Thoughs on M[a]eglin

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Urwen

No, but there could have been one. Ultimately, Tolkien decided who'd do it, so why did he make Morleg have all the qualities needed to do it in the first place, rather than someone else? That's what I am asking.

The unfortunately-boring answer to this is 'Meglin was created for that purpose'. If he hadn't been the jealous traitor, he wouldn't have existed at all. That's the only reason he's in the original Fall of Gondolin text. You could argue that there needed to be a Lord of the House of the Mole as well, so he could have just had that role - but then he'd be no more a character than wossname, Duilin or something?

The back story that makes Morleg-Maeglin a semi-sympathetic character came later, and was written in service of his role. If Aredhel and Eol's tragic son hadn't grown up to be Maeglin of the Mole, he would never have existed at all - because that was why he was created.

hS