Death to the seven sons of Feanor

[Tulkas]

they deserve nothing less, they are backstabbers, and full of deciet and hate. They have no respect for anyone except themselves.

[Alcuin]

They certainly earned a long stay in the Halls of Mandos. Fëanor gets a permanent stay until the Dagor Dagorath is done. Then Fëanor swore a terrible oath. His seven sons leapt straightway to his side and took the selfsame vow together, and red as blood shone their drawn swords in the glare of the torches. They swore an oath which none shall break, and none should take, by the name even of Ilúvatar, calling the Everlasting Dark upon them if they kept it not; and Manwë they named in witness, and Varda, and the hallowed mountain of Taniquetil, vowing to pursue with vengeance and hatred to the ends of the World Vala, Demon, Elf or Man as yet unborn, or any creature, great or small, good or evil, that time should bring forth unto the end of days, whoso should hold or take or keep a Silmaril from their possession.

[Silmarillion, “Of the Flight of the Noldor�]Of the Seven Sons of Fëanor, all participated in the Kinslaying of Alqualondë, and so are guilty for that. Worse, perhaps was the “terrible and blasphemous oath of enmity and vengeance against all or any, even of the gods, who dares to claim any part or right in the Silmarilli,� naming Eru to witness. (Letter 131 to Milton Waldman) As Eönwë told them, their “right to the work of their father … had … perished, because of their many and merciless deeds, being blinded by their oath, and most of all because of their slaying of Dior and the assault upon the Havens,� and he summoned them to Valinor to face the judgment of Manwë. (Silmarillion, “Of the Voyage of Eärendil�)

What of the actions fates of each of the Sons of Fëanor? Their father abandoned nine parts of the Noldor to the dreadful crossing of the Helcaraxë, so let us lay that iniquity at the feet of Fëanor himself.

Amras, one of the twins, the youngest sons of Fëanor, is said by the Silmarillion to have lived with his brother Amrod in East Beleriand; but in Morgoth’s Ring, War of the Jewels and Peoples of Middle-earth, Amras had gone back aboard the ships to sleep at Losgar; repenting of his deeds, he considered returning to Valinor and accept the consequences of his actions. But when Fëanor sent Curufin to burn the ships, Amras died aboard the ship on which he slept. (See Peoples of Middle-earth, “The Shibboleth of Fëanor�) I suggest Amras was the least guilty of the Sons of Fëanor.

Amrod the other twin did go on to live in south-eastern Beleriand. He died in the sack of the Havens of Sirion, shedding the blood of his kin.

Caranthir the fourth son lived in Thargelion, the land beyond the River Gelion that flowed through eastern Beleriand. Caranthir was darkest in mood, quickest to anger, and he was haughty. But he established trading relations with the dwarves of Ered Luin, the cities of Nogrod and Belegost. He saved the Haladin, the Second House of the Edain, when Morgoth’s orcs were near to destroying them all, and came to appreciate the valor of the Edain. He was deceived by Ulfang the Easterling and betrayed by him in the Nirnaeth Arnoediad. Caranthir also died murdering his own kin in the Ruin of Doriath.

Celegorm the Fair was the third son of Fëanor. He and Curufin were great friends of Aredhel, sister of Turgon of Gondolin. Huan was his hound, a gift of Oromë; but he and Curufin usurped the rule of Nargothrond from Orodreth, brother of Finrod. He kidnapped Lúthien because he was enamored of her and desired her for himself. He again kidnapped Lúthien after she freed Beren from Tol-in-Gaurhoth, and he tried to murder Beren. When Lúthien died and the Silmaril was sent to Dior in Doriath, it was Celegorm who stirred up his brothers to assault Menegroth, the second of the three Kinslayings of the Elves, and so he bears the greatest fault for the attack; Dior slew him. While he may have been the fairest of Fëanor’s sons, Celegorm seems to me the most evil.

Curufin was the fifth son of Fëanor, and most like his father. His faults are only less than his brother’s in that he did not incite the violence. Celebrimbor, his son, repented of his father’s wickedness and remained in Nargothrond.

