Turin and Maeglin?

[Morthoron]

Originally Posted by Urwen

Yes, let's go back to topic.

Why do you insist on bashing him and believing everything you read blindly instead of reading between the lines/forming your own opinions on the matter?

Sorry, you don't get to choose the topic when you've already opened Pandora's box, if I may mix mythological metaphors. This is just such a case, when you make a comment like:

Originally Posted by Urwen

Coward? Hardly. He fought in Nirnaeth. In Nirnaeth. And I'd like to see you fare better when a Dark Lord of immense power is focused on you and tortures both your body and your spirit. Endlessly.

He didn't deserve his fate, and I stand by this sentiment. For I post for love of him, as Huinesoron put it.

As Galadriel stated, a craven character may find himself in battle, particularly one such as Maeglin, who wished to ingratiate himself with Turgon, and increase his influence in the king's counsels. But his true cowardice and treachery occurred when he was cowed, with the mere threat of punishment, at the hands of Morgoth. He was not physically tortured, as the text makes quite clear -- so there is no indication that a "between the lines" set of inferences is necessary.

Not only did Maeglin surrender the location of Gondolin, he promised to become Morgoth's vassal and was to be given lordship of Gondolin and Idril as well. Let's forget about the fact that Maeglin's betrayal paved the way for the slaughter of thousands of elves, including his uncle and many kin, which is heinous enough, and would earn him universal condemnation; however, from the perspective of Tolkien, a medievalist and philologist, the words he wrote express the true perfidy of Maeglin:

"Great indeed was the joy of Morgoth, and to Maeglin he promised the lordship of Gondolin as his vassal..." -- Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin

The effect of transferring one's oath from one's true liege lord (in this case, Turgon), to an enemy (he being Morgoth), and in effect killing one's liege to usurp control of the kingdom would be tantamount to sacrilege in a feudal sense. The fact Maeglin was so cheaply bought without even a hint of true suffering speaks volumes in comparison to those heroes who defied Morgoth: Fingolfin, Luthien, Maedhros, Hurin, etc.

The additional issue of Maeglin being a creepy, incestuous stalker type trying to mate with his first cousin, when that type of relationship was expressly forbidden in Elvish society, makes him an altogether unsympathetic figure.

And Maeglin most assuredly deserved his fate. There is no "reading between the lines" to make him a tragic hero. He was not a hero, and the only outcome that was tragic was the massacre of innocent elves due to his betrayal. Tolkien is quite clear, and we need not make any needless inferences when he says of Maeglin:

"But Morgoth sent him back to Gondolin, lest any should suspect betrayal, and so that Maeglin should aid the assault from within, when the hour came; and he abode in the halls of the king with smiling face and evil in his heart..." -- Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin

The rest is fan-fiction nonsense. Blindly read, indeed.