Fëanor: The Darkest Elf in Middle-earth's History

[@The.Lore.Seeker]

What's your opinion? Was Fëanor a villain or a Hero? Let me know in the comments! Don't forget to subscribe www.youtube.com/@The.Lore.Seeker?sub_confirmation=1 Also check out the other videos kzbin.info/aero/PLfWUoG6RPjBC51dSR5yYXZLouVphXBW_3

[@Muradmb1986]

The complexity of the character of Feanor is so amazing that I consider him as the greatest character of all of Tolkien's work , thank you for this nice video .

[@The.Lore.Seeker]

I completely agree! Feanor's depth and complexity really set him apart in Tolkien's universe. Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@johngarrett5189]

That would be Fingolfin

[@Muradmb1986]

@@johngarrett5189 A Badass dude .. much respect to Fingolfin

[@ArdashirSassanig]

Like Sauron, Fëanor dealt with earthly things such as crafting and smithing. These arts have an inherent effect of increasing one's pride, arrogance and even irrationality. Which is why Aulë's Maiar Mairon and Curumo later became respectively - Sauron and Saruman. The crafts of smithing and crafting magic things seem to have this effect of making the practitioner unstable.

[@zlinedavid]

Random Elf: Hey Feanor, Melkor just stole your jewels. Feanor: *ragequits*

[@The.Lore.Seeker]

Haha 😂

[@primal1233]

This is absolutely amazing storytelling. Good job🔥💯

[@The.Lore.Seeker]

Thank you 🙌

[@edwardlittle5686]

Feanor was PROUD, not dark or evil. He was not motivated by any desire for power. Revenge was his motive, and unfortunately, he wasn't above seeking that revenge at the expense of other Elves. Morgoth probably knew he could exploit Feanor in this way. Feanor was neither a villain or a hero. If we could easily cast him in either of these categories, the story would be less good. This is the genius of Tolkein.

[@The.Lore.Seeker]

You make some excellent points! Feanor's complexity adds so much depth to the story, and Tolkien's ability to create morally ambiguous characters truly showcases his genius.

[@adventurianist2580]

Easily one of the most tragic figures in the lore. He was a genius and a true artist. By all means, he was an ideal elf… but those ambitions were the ultimate cause of his downfall. It caused more longterm damage than Morgoth ever could’ve imagined. If anything, his reckless vengeance and oath against Morgoth prevented a truly united elven alliance as his sons would not be perpetually obsessed with reclaiming the stolen jewels. Tolkien really knew how to display tragedy through good guys displaying terrible flaws.

[@The.Lore.Seeker]

Ah, the classic tale of "be careful what you wish for." It seems even the most ideal elves can fall victim to their own masterpieces!

[@adamflux2]

Tragic hero, he’s designed to burnout.

[@iraelliott8936]

If it wasn't for Feanor middle earth would have been in trouble. The small number of elves, the dwarves and men would have been in trouble facing Melkor alone without the mighty Noldor

[@stephenpickering8063]

Yes and no. Melkor's forces would have crushed the Sindar fairly easily, apart from probably the lands protected by Melian's girdle. The men and drawfs hadn't yet reach Beleriand but would have been overwhelmed by Melkor. The Noldor, weakened as they were by Feanor's actions delayed matters but the big issue was the [in-]action of the Valar as they had warned the Noldor that as a Valar Melkor would beyond the power of the children of Eru to defeat completely. The issue was the inaction of the Valar until Beleriand lay in ruins and Melkor had gathered massive forces, including large numbers of dragons. If they had acted immediately after the killing of the trees then he could probably have been defeated fairly quickly and Beleriand largely saved. Why they didn't act, or even stayed isolated in Amen after their 1st defeat of him three ages before was really the deciding factor in the entire disaster of the 1st age and those that followed. How much that was anger at Fearon's actions is unclear but it was a serious failure on their part. :( Even if they had then retired into isolation again afterwards.

[@ukaszdomin7469]

He should made armor and one ring for Sauron from Silma. None creature could have defeat him especially no fire can destroy Silma. His ring would be in his right bug toe under chainmail and armor ☺️

[@DinarAlamTaj]

My favourite character!

[@MisterOcclusion]

Killing teleri for their boats is no different from morgoth killing to obtain the silmarills. Feanor was a destestably selfish individual

[@rjb639]

I just can't accept that someone as brilliant as Feanor wouldn't understand the implications of his action. Surely, he was deceived by Melkor and had an incredibly powerful and unstable spirit, but still, as I said, he was brilliant and you actually saw through Melkor. I think there was an evil seed in his spirit.

[@matthewinterlantejr.9297]

I think Feanor and Melkor are both prime examples of overall superiority breeding arrogance. When you're born the best at just about everything, the mightiest amongst your peers, humility is bound to become your greatest challenge. I never saw Feanor as particularly dark but more a product of his pride, enforced by his many accomplishments. Makes you wonder what either could have been if they simply checked themselves once in a while.

[@The.Lore.Seeker]

Right? If only they had a good therapist to help them navigate their feelings of superiority-imagine the epic therapy sessions!

[@TETASARAIVACS]

Melkor was too powerful, and Feanor was the best among all the Children of Ilúvatar, the most talented and the most intense. Feanor was the perfect victim for Melkor.

[@rjb639]

@@The.Lore.Seeker that's not what I meant. Feanor was gifted beyond any other else, in body and soul. Even in his own world where he wanted to rule the Noldor, recover the silmarils and destroy Morgoth, why would he do something as stupid as burning the ships? leaving the majority of noldor warriors stranded. He conspired against himself.

[@wugy07]

​@@matthewinterlantejr.9297 This mirrors what happened with Turin Turambar.