Maedhros, the eldest son, was loved even by those who found fault in him. Were it not for the dreadful Oath, he would have become King of the Noldor. He wisely gave up his claim to the Kingship, and attempted to make peace with the rest of the Noldor. Finrod was his great friend who rescued him from Thangorodrim. When the servants of Caranthir abandoned Dior’s sons Eluréd and ElurÃ*n in the forest, he sought for them, though he did not find them. But he led the assault upon the Havens of Sirion, the third slaying of Elf by Elf, and he convinced his brother Maglor to assault the camp of the Host of Valinor to seize the Silmarils.

Maglor seems to me least guilty after Amras. He repented of all his deeds. After the slaughter at the Havens of Sirion, he fostered Elros and Elrond, “and he cherished them, and love grew after between them, as little might be thought; but Maglor’s heart was sick and weary with the burden of the dreadful oath.� (Silmarillion, “Of the Voyage of Eärendil�) And when Maedhros pressed him to attack Eönwë’s camp to take the Silmarils, he replied, “‘If none can release us [from our Oath], then Everlasting Darkness shall indeed be our lot, whether we keep our oath or break it; but less evil shall we do in the breaking.’� (Ibid.) But in the end, he gave in to Maedhros, having not the courage of his own convictions, and with him killed the guards in the camp.

So it seems to me that Celegorm and Maedhros bear the greatest burden because the instigated Kinslayings of their own, when they knew the outcome would be evil; of the two, Celegorm was the more evil because of his lust for Lúthien, his attempted murder of Beren, and his usurpation of the rule of Nargothrond. After them is Curufin, who was most like his father in body and mind, for his plotting and scheming with Celegorm: he was an active and willing participant.

Caranthir was quick to anger; but he remained wise enough to learn, and to appreciate the goodness, honor and courage of others, as he did with the Haladin. Amrod seems to have been least active of all the brothers, and to have stayed away from the scene of the action; but he also did least to fight Morgoth, while Caranthir did more.

Maglor understood and knew he had to repent, but it was too late for him when repentance finally came: the Silmaril he took he cast into the Sea, where it was lost forever, when he might have sent it into the West and gone himself for judgment; so he sealed his fate at last.

Amras seems to me least evil: he understood his guilt early, and seems to have been ready to repent and return to Valinor.

The Seven Sons of Fëanor did indeed suffer death, and perhaps Everlasting Darkness as well.

[Leviathan]

So it seems to me that Celegorm and Maedhros bear the greatest burden because the instigated Kinslayings of their own, when they knew the outcome would be evil; of the two, Celegorm was the more evil because of his lust for Lúthien, his attempted murder of Beren, and his usurpation of the rule of Nargothrond. After them is Curufin, who was most like his father in body and mind, for his plotting and scheming with Celegorm: he was an active and willing participant.

Caranthir was quick to anger; but he remained wise enough to learn, and to appreciate the goodness, honor and courage of others, as he did with the Haladin. Amrod seems to have been least active of all the brothers, and to have stayed away from the scene of the action; but he also did least to fight Morgoth, while Caranthir did more.

Maglor understood and knew he had to repent, but it was too late for him when repentance finally came: the Silmaril he took he cast into the Sea, where it was lost forever, when he might have sent it into the West and gone himself for judgment; so he sealed his fate at last.

Amras seems to me least evil: he understood his guilt early, and seems to have been ready to repent and return to Valinor.

The Seven Sons of Fëanor did indeed suffer death, and perhaps Everlasting Darkness as well.

I would say your down playing Maedhros a bit. He was on the front lines against Morgoth. Morgoth had not only killed his grandfather and his father, but also maimed him for the rest of his immortal existance. Maedhros was, in my opinion the most noble and righteous of the Son's of Feanor. He felt bound to his oath more than his brothers. At the very least he was the most valiant elf in ME at his time. During the seige he held the front line against the darkness for all of M E. I see a lot of similarity between Maedhros and Boromir of Gondor. I don't beleive he was the most guilty of of crimes after Celegorm, that title belongs to Curufin, who acted just as wickedly as Celegorm, especially in Nargothrond and the kidnapping of Luthien.

