Finarfin: The Misunderstood and Last of the Noldor High Kings
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- Опубліковано 28 вер 2024
- Most fans know of Feanor and his brother Fingolfin, but often say little about the thrid son of Finwe, Finarfin. His appearances in the Silmarillion are not as numerous or seemingly important as his brothers, but there's more nuance to that and it involves his philosophy on handling relationships.
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The Noldor were the loremasters (it is kind of in their name, Wise/Knowledgeable).
Tolkien does not say Finarfin fought at the Kinslaying, it is suggested that the folk of Finarfin did not (with the exception of Galadriel who fought on the side of the Teleri):
"Fingon with the foremost people of Fingolfin. These coming up found a battle joined and their own kin falling, and they rushed in ere they knew rightly the cause of the quarrel..."
"...and all Fingolfin's folk went forward still, feeling the constraint of their kinship and the will of Fëanor, and fearing to face the doom of the gods, since not all of them had been guiltless of the kinslaying at Alqualondë."
Angrod: "‘Lord, I know not what lies you have heard, nor whence; but we came not red-handed. Guiltless we came forth, save maybe of folly, to listen to the words of fell Fëanor, and become as if besotted with wine, and as briefly. No evil did we do on our road, but suffered ourselves great wrong; and forgave it."
"Then Angrod spoke bitterly against the sons of Fëanor, telling of the blood at Alqualondë, and the Doom of Mandos, and the burning of the ships at Losgar. And he cried: ‘Where-fore should we that endured the Grinding Ice bear the name of kinslayers and traitors?’"
Above quotes from The Silmarillion and Morgoth's Ring
Finarfin was not made High King of the Noldor. Tolkien says he was set to rule the remnant of the Noldor who remained in Valinor. The High Kingship only developed in Middle-earth with the division of the Noldor into separate kingships.
The first High King was thus Fingolfin.
Finwe was King of the Noldor (_Noldoran_). When he held himself un-kinged (with Feranor's banishment), Fingolfin took up the rule in Valinor (Tolkien refers to Fingolfin as king in this circumstance a couple of times).
While Ingwe does not return to Middle-earth for the War of Wrath, his son is said to have, e.g.: "Thereafter was fought the battle of Eglorest, where Ingwiel son of Ingwë, prince of all the Elves, made a landing, and drove the Orcs from the shore." (HoMe V)
I am glad to find your channel. Related with Finarfin, though he appeared like the "most not like noldor"but his action and wisdom is the best between the 3 brothers. He understand which battle worth to pursue and which can be let go. Hope for more of your video.
The Vanyar are supposed to be the most powerful of the elves, most effective in the War of Wrath despite owning no weapons in Valinor. So as he takes after his and Fingolfins vanyar heritage the most, he likely actually is the most powerful of the brothers, but his equal vanyar temper leads him to not use it. Thats something we see with similar characters later, Glorfindel and Galadriel are both very powerful Noldor elves with Vanyar heritage with great power even in the Third Age, yet they don't flaunt it, perhaps to the detriment of some, their great power could clearly have helped in certain situations, but such reservations lead them to preservation, much like Finarfin who survives unlike so many other heros of the first age.
@@donpula6349 No they picked up spears for the War of Wrath specifically. In Valinor they do not own any weapons.
It only speaks to their power since they obviously don't train for war yet they're the best at it.
@@donpula6349 I wish they were shown in the extended edition of Lord of the Rings. If they appear in the show or not doesn't really matter to me because I think the shown looks wrong.
Feänor was explicitly stated to be the mightiest of all Elves so I doubt Finarfin could rival him
@@wursteh5728 Elves in Valinor, the Vanyar didn't spend time in the city as they considered themselves above all others and lived on the mountain tops with the Valar themselves.
The vanyar were inherently more powerful, they lived their lives without ever touching a weapon, but when they did in the War of Wrath they immediately inherently were considered the most fearsome of the elven hosts.
That perfectly mirrors Finarfin. A peaceful non-fighter with vanyar blood. Had he picked up a sword to fight Feanor theres no reason why he wouldn't be the most fearsome of the brothers.
@@vergil8833 😂. The Vanyar were aided by a host of Maiar. And you forget that the Doom of Mandos hung over the armies of the Noldor.
The Noldor were the most powerful elves kindred, though the Vanyar were closer to the Valar in thought. Fëanor would have decimated Finarfin and Fingolfin in combat
Finarfin and fingolfin are my favorites
A lot of effort has gone into this, well done
Interesting.Thanks for posting
It was only in this video that I learned of Finarfin being thought of as the "weakest" of Finwe's sons. Loved this video.
Cant say for certain but it seems implied during the debate in Tirion
Impetuous, inventive, hot-headed. Hmm. Am I Noldor?
