Sil Study Ch 7

[Androga Erindalant]

Sil Ch7: Of the Silmarils and the unrest of the Noldor

In that time the most famous of elven works were made. Fëanor wanted the light of the Two Trees to be preserved forever and he began the making of the Silmarils. Those looked like three big jewels, made from a strong but unknown material. Within the blended light of the Trees of Valinor were caught, so they would shine as Varda’s stars. Varda blessed Fëanor’s work so that no unclean hands could touch it. Melkor however was jealous. He wanted even more to destroy the friendship between the Valar and the Elves, but hid his intentions. Instead he sowed lies among the Noldor. He told them of powerful realms that they could have ruled. Though the Valar would feared the Elves would become more powerful, he said to them. Because of these lies the Noldor started to murmur, and their hearts were filled with pride. Even Fëanor and Fingolfin, who both had been honoured, became jealous of each other, as they both heard lies that the other would claim leadership over the Noldor. Fëanor even started to oppose the Valar. Unrest arose in Tirion and Finwë summoned all his lords to him. Fingolfin arrived before Fëanor, and he told his father that Fëanor had no right to speak as if he were king. But then his brother arrived, armed with weapons he had forged in secrecy. Fëanor drew his sword against his younger brother to threaten him if he tried to take over his place. Because it was Fëanor who first had spoken openly, the Valar thought he had incited the unrest, and the Elf was brought before them to be judged. Fëanor’s words revealed that Melkor was the real source, but Fëanor too was accounted for his deeds. He was banned from Tirion for twelve years. Fëanor then built the fortress Formenos, where he stored all his treasure, and where his seven sons and Finwë, his father, joined him.

Melkor hid after his lies were discovered. He wasn’t seen in Valinor until the day he suddenly appeared at Formenos and spoke to Fëanor. He feigned friendship, telling the Elf lord he would help to leave Valinor and to be freed from the Valar’s ruling. Fëanor however saw through Melkor’s lies and discovered his greed for the Silmarils. He shut the door for Melkor, who then disappeared to the north. The Valar searched for him as they feared an evil yet to come, but they did not find him.

[Androga Erindalant]

What are the Silmarils? How do you think they are made, and what are they made of?

Was Fëanor an easy victim of Melkor’s deceit? Do you think it is fair Fëanor is punished as well?

[Fredeghar Wayfarer]

Okay, someone should respond to this because you seem to be going to a lot of trouble, Orgulas. I will give this a shot.

What are the Silmarils?
The greatest treasure of the Elves, a set of beautiful and mystically potent jewels.

How do you think they are made, and what are they made of?
I know very little of smithcraft or jewelry making, let alone how things are made in a fictional universe, but I imagine they were made from precious stones found within the earth. Most likely an element that does not exist in our world. They were probably set in some kind of metal base. The Elves then used magic to infuse them with the light of the Two Trees.

Was Fëanor an easy victim of Melkor’s deceit?
Seems that way. Rather than reject what Melkor told him, he seemed all too eager to buy it and seek power for himself.

Do you think it is fair Fëanor is punished as well?
Yes. As this is Tolkien we're talking about, it's likely that Feanor was not being mind-controlled by Melkor but rather, that he already possessed the more negative traits that he displayed, similar to the way the Ring corrupted its bearer by enhancing character traits he or she already had. Feanor already had rebellious and proud streak, Melkor simply brought it to the surface.

[Stormrider]

Fredegar said:

The Elves then used magic to infuse them with the light of the Two Trees.

But just what magic did the Elves know? Was it really magic to them or just something they were blessed with and would not be considered magic to them--just a normal way of doing something?

It might have been some way to seal the Silmaril gems so the light of the trees could not escape.

Anyway, if I remember correctly, it was just Fëanor who made the Silmarils and captured the light of the trees. He worked very hard to learn many crafts and arts from many different sources. He put all his knowledge together and all his being into making these gems. That was why he valued them so much and did not want to let anyone else have them.

[Sparrow]

Feanor does deserve to be punished, but that does not mean he is so very different from the rest of us. I agree with Fredegar that Feanor was not mind-controlled by Melkor. Feanor, like everyone else, has virtues and character defects. Furthermore, there is sometimes a fine line between what makes a character trait a virtue or a defect. For example, self-respect is a healthy character trait. Too much of it, to the extent that one puts oneself above others, is pride, a character defect. Not enough self-respect results in poor self-esteem which can prefent one from realizing his or her potential. Feanor provides an example and a warning to the rest of us of what can happen if we let our estimation of our own place in the world get out hand. Had Feanor shown humility and respect for his family, he might have chosen differently and avoided his punishment as well as the repercussions it brought to those close to him.

[Androga Erindalant]

Thanks Fredegar! I'm doing my best on these summaries!

First, my thoughts on the Silmarils. Somewhere in the text is mentioned that they were of the hardest material ever seen. On our world, that would be diamond. So I think the Silmarils are made of some kind of diamond, or that they at least have a diamond-like appearence. I think it could be even possible that Fëanor found a way to make diamond (or the Valinor substitute) even stronger than it was, with his skills. I think this way because the material, even if it's one only found on Valinor, isn't used in anything else but in the Silmarils. At least, I get that impression. For Mythril one could point a whole mine...
How the light could be kept inside... probably something with the way of sharpening the different facets of the stones, so that the light is mirrored forever in the inside. But don't ask me how he could find out how to cut these. Looks nearly impossible, but he was greatly skilled, after all.