[@stephenpickering8063]

I would say a things in relation to the video, from reading the Silmarillion and thinking about it over the years. a) The bid question was the behaviour of the Valar. Feanor was a total jackass but the Valar had already made clear that even united the children of Eru could not stand against a Valar [i.e. Melkor]. Furthermore they had originally come to Middle Earth to protect and nurture it. They turned their back on it initially because they tired of the destruction caused by their wars with Melkor but after his 1st defeat they failed to return and just withdrew back into Aman, leaving those elves who for assorted reasons failed to follow them to Amen, their descendants and also those later children due to wake - both humans and Eru's adopted children, dwarfs and ents abandon. Possibly they decided they were better off without the guidance of the Valar. However that was with Melkor defeated and chained. Once he had shown his true colours, spreading division, killing the trees and then fleeing to ME it was arguably their duty to follow and capture him again. Whether they might have done that without Feanor's stupidity is arguable but then without an inactive Valar Tolkien wouldn't really have had LotR's to write. b) Melkor hated the elves, in part because it was their awakening which prompted the Valar to act in leaving Aman and crushing his control of ME although they left much of its roots untouched when they retired to Aman again after the victory. It was never likely that he would be friendly with them even if he hadn't still been committed to ruling ME himself and in Feanor he found a tool that was easy to manipulate. Remember that Feanor was in exile from Valinor, from the main city of Aman, because of his disruptive behaviour and hostility towards his half brothers, especially Fingolfin who was markedly more popular with the Noldor than he was simply because he wasn't an arrogant jackass. Unfortunately he was called back when the trees were sicked so wasn't at his place of exile at Formenor but his father who had followed him into exile was there and was killed by Melkor when he came for the Silmarils. c) There was a 2nd oath that helped doom the Noldor, although this was driven more by a desire to avoid conflict. To try and appease the jealousy of Feanor his brother Fingolfin sworn to accept his leadership and follow him and that's why he led the bulk of the Noldor, as he was more popular than Feanor, when the latter left Valinor after his oath and swearing of vengeance on Melkor. d) Some of Fingolfin's people did fight at the 1st kinslaying - at least according to the Silmarillion. The vanguard of his host was led by Fingon, who was friendly with Feanor's sons and when he saw the fighting ahead he - for some reason - assumed the Teleri of Alqualonde, under orders from the Valar had attacked Feanor's forces rather than realising that Feanor was seeking to seize the latter';s ships. They are supposed to be the deciding factor as until that point the Teleri were about holding their own. This prompted the 1st lasting division of the Noldor as some of the Noldor, repulsed by the slaughter when they realised what had actually happened renounced Fearnor as their king and under his younger half brother Finarfin returned to Valinor. e) Most of the 2nd host however followed Fingolfin, who still felt bound by his oath, north with Feanor's host. However the Valar in anger at the slaying caused storms that sank many of the captured ships. As such when the Noldor reached the northern lands where the sea was narrower it was agreed that Feanor's forces would be carried over 1st and then the ships sent back to start ferrying over Fingolfin's forces. However Feanor in another fit of ego decided that the 'glory' of defeating Melkor should be his alone and ordered the ships burnt, thinking that Fingolfin's people would therefore be stranded. On seeing the fires of this and realising they had been betrayed this is what prompted Fingolfin and his people to fought their way through the grinding ice of the Helcaraxe, where many were lost. That's why his forces took such a desperate route, as much in anger at Feanor than anything else.

[@dgn274]

Dean or was the greatest elf, proof that creature can himself create things that Creator might envy and desire!

[@picklerick.n.666]

God bless you and your work sir ❤ deep respect from Croatia-Europe ❤

[@The.Lore.Seeker]

Thanks! Let’s make a pact: I’ll keep creating, and you keep spreading the love from Croatia. Deal?

[@picklerick.n.666]

@@The.Lore.Seeker yes sir. God bless you once again 🙏

[@titoyumanista9832]

He is probably the most insufferable and immature elf in the first age for me. He is one major reason the first age was fucked up. A master craftsman, Yes. A hero, hell No. He is a villain similar to, perhaps even worst than, Melkor/Morgoth 😂

[@stephenpickering8063]

I wouldn't say worse than Melkor but arguably a bigger tool for Melkor than Sauron was. His actions ensured that the Noldor were divided and also sundered from the Sindar even before the 2nd and 3rd kin-slayings.

[@johngarrett5189]

Eol. Forger of Anglachel. Makes Feanor look like a Keebler Elf

[@christianefiorito3204]

Feanor did nothing wrong. He did not doom his race but his family, the Noldor and only the ones who went with him to middle earth. Finarfen his uncle and part of this family stayed snd he became high king of the Noldor in Valinor

[@TETASARAIVACS]

@@christianefiorito3204 Finarfin is his brother (half-brother)

[@GlennWise-ck6gu]

I get the idea of making the silmarils but at the time why would anyone think that the trees would fade or not be there forever in ya know the undying land

[@stephenpickering8063]

I don't know if that was the primary concern - long time since I read the Silmarillion in full - but possibly also in his pride he wanted to show his brilliance, even to the extent of matching the Valar in their creative ability. Unfortunately he also ended up seeking to challenge Melkor in the ability to cause chaos and destruction. :(

[@GlennWise-ck6gu]

@@stephenpickering8063 i appreciate the thoughtful response but you get what I mean right like at the time why would there even be a reason to think that the trees were not immortal like everyone in the undying land

[@cfh0384]

And I know the Silmarillion better than most know the Bible.

[@patricksullivan4742]

Tolkien, was promoting beta male behavior.

[@cfh0384]

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