making them. Thus, Fëanor is intoxicated with his creation, the Silmarils, and knows them to be unique and un-recreatable--just as Yavanna knows she cannot recreate the Two Trees. I suppose a great danger and a good niche for evil to enter into is the love of the creation over the love of creating--the love of things, rather than of the art that goes into making them. Perhaps this ties into Tolkien's mistrust of technology and its infinite capacity to be perverted in the wrong hands. And Fëanor's works seem to be the nexus for this, even into the LOTR: the Palantiri were his creations, after all. His descendant, Celembrimbor, was the maker of the Great Rings (at least the Elven ones, my memory fails here).

I can't think of anything else right now, but I am enjoying this discussion!

Cheers,
Lyta

07-09-2003, 10:06 AM	#16
Lyta_Underhill Haunted Halfling Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: an uncounted length of steps--floating between air molecules Posts: 841	Somehow, I can't stop reading these threads about Fëanor...an addiction, I suppose! Another view: Fëanor was the "greatest of the Noldor," and the Noldor were known for their love of artifice and skill with creation of "things." Thus, their greatest danger is becoming enamoured of these things, rather than valuing the artistry that goes into making them. Thus, Fëanor is intoxicated with his creation, the Silmarils, and knows them to be unique and un-recreatable--just as Yavanna knows she cannot recreate the Two Trees. I suppose a great danger and a good niche for evil to enter into is the love of the creation over the love of creating--the love of things, rather than of the art that goes into making them. Perhaps this ties into Tolkien's mistrust of technology and its infinite capacity to be perverted in the wrong hands. And Fëanor's works seem to be the nexus for this, even into the LOTR: the Palantiri were his creations, after all. His descendant, Celembrimbor, was the maker of the Great Rings (at least the Elven ones, my memory fails here). I can't think of anything else right now, but I am enjoying this discussion! Cheers, Lyta __________________ “…she laid herself to rest upon Cerin Amroth; and there is her green grave, until the world is changed, and all the days of her life are utterly forgotten by men that come after, and elanor and niphredil bloom no more east of the Sea.”

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