Fëanor had a fiery character. I think that even he knew what was right and wrong, but that Melkor used his excitement. Fëanor was a man of deeds, not of thoughts, so very likely he didn't always pondered well enough on his actions before doing them. Which Melkor abused. So I agree with you that the Elf Prince wasn't mind-controlled. And I agree too that it's fair he's punished, since he still should be responsible for his own deeds.

[Andorinha]

There were three Silmarils, and an age later there would be three Elven rings. One of the Silmarils will end up in the ocean, another will be swallowed up by the earth, and the third will be associated with the sky. The Three Rings were klikewise so distributed, Galadriel's white-stone ring associated with water, Blue Vilya identified with the sky, and Red Narya with the fires of the inner earth. I wonder if the three Silmarils had each a proper colour, or a predominating shade?

Certainly the function of the Silmarils, to preserve the light of the two Trees against "fading," is also quite similar to the preservative function of the rings. Is the technology that produced the Silmarils, being used again in the Second Age by Celebrimbor when he and the ring smiths make the rings of power?

The envelope of each Silmaril is describes as being somehow separate from the body of light it contains, but is yet pervaded by that light which somehow is"in all parts of it." (Sil. hb chpt 7, p. 67). This envelope is not a "force field," a contained pattern of energy, if we are to trust JRRT's description of it as an actual "substance." "Like the crystal of diamonds it appeared, and yet was more strong than adamant, so that no violence could mar it or break it within the Kingdom of Arda." (Sil, p.67)

Yet, "unbreakable" though this encapsulating substance might be, we have a hint at least that the Silmarils might still be broken when Feanor claims: "It may be that I can unlock my jewels, but never shall I make their like; and if I must break them, I shall break my heart..." (Sil. hb, chpt 9, p. 78)

But, Feanor never got a chance to try his "unlocking" skills on the jewels, for he died before any of them were recovered, and maybe, being "hallowed" they would have reacted violently against his touch had he ever regained them? Would he have been able to break them if they burned his flesh each time he tried to handle them?

I wonder, if they might outlast Arda itself, so after the ages of fading brought the universe to its close, would these globes of light remain, the only stars left in an otherwise enthropy-greyed void? Would they act as the seeds of the next universe?

[Stormrider]

Why wouldn't Ulmo, Ossë, or Uinen have been able to find the Silmaril that was lost to the sea? It seems this Silmaril would have been right in their domain and they should know every inch of the seas, oceans, rivers, and waters. If the Silmaril shone brightly, I think it would give itself away in the dark depths of the waters!

[Andorinha]

How important were the Silmarils to the Valar?

Yeah, Stormrider, if the Silmarils seemed to be so important to the Valar why don't they use their godly powers to track them down?

Hmmm, your latest post has released some new thoughts/ speculations in my mind, Stormrider. After all the trouble taken to finally redeem the jewels from Morgoth, the Valar lose them easily enough to two lone Elves, Maedhros and Maglor (see chpt 24). Then, after the "hallowing" of the two stones works its burning pain on Maedhros and Maglor, they find they have to "dispose" of the Silmarils. At this point, could not the gods reclaim them? As you say, one would be shining in the sea somewhere, fairly easily accessed by the various Ainur of the Oceans and Shores; the other, sunk in fire would be harder to get, but could not Aule "mine" it?

Yet, nothing is done to "recover" either of the jewels. The Valar are content that the sky holds one, the sea holds one, and the earth holds the last...

Certainly the primary use the Valar might have had for the Silmarils (restoring the Two Trees) was no longer possible, so maybe that is why they did not seem much concerned with trying to collect them? But, I got the feeling from statements in chapter 7 that the Silmarils themselves had a powerful attraction even for the Valar: "All who dwelt in Aman were filled with wonder and delight at the work of Feanor." (Sil, hb, chpt 7, p. 67)"

Feanor also seems to be "punishing" the gods and Elves both when he gets into his possessive rage and denies others the opportunity to see the Silmarils, hiding them in his northern fortress, Formenos. Melkor/ Morgoth certainly lusts after the Silmarils, and tells Feanor that the other Valar want the jewels as well (something Feanor seems to swallow) so that he thinks he has to fear not only Melkor's taking the gems, but also, in his paranoia, Feanor believes that the other gods may be after them as well.

But after all this display of "oooing and ahhhing," the Valar, when they finally regain jewels do not seem to take much care of them, and then seem content to simply let them stay "lost." Why, do they seemingly treat the jewels they once prized, with so little regard now? Is there something else going on here? Are the Silmarils, still in contact with the primary elements of Arda, in some way already in the possession of the Valar as guardians of Arda? Are they, in a sense, being kept in a kind of deep, safe storage where they lie?

[Andorinha]

RE: Androga's "Do you think it is fair Fëanor is punished as well?"

The social system of the Valar is closely based on that of the pagan gods found in the Germanic/ Norse mythologies and sagas. Keeping this in mind, I think Fëanor gets off lightly. The usual penalty for anyone who drew a weapon at a "Thing" (a meeting of the folk, or a council), or for anyone who violated the sacred grounds by starting a fight there, was outlawry, even death. For drawing his sword, and placing its blade against Fingolfin's breast (Sil. chpt 7, p. 70 hb), Fëanor could rightly have been condemned to death. Fingolfin saved Fëanor's life by not demanding the full measure of the penalty for peace-breaking at a council.

Perhaps because Fëanor seems to have been the very first in Valinor to actually commit such a breach of the peace, the rules may not yet have been fully annunciated. No one would have expected such behaviour could/ would occur. But the matter was deemed serious enough for the Law-speaker of the gods to take up this case, and 12 years banishment was actually a "lenient" decree.