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11-03-2009, 05:38 PM | #1 | |
Odinic Wanderer
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Idril the Traitor
I stumbled upon a rather interesting bit of text about the fall of gondolin. (as it is told in The Book of Lost tales)
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I am however questioning her way to go about it! When a person forms his own private guard and his followers starts encouraging others to rally behind him in case of the kings death, it starts to look like the preparations for a "Coup d'état". Through history many people have been executed for less. . . So is it just me or was this a very clumsy way of preparing for the worst? Did Idrill (and Tuor) not take a very big risk by acting as they did, could they not have isolated Maeglin politically, make him loose the kings favor or just work on having the loyalty of the other houses of Gondolin? Last edited by Rune Son of Bjarne; 11-03-2009 at 05:55 PM. |
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11-03-2009, 05:54 PM | #2 | |
Gruesome Spectre
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Heaven's doorstep
Posts: 8,046
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Quote:
That fear of Maeglin was certainly merited, as jealousy of Tuor was one of his primary motivations for betraying Gondolin to Morgoth. If he was willing to do that, who knows what he might have done if he had learned of a plot to shut him out of Turgon's favour?
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11-03-2009, 06:03 PM | #3 | |
Odinic Wanderer
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Quote:
Now Tuor was held in high regard with the king, if he could improve his position with the king even more, then he might not have to plot, but simply use his influence to limit Maeglin's power. Instead they chose a path that could lead to total destruction, if Maeglin had found out what Idril had done and used the information right, he could have isolated them or worse. |
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11-03-2009, 08:22 PM | #4 |
Gruesome Spectre
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Heaven's doorstep
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But Maeglin was Turgon's nephew. He had enough influence with Turgon to convince him to flaut the advice of Ulmo. I just don't see anything, short of murder or taking Idril to wife by force, that could have lessened Maeglin's standing in Gondolin.
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12-10-2009, 12:15 PM | #5 |
Pilgrim Soul
Join Date: May 2004
Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle...
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I have always admired Idril. Given that the preparations were largely in the event of Turgon's death and she was the rightful heir - or mother of the heir if a woman was considered unfit I think coup d'etat is not quite the situation. I do see that it could look bad especially since Turgon's weakness was his faith in the strength of Gondolin.
I have always thought of Idril as wise and resourceful and motivated by the good of her people. Tolkien's blondes are so much more interesting than the brunettes
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12-10-2009, 12:20 PM | #6 | |
Loremaster of Annúminas
Join Date: Oct 2006
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Quote:
Given the expectation (justified) that *Maeglin* might resort to violence, I see nothing treasonable in forming a bodyguard.
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