Sil Study Ch9

[Androga Erindalant]

Sil Ch9: Of the Flight of the Noldor

A great crowd gathered at the Ring of Doom. The Two Trees were dead, and Yavanna could not remake them, as it was a work of only one time. But the light of the Trees endured within Fëanor’s Silmarils. If Yavanna could use the light of the Silmarils, she could heal the Two Trees. Fëanor refused however. Soon afterwards a messenger came to tell Melkor had assaulted Formenost, killed Finwë and taken the Silmarils. Since then Fëanor called Melkor Morgoth.

Morgoth ran to the north and crossed the Helcaraxë, the strait of ice between the lands of Valinor and Middle-earth. He couldn’t excape from Ungoliant, who still was hungry for treasure. Morgoth refused to give her the Silmarils. But Ungoliant had become taller, and she caught Morgoth in her webs. He cried. His cry was heard by the Balrogs still hidden in Angband, and they helped their master and drove Ungoliant away.

After Morgoth’s escape, Fëanor summoned the Noldor to Tirion. He claimed kingship over all Noldor, as his father was dead, and stirred the people up to leave Valinor. He and his sons swore they would pursuit anyone who kept a Silmaril. Fingolfin and Finarfin opposed his decision, yet followed him, as they didn’t want to abandon their people. When they passed the gates of Tirion, a messenger from the Valar arrived.

Fëanor first led the Noldor to the North, tracing Morgoth’s footsteps. But The Elves would never make it through Helcaraxë. Instead, Fëanor went to the harbours of the Teleri. But the Teleri didn’t want to join him, nor lend him out their ships. So he took them by force. There was a great battle, in which many were killed. Still, the Noldor escaped and arrived at the borders of Araman. Then another Mandos came to them. He told them the Valar would shut down Valinor for them if they left, and forsaw that Fëanor’s oath would betray them all. He warned them they would be killed and that their spirits would go to his halls. Fëanor persisted however, and Fingolfin wanted to protect the people from his brother’s deeds. Only Finarfin returned with a few Elves, and they were pardoned.

Close to Helcaraxë, Fëanor kept a debate on what they would do. There were too few ships to transport them all, but nobody wanted to stay behind to wait while others were sailed over first. Finally, Fëanor and his sons gathered everyone loyal to them during the night, and sailed off in silence. When they reached Middle-earth, they burnt down the ships. Fingolfin knew he was betrayed. He was anxious to confront Fëanor, so he still led his people over Helcaraxë, where many of them died. When they reached the other side, the light of the first Moon shined.

[Androga Erindalant]

Questions for ch9:

What is the impact of changing Melkor’s name to Morgoth? Many of Tolkien’s characters are given more than one name. What does he want to reach with it?

Why do the Noldor follow Fëanor, despite warnings from the Valar? Can you think of similarities with our world’s history?

What’s the difference in thinking and acting of the three (half) brothers Fëanor, Fingolfin and Finarfin?

[Andorinha]

1. "What is the impact of changing Melkor’s name to Morgoth? Many of Tolkien’s characters are given more than one name. What does he want to reach with it?"

General Observations from chpts 8 and 9

Loss of Shape-shifting, change of identity:

Elsewhere at TR we have discussed "shape-shifting" as a topic of its own, looking at the Bat-fell of Thuringwethril the Vampire, and all the Warg-fell magics, and the general ability of the Ainur in Arda/ Middle-earth to alter their appearances. Sauron seems especially able to shift himself into wolf form and back again into an eye-pleasing humanoid shape. Apparently all of the Valar could likewise alter their outward appearances, even walk "unclad and fleshless" when they would. Melkor has this ability until chapters #8 and #9 of The Silmarillion.

"... Melkor had turned back, and in secrecy passed away far to the south. For he was as yet one of the Valar, and could change his form, or walk unclad, as could his brethren; though that power he was soon to lose forever." (Sil, chpt 8, hb version, p. 73)

"Now Melkor came to Avathar and sought her [Ungoliant] out; and he put on again the form that he had worn as the tyrant of Utumno: a dark Lord, tall and terrible. In that form he remained ever after." (Sil., chpt. 8, hb, p. 73)

So, was this transformation to an unchanging visage a voluntary act, something reversible? I rather get the feeling that something happened to Melkor at this time that left him unable to ever shift his appeance again, even if he had wanted to.

We know from Sauron's example that he permanently lost the ability to put on a fair semblance after Numenor was sunk beneath the waves -- the inference being that he lost much of his power in simply surviving this cataclysm. Apparently this power loss was something that never could be replenished, or "grown-back," as Sauron forever-after can manifest himself only as a creature of dark terror.*

In a similar fashion, Melkor soon became reduced to one horrible and unshiftable appearance following his "extra high" energy expenditure during the destruction of the Two Trees and the imediate aftermath of that episode:

"But Ungoliant had grown great, and he [Melkor] less by the power that had gone out of him..." (Sil. chpt 9, hb, p. 80).