Yeah, so those two were naughty little elves, but at least their dog was cool!

[jammi567]

And we can't really call the twins evil, as during the whole of the first age, they did nothing, until near the end, when thy had one last burst at furfilling the Oath. Of course, they failed.

[The Telcontarion]

I would say your down playing Maedhros a bit. He was on the front lines against Morgoth. Morgoth had not only killed his grandfather and his father, but also maimed him for the rest of his immortal existance. Maedhros was, in my opinion the most noble and righteous of the Son's of Feanor. He felt bound to his oath more than his brothers. At the very least he was the most valiant elf in ME at his time. During the seige he held the front line against the darkness for all of M E. I see a lot of similarity between Maedhros and Boromir of Gondor. I don't beleive he was the most guilty of of crimes after Celegorm, that title belongs to Curufin, who acted just as wickedly as Celegorm, especially in Nargothrond and the kidnapping of Luthien.

Yeah, so those two were naughty little elves, but at least their dog was cool!

Exactly...

I also see a parallel with Maedhros' and Fingolfin's situation and that of Celebrimbor and Gil-galad. The true king is without a doubt Maedhros, even Fingon had the wisdom to differ to him when they made the Union of Maedhros for the Nirnaeth Arnoediad.

And Obviously Gil-galad was but a stripling compared to Celebrimbor. Woe for the Feanorion indeed, yet mightiest of the Noldor they remained and the most noble line.

PS. Haun was my favourite Maia (well, second to Olorin).

[jammi567]

Do you think so? Celebrimbor may have been the greatest crastman of the Second age, but Gi-galad had the moe experiance of lookin after people, even if a small group. Plus, he would've had tips from his dad (whether it's Fingon or Orodreth?).

[The Telcontarion]

Do you think so? Celebrimbor may have been the greatest crastman of the Second age, but Gi-galad had the moe experiance of lookin after people, even if a small group. Plus, he would've had tips from his dad (whether it's Fingon or Orodreth?).

While Celebrimbor would certainly not need any advise from anyone, being come to full wisdom at that time; when Fingon died Erienion was not even of an age yet to take over kinship, celebrimbor was already long ago full grown.

[jammi567]

So, because he's older, Celebrimbor should get it then?

[The Telcontarion]

Though my reply to it still stands, was rereading this thread and I thought I should say that your reply was very well put together Alcuin.

[AceKnight]

what did they do?

[The Telcontarion]

what did they do?

What did who do? :)

[Curubethion]

What did who do? :)
The Seven Sons of Feanor.

[The Telcontarion]

In general causing bloody mayhem and murder.

[ecthelion]

They made Luthien miss her date with Beren :D

[Andreth adaneth]

I don't think any of them can truly be called evil. Save for maybe, Celegorm and Curufin, since they seemed to really do those things on purpose, especially Celegorm. The others...they certainly did evil things, but that doesn't make them evil. They always seemed mislead and doomed to me, and very desperate...but not truly evil.

I wouldn't even call Feanor evil; he was insane and dangerous in the end, but evil?

I think they were all mislead and "deformed" by Morgoth, but not evil in the way some humans are.

[Jon S.]

I'll skip the part about not being too quick to deal out death in judgment and go straight to the morality issue which I've already discussed here: http://entmoot.tolkientrail.com/showthread.php?t=14146 Bottom line is I agree with Tulkas on the merits.

[feanor@17]

I think that some of them didn't desirve to die.Like Maedhros and Maglor...
You should keep in mind that they were the gratest enemies of Morgoth...

[Belwen_of_nargothrond]

I must say that I am partial to Maedhros and Maglor. As for the others, I agree that they deserve death and torment and nothing less. There is a little bit of evil or wickedness in all of us. No one is perfect and everyone makes mistakes. What Maedhros and Maglor are guilty of is nothing compared to some of the things the others have done.

