Hurin and despair

[Lalaith]

When we criticise Hurin and family for thoughtlessness, let's not forget that these are men (and women) who display extreme physical courage of a kind none of us here (I suspect) have ever been called upon to do or could hope to muster. It is difficult to get into that kind of heroic mindset, but I think that thinking of others, and the cautious mulling over of consequences, does not sit easily with having constantly to fight battles to the death against enormous odds. Someone like Brandir could be thoughtful and considerate of others, but wouldn't men of action like Hurin and Turin be, by definition, of a more reckless stamp?

Also it is interesting to contrast the fate of the other strand of the family - Huor and Tuor. Huor was killed in battle and Rian died of grief, but neither suffered spiritual destruction. And Tuor, of course, had a very happy fate.