It is just with this episode of great power expenditure (Tree destruction, and the act of murdering Finwe in the hallowed zones of Arda) that Melkor "officially" becomes Morgoth. Feanor, sometimes gifted with foresight, names him first in this fashion, and ever after Melkor is called Morgoth.

Is this change of names a sort of rite of passage? The taking of a new name -- to show that this Vala has radically changed and cannot again be forgiven -- seems to be implied here. As "Melkor," this greatest of the Vala might still be redeemable, might still shift his character towards some degree of unselfish good; but after his cosmic acts of injury done to the entire universe -- when he secures the deaths of the Two Trees -- Melkor has finally gone too far. He has fundamentally changed his identity from an erratic, wilful Vala to become a symbol of unremitting evil. Melkor has now become simply "Morgoth, the Black Foe of the World..." (Sil. chpt 9, hb, p. 79) He has lost his ability to become anything else, he has lost his power to become something other than evil, even in so small a matter as his physical appearance...

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*Was one of the powers of Sauron's Ring an attempt by the fallen Maia to restore his ability to walk "unseen?" But here I do not recall if JRRT specified whether or not the Ruling Ring on Sauron's hand conferred invisibility upon Him. The One Ring was not able to make Bombadil invisible, but he is an anomalous character; so, what of the Maiar in Middle-earth? Would they have equal immunity to this invisibility? Would Gandalf, had he taken the Ring, become invisible while wearing it?

[Stormrider]

I thought we should find out what the names "Melkor" and "Morgoth" mean. I looked the names up in Robert Foster's Complete Guide to Middle-Earth:

Melkor: Quenya "He who arises in Might" This name was meant to suite him since he was given more power and knowledge than any of the other Ainu. He grew impatient and wished to shape the World and bring things into being himself. He went to the Void in search of the Flame Imperishable and began to have his own thoughts and ideas that were in discord to the rest of the Ainu and Ilúvatar.

Morgoth: Sindarin "Dark Enemy" The fullest sense of the name is "Dark Enemy of the World" or "Black Foe of the World" This name was given by Fëanor after the theft of the Silmarils and the murder of Finwë.

The name "Melkor" seems to have power, destiny, and maybe even some hope to it whereas "Morgoth" is definately dark and evil and final.

Did Ilúvatar name him "Melkor" because he felt the power and destiny in this Valar? I think Ilúvatar had high hopes for Melkor but was disappointed in him at every discord.

[Andorinha]

Good idea to check the actual meanings of the names, Stormrider. In this case, to change from the general connotations of "He Who Arises in Might" to the more sharply "critical" and condemnatory "Black Foe/ Dark Enemy of the World" is a fitting comment on what happens to this Vala.

RE: Stormrider - "Did Ilúvatar name him "Melkor" because he felt the power and destiny in this Valar?"

Yeah, that makes sense to me.

I think Eru sort of envisaged Melkor's "correct" role as being a kind of viceroy, a deputy-in-chief whose own powers were made up of a bit of every skill, every thought possessed by his more specialized fellows. Melkor, uncorrupted, might have been able to act as a "harmonizer," a deputy "conductor," understanding the general pattern of each theme of the Music, and helping the specialist Valar to blend their separate dreams and tunes into an orchestral performance.

I've never been quite sure why things went wrong -- did Melkor simply have too much power, was he granted too much scope of action/ individuality so that the line between the role of helper and that of a true creator became blurred in his mind? He does seem from the very first to be intent on fnding for himself the full power of independent creation (the flame imperishable) and yet he is not quite so powerful as to ever become a truly independent creator. In his frustration, he turns sour and tries simply to dominate the others...

[Andorinha]

3. "What’s the difference in thinking and acting of the three (half) brothers Fëanor, Fingolfin and Finarfin?"

Fëanor is impetuous, bold, self-serving, brilliant, and enormously dangerous to both himself and those around him. He accomplishes a great deal in his short, manic life -- but I cannot help feeling, in my final judgment of his character, that it would have been better had he never been born.

Fingolfin is a much more socially responsible fellow, a pillar of strength to his people, a "true" leader who serves his followers' interest first. He is at first entirely set against Fëanor's demand the the Noldor abandon Aman. He is also a bold fellow, quite willing to stand up against the bombast of his half-brother.

Finarfin is a peacemaker, he stands between the two contending factions, and seeks ever to calm both sides "persuading them [the Noldor] to pause and ponder ere deeds were done that could not be undone..." (Sil, chpt 9, hb ver. p. 83)

It is interesting to note that Fëanor goes to Middle-earth to serve his own interests, while the unwilling exile, Fingolfin, goes to protect and lead his people after they have become ensnared by the words of Fëanor.

The third son of Finwë, Finarfin, repents the rash choice of Fëanor, and returns to Aman to rule the remnant of the Noldorin Elves who left the folk trek after the murderous treachery of Fëanor against the Teleri.