[katya]

I believe everyone deserves to be happy, which is hardly a comment worth adding to this discussion. But besides that, while my memory is more than a little bit hazy I don't think Maedhros was evil. Count me as another of his supporters.

[Curufin]

I don't think any of them can truly be called evil. Save for maybe, Celegorm and Curufin, since they seemed to really do those things on purpose, especially Celegorm.

*sigh* I always seem to be getting picked on....;)

Personally, I don't think any of the sons of Fëanor are evil. They were trapped by the Oath - and all the bad things they do come back to that in the end.

I think calling anyone "evil" is far too simplistic, and in a way stifles discussion. The beautiful thing about Tolkien's characters is that there are so many of them that aren't completely "good" or "evil."

After all, even Melkor was created by Eru, and even his evil deeds will eventually produce beauty (as is indicated by this quote from BoLT I):
for lo! through
Melko have terror as fire, and sorrow like dark waters, wrath
like thunder, and evil as far from my light as the depths of
the uttermost of the dark places, come into the design that I
laid before you. Through him has pain and misery been made
in the clash of overwhelming musics; and with confusion of
sound have cruelty, and ravening, and darkness, loathly mire
and all putrescence of thought or thing, foul mists and violent
flame, cold without mercy, been born, and death without
hope. Yet is this through him and not by him; and he shall
see, and ye all likewise, and even shall those beings, who
must now dwell among his evil and endure through Melko
misery and sorrow, terror and wickedness, declare in the end
that it redoundeth only to my great glory, and doth but make
the theme more worth the hearing, Life more worth the liv-
ing, and the World so much the more wonderful and mar-
vellous, that of all the deeds of Iluvatar it shall be called his
mightiest and his loveliest."

This seems to be a theme of Tolkien - that from evil and misery will come a greater beauty than ever before - this goes along with the idea that Arda Remade will be more beautiful than a hypothetical Arda Unmarred...Therefore, is evil really evil, or is it simply a prism through which to discover true good and glory?

[The Dread Pirate Roberts]

Stick them on the scales and weigh their deeds, is my philosophy. Maedhros tried to be good without betraying his father or the oath. Maglor even more so. Caranthir, Amrrod and Amras I know little about. Celegorm and Curufin seem to have committed the most selfish and hurtful deeds. How do they weigh against the good they did? I'm not sure.

One criticism I have of all the sons is that they tried to have things both ways. If they REALLY wanted to fulfill the oath to the letter they would have done as their father and attacked Morgoth directly time and again until they were dead. Was the mission to regain the Silmarils or wasn't it? Beren and Finrod along with ten others braved a mission that none of the sons of Feanor ever had the sack to even attempt, and Beren actually succeeded in regaining one of the jewels.

Maybe the lesson there is that a vow of love will earn you the blessing of Eru and the Valar but a vow of vengeance and hatred is indeed evil, even if justified.

[Curufin]

For now, believing that Beren and Felagund were prisoners beyond hope of aid, they purposed to let the King perish, and to keep Lúthien, and force Thingol to give her hand to Celegorm. Thus they would advance their power, and become the mightiest of the princes of the Noldor. And they did not purpose to seek the Silmarils by craft or war, or to suffer any others to do so, until they had all the might of the Elf-kingdoms under their hands.
~The Silmarillion "Of Beren and Lúthien"

Celegorm and Curufin didn't attack Morgoth because they'd seen a thousand times over that there was no hope of defeating him alone. They needed help. So they held back, and attempted to get as much power behind them as possible before mounting an offensive. It really wasn't a bad idea...;)

Beren rushed in where fools fear to tread, and was (moderately) successful, but I think it has to be said that his success was, to a large extent, luck.

And anyway, regaining the Silmarils wasn't the only thing they wanted, but to somehow overthrow Morgoth. And Beren and Finrod didn't accomplish this in the slightest.