betraying Gondolin - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Inziladun · 07-10-2010, 09:25 AM

I still haven't read most of the HOME books, including WJ. However, let's look at the definition of the word "betray":

betray verb
1: to lead astray
2: to deliver to an enemy by treachery
3: to fail or desert especially in time of need
4 a: to reveal unintentionally b: SHOW, INDICATE

From Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary

According to that, both Maeglin and Húrin "betrayed" Gondolin. My feeling though, and I think the inhabitants of Gondolin would have agreed, is that Maeglin was more culpable in the fall of the city, since his actions were deliberate, whereas Húrin was simply desperate and careless. Húrin could have easily told Morgoth all about Gondolin during his captivity in Angband, but he withstood years of torment instead.

And the indications are, in the Silm, that it was Maeglin's going too far afield in defiance of Turgon that allowed him to be captured in the first place. So that was basically twice that Maeglin betrayed Gondolin, the way I see it.

07-10-2010, 09:25 AM	#2
Inziladun Gruesome Spectre Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Heaven's doorstep Posts: 8,039	I still haven't read most of the HOME books, including WJ. However, let's look at the definition of the word "betray": betray verb 1: to lead astray 2: to deliver to an enemy by treachery 3: to fail or desert especially in time of need 4 a: to reveal unintentionally b: SHOW, INDICATE From Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary According to that, both Maeglin and Húrin "betrayed" Gondolin. My feeling though, and I think the inhabitants of Gondolin would have agreed, is that Maeglin was more culpable in the fall of the city, since his actions were deliberate, whereas Húrin was simply desperate and careless. Húrin could have easily told Morgoth all about Gondolin during his captivity in Angband, but he withstood years of torment instead. And the indications are, in the Silm, that it was Maeglin's going too far afield in defiance of Turgon that allowed him to be captured in the first place. So that was basically twice that Maeglin betrayed Gondolin, the way I see it. __________________ Music alone proves the existence of God.