I Hate Feanor

[Pervinca Took]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

But the Noldor collectively made the choice to follow him.

They did, but "collectively" means that some went so as not to desert their fellows, not purely through their own desire.

However, otherwise I agree with what you said, Galadriel.

I think I feel too detached from Feanor to either hate or love him, although I too empathise with his losses.

He's the kind of character whose deeds make you uncomfortable, although you admire him, and that's why he's so powerful and memorable, I think. Perhaps Turin has some elements of this, too. The flawed and tragic hero that you can't forget but can't always wholly forgive either?

[Mithalwen]

Feanor is a tragic hero brought down by a flaw in his own character and digging him self deeper and deeper. I pity him and I think destroying the Silmarilli would have destroyed him. I dislike his sons more on the whole and it would be a very different history without him... He isn't evil in the way Melkor and Sauron are.

[Belegorn]

Reading some of the other things besides the Silmarillion regarding Fëanor it appears to me like a fire no longer contained, and out of control. In one version his mom lives while he grows up and she restrains him, but in any case, it would appear his mother name, "spirit of fire", blends into his actions during the rebellion. I do think the 2nd marriage of his father was really the thing that got things going. It seems the Valar themselves were worried about this. In the end some small part may be attributed to Melkor's influence in Arda, Morgoth's Ring.

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

Feanor is a tragic hero brought down by a flaw in his own character and digging him self deeper and deeper. I pity him and I think destroying the Silmarilli would have destroyed him. I dislike his sons more on the whole and it would be a very different history without him...

Well said! Indeed, on the whole I dislike his sons more than him. Or, let's put it this way: I have reasons to like his sons sometimes but I have stronger reasons to dislike them at other times (I'm talking about al those switches back and forth that make you wonder who you're rooting for). I have reasons to disagree with Feanor, and lots of reasons to admire him and to empathize with him - but not to dislike him. He seems to be above such an unpassionate description.

On the other hand, though, I do not have pity for him in the sense that I think that he got what he deserved. Still, I am totally in awe with his character.

[Mithalwen]

Oh yes....I don't pity him that and I think Belegorn is right. He is an uncontainable force of nature anf was born thus. He is such an extreme character. His creativity is balanced by the destruction he wreaks. Hia possessiveness by his losses. Maybe his refusal to yield was triggered by his mother's refusal to try to cling to life.