Could be a dwarf too lol
I love this channel, thank you 🙏🏽
Also, could the audio quality improve somehow? 🤔✌🏽
Well done essay
The images and content of this video is great. Im just unfortunately so distracted by and hopeful for much better audio, less rushed voice over work which can convey even more passion in Tolkien’s work.
The audio took awhile for me to work out, but the later vids are much better NGL
Finarfin's story is amazing, and sadly overlooked, and should be as Tolkien imagined him to be. You cannot portray a Tolkien character unless you respect and know his works. The more you learn about the books, the more you understand Tolkien's secondary world.
What a nice video 👍 Finarfin is my least favourite of Finwe's sons, but he definitely deserves more rep than what he's been getting!
I believe a big aspect of how one views Finarfin is directly connected to their opinions on the Valar and the Vanyar/Noldor relationship. If you believe that the Valar were right in all their decisions and that the Vanyar were the best Elves to ever walk in Arda, chances are you'd love Finarfin too.
For me, Finarfin is undeniably smart to stay in Valinor but far from honorable and closer to an opportunist. I don't begrudge him that, just so we're clear. But I think that any parent who raised an over-ambitious child like Galadriel can not be so humble and goody two shoes as Finarfin tends to be portrayed. There was something more wilful under all that calmness and composure but it could never be expressed due to his position as the third son.
Not to be a hater though, Finarfin certainly did one thing right as he raised Finrod. Finrod is arguably the best boy in all of Arda and one of the top 5 Noldor in terms of contributions. Finarfin's other sons were honorable too, no doubt about that. And Galadriel is THE Galadriel; she may have had her flaws but she was there when it counted.
Is it chance or is it something different? I don't know.
I'm glad to see another video about my favourite High king of Noldor.
I wonder what the reunion between Finarfin and Galadriel was like after she left Arda.
I thought Gil-galad was the last high king of the Noldor. Am I wrong?
@@jvdpc7 Finwe was not the first Noldo, as he had parents.
Feanor was not High King, the Hihg Kngship of the Noldor only developed after his death when the Noldor seperated into various kingships.
Finarfin is not said by Tolkien to be High King in Valinor, jus that he was set to rule the remnant of the Noldor there.
@@jvdpc7 Feanor was not the ruler of the Noldor, though he claimed the Kingship. He may have ruled the Feanorean Noldor, but the other, greater part of the Noldor would not renounce Fingolfin, who had been ruling as king after Finwe held himself un-kinged.
Note that Tolkien never refers to Feanor as King (unlike Fingolfin). At the time of the revolt, what there is, is two competing claimants.
What Tolkien says of Finarfin is that he ..."was set to rule the remnant of the Noldor in the Blessed Realm."
I never thought that Finarfin would be motivated by vengeance for joining the host of the Valinor in the War of Wrath, I simply assumed it was out of duty and necessity (someone had to lead the Noldor soldiers). It is a really interesting idea though I think it clashes with the character description we are given when he´s introduced. As you mentioned, having a conversation with the reembodied Finrod likely changed his perspective. I have doubts though that the sorrow would turn into a desire for revenge.
Thats a fair point. My speculation was coming from that though he is the more level headed of the 3 brothers, he's also still noldor. And that it would have been more personal now that all his kids are dead but one. I thought that would have dramatically altered his perspective from when it was a distant half brother who despised him. and that he's the only high king of sny of the high elves who went to war. The others was too personal or seemingly couldnt be bothered. But your points are fair as well.
@@themiddle-earthphilosopher7780 Nevertheless I find your interpretation to be the more interesting or spicier. Elves are usually so steadfast in their character that personality development is barely traceable. By the way, your video also got me thinking that maybe Finarfin and Galadriel were briefly reunited during or shortly after the War of Wrath. However, there is also one (of many) version describing Galadriel's movements in which she and Celeborn cross the Blue Mountains before the battle of unnumbered tears.
@@Crafty_Spirit I hear you
Absolutely excellent analytical summary of a rather neglected character. Extremely engaging to listen to.
I hope you can improve the audio quality of your commentary because it really deserves it.
Once I learned that Finarfin led the Noldor in Valenor to war during the war if wrath my respect for him skyrocketed, but I don’t understand why he didn’t try and get his daughter and his grandson back to Valenor afterwards since he was in middle earth fighting while Galadriel and Gil-galad were there as well
He may have, but they were still stubborn at the time. And the 'good guys' are big on obeying of your own free will
Finarfin is not a High-King though, just King. This title of High-King only applies to Ingwe in Aman and to the exiles in ME.
Have to disagree. He is explicitly stated as being the High king of the Noldor who repented and remained in Valinor in the Silmarillion. Yes Ingwe was regarded as the chief of all high kings, but the finwe and the kings who followed him were still regarded as high as well
Fyn er fin