Silmarillion - Chapter 21 - Of Túrin Turambar

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

Moreover, we don't know how the story would have been if Turin took a different course of action. We think that if he fought his pride and stayed in Doriath he would meet Morwen and Ninenor and later Hurin and live "happily ever after". Well, not really, but he would have a happier end. And what if something happened that would cause disastorous events in Doriath? Such as the sac of Doriath being before Elwing got the Silmaril? That would have been a worse end in my opinion. The same goes to other "opportunities".

Originally Posted by Aiwendil

You know, this is actually a really good point. Although I pretty much fall into the camp that does sympathize with Turin and find him an essentially heroic character, I do tend to assume that the 'right' choices that Turin frequently failed to make would have averted the tragedies that befell him. But we don't know that this is so. Those imaginary universes where Turin remained in Doriath, where he listened to Gelmir and Arminas, or where he saved Finduilas from the Orcs still have plenty of scope in them for tragedy, and one wonders whether by making those decisions Turin would have escaped the curse or merely forced it to take a different route to meet him.

I know I've mentioned this somewhere else, but I have a more fundamental reason for believing Túrin was capable of overcoming Morgoth's curse.

I take it as a basic tenant that in Tolkien's Arda, evil was not allowed to oppress the Children of Ilúvatar beyond their capacity to resist. I simply don't believe that Morgoth, Sauron, or any workers of evil had carte blache to act as they would. There were limits, though perhaps they themselves were unaware of them.

Also, if nothing Túrin could have done could have led him to a better fate, why were all the apparent 'good' choices presented to him?
If Túrin had met a bad end in spite of making all the 'right' decisions, I know that I would have more respect and sympathy for him.

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

Also, if nothing Túrin could have done could have led him to a better fate, why were all the apparent 'good' choices presented to him?

I would replace"good" with "better".

Originally Posted by Inzil

If Túrin had met a bad end in spite of making all the 'right' decisions, I know that I would have more respect and sympathy for him.

But that would totally ruin the story.

[Galadriel55]

There's one thing I keep forgetting to mention, even though it's like the most important argument of all. I think that just the fact that Turin makes the wrong decisions (from the readers perspective, as well as what they turn out to be in the future) all the time is enough reason to find pity for him.

Inzil, on the other hand, uses that reason to say the opposite.