Oath and Oath Fullfillment - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Tuor of Gondolin · 09-20-2004, 11:15 AM

Hoping this comment isn't off topic:

Of course a key question is what happens if it is impossible or inherently evil to
fulfill an oath. Recall the debate in UT between Maglor and Maedhros, the
conclusion of which seemed odd to me. Why would two elves who had been in
Aman assume it was impossible to appeal to Iluvatar to negate their oath?

Even in a sort of Nordic-type M-E (as related to oaths and oath-taking) you'd
think the pre-Christian Christian philosophy which seems implicit in Middle-earth
would allow some sort of "escape clause" when fullfilling an oath was impossible or evil.

09-20-2004, 11:15 AM	#7
Tuor of Gondolin Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Pennsylvania, WtR, passed Sarn Gebir: Above the rapids (1239 miles) BtR, passed Black Rider Stopping Place (31 miles) Posts: 1,548	Hoping this comment isn't off topic: Of course a key question is what happens if it is impossible or inherently evil to fulfill an oath. Recall the debate in UT between Maglor and Maedhros, the conclusion of which seemed odd to me. Why would two elves who had been in Aman assume it was impossible to appeal to Iluvatar to negate their oath? Even in a sort of Nordic-type M-E (as related to oaths and oath-taking) you'd think the pre-Christian Christian philosophy which seems implicit in Middle-earth would allow some sort of "escape clause" when fullfilling an oath was impossible or evil. __________________ Aure Entuluva! Last edited by Tuor of Gondolin; 09-20-2004 at 11:18 AM.