King Finarfin, Father of Galadriel - Epic Character History
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- Опубліковано 10 лют 2025
- Finarfin was the third son of Finwë, the father of Galadriel, Finrod and others, and the king of the Noldor who remained in Valinor! While he is a lesser known character indeed, his character history is interesting to discuss! Let me know your thoughts on Finarfin in the comments below! As always, a great thanks to the online artists whose visual works made this video possible! If you are one of the artists, please let me know and I will post your name and a link to your work in this description!
#Silmarillion
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Power-Feanor
Wisdom-Finarfin
Courage-Fingolfin
Really makes you think.
Wasn't Fingolfin the greatest with a sword? (I know that doesn't equate to power).
Power- Finrod
Wisdom-Finrod
Courage-Finrod
The children of Finwe wield the Tri-Force?
@TheNotoriousCheeto They ARE the Triforce :D.
Seriously, about half the problem here is that nobody in this family has any chill and Finarfin is not an exception. They are so passionate they’re practically forces of nature, and that is why everyone ends up dead at the end of the 1st Age.
@@golwenlothlindel when did Finarfin die?
So beautiful to realize that Finarfin could have met his relatives again briefly after the War of Wrath. Never thought of that. Thank you Yoystan.
It's inevitable, really: with only himself, Finrod, and Galadriel left of the Noldorin royal house (unless there have been others born since), they've got to sort out the line of succession. In fact, with children and grandchildren present, it gets even MORE complicated.....!
ZHaving said that, they might have met briefly at the end of the First Age, when Glaadriel was both offered the chance to return, and then given the Light of Earendil when she stayed.
think how long it was, ages, until he saw galadriel again.
I never contemplated this before, but now this Makes me wonder…would a re-embodied Finrod have traveled with Finarfin to battle the host of Morgoth in the War of Wrath?
Or would Finrod stay in Valinor?
First thing I thought when I clicked
Finarfin is my favourite character in the whole of Tolkien's legendarium. His wisdom ensured that those who did not wish to leave Valinor always had a king and a figurehead to look up to. And he had quiet but steadfast wisdom and strength to turn back and attempt to rebuild the Noldor as a society and their relations with the Falmari etc. He turned back when most others continued on, it takes much courage to be different and stand up for what you believe to be right, especially when it is against what the popular action is. Thank you for a wonderful video Yoystan and for shedding light on this fantastic character.
and mine is Finrod Felagund (the son of Finartin, big brother of Galadriel) who has wisdom courage and kind & loyal heart and beautiful face.
Despite their differences, it is easy to see that Galadriel was truly her father’s daughter, and Finarfin’s role in the works of Ilúvatar cannot be discounted. A most important figure who discovered, albeit the hard way, that there are no wrong turnings in the path, only paths we had not known we were meant to walk.
"Finarfin was the fairest, and the most wise of heart." -- Quenta Silmarilion, "Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalie"
"But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father in Tirion"
I don't think I've heard a separate narrative before about Finarfin from any of the YT *Tolkien Loregivers.* Very nice.
Finarfin’s story shows us that restraint, humility and wisdom are the truest path through life. Despite the drive and bravery of his brothers, it was Finarfin in the end who remained.
I read somewhere that the Silmarillion said that if Finwe didn't remarry, Feanor's life would have changed but the life of the Noldor would not be as rich as it became. Looking at Finarfin and Fingolfin and their children, it really shows that Finwe's remarriage really did enrich the history of Middle Earth and the Noldor. Funny how one choice causes both suffering and joy.
Fantastic synopsis! I like how you added the 3 bloodlines of elves being present in his family, especially the temperance/appearance passed on from his Vanyarin blood. Also great to see his Quenya name mentioned, people often forget his real name and only know the ascribed name, "Finarfin".
Great video Yoystan! We don’t hear much of Finarfin but he’s definitely important within the story of the Silmarillion as his children also played a major part. He is one of the wisest elves around during the 1st Age.
I cant imagine the sadness in Finarfins heart when he visited the graves of Aegnor and Angrod.
And Finrod 😭
@@alifa4982 and Finrod 😭
A valid question then being why the Valar didn't re-embody them.
and Finrod Felagund
@@alifa4982 The Silmarillion says, _"But Finrod walks with his father Finarfin beneath the trees of Eldamar."_ Which means after his death in Middle-earth, Finrod had spent only a while in the Halls of Mandos, whereafter he was re-embodied and lived in Valinor, in company with his father and, some have said, his beloved Amarië who had gone not with him into exile.
He’s one of my favorite characters! I’m so glad that you did a video on him! Thank you 💙
I like to think that Finarfin and Earwen happily welcomed Celebrian their granddaughter and healed her mental traumas, and that Celebrian eventually forgot the pain of being separated from her parents, husband, and children because Finarfin is a wonderful grandpa
"Who will you look to when we are gone?"
I totally agree, he's not mentioned much but he is definitely of the house of kings. I give a lot of credit for not slaying feanor after everything he did, and he did alot to his own kin.
Tho his wisdom and guidance would have been a huge benefit in middle earth. Makes me wonder where he would have gone and done if he went to the lands beyond.
I hope Finarfin also got to meet his great-grandson Gil-Galad in the War of Wrath.
Love Finarfin, in a way he reminds me of Hestia who guarded hearth and home whilst her brothers and sisters rage across the mortal realm or quarrel or fight off the Giants, or of Hnossa who guards her father and mother's hearths in their long absences and journeys across Midgard. He's in some ways the one who saw that treachery could only begat more treachery and sorrow.
best line in silmarillion: "But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar." 🥺🥺🥺
Not much is heard of Finarfin and, even though he did not go to Middle Earth with his Brothers, his story of courage and diversity was just as admirable. Thank you so much for covering my favorite Tolkien character. :)
Awesome epic character history Yoystan keep on rocking
Man, Finarfin really shows who's the wisest amongst the Elves, when he leaves and gets pardoned by the Valar!
Also Mixed bloodlines for the win!
Another First Age (Not a Character who appears in The Hobbit or LOTR) ECH, Mellon Thank You, I wanted more of this YT/Second Ages!!!
Thanks For Finarfin's ECH, Until Elves vs Dwarves (I am spelling it the way the Professor did) Crafters Battle (this will be quite cool *I unintentionally quoted Gandalf this Early into my week, WOW it's already Monday* to listen to) Marion Baggins Out!!!
I always learn more than I thought I knew, watching these videos. Thank you.
Great video, you have a good voice for this. I had forgotten a lot of the details (not read the combined books for many years), such as Ingwë. Always liked Finarfin and his brothers though, and that a high king remained. I forgot how many brothers Galadriel had coming east. I sadly imagine how poorly the amazon thing is going to treat them this year. Also, all the point ears, always makes me think of Vulcans.
Thank you for this reminder of the goodness and wisdom of Finarfin.
Thank you, for covering Finarfin, the wise amongst his brothers, the one who stayed in Aman, when so many of his kin went away. We hear too little about him.
Another A+ video Yoystan! You never fail to wow me and knock it out of the park with awesome content!
thanks for this!!
one of my favourite characters that is often overlooked and does not appear often. :”)
This video was *GREAT* ….I’ve always been Team Glorfindel but now have a new found love for Finarfin. He is currently a close second to my man Glorfindel because of your amazing telling of his entire story. I love all the details you’ve included in one, easy to understand video💙 Thank you!
Hopefully he would meet all his sons again except Aegnor who could not face life without his human love Andreth. So heartbreaking all around for Finarfin and all his children. This father deserved reunification with all his children.
that icon-style artwork is dope
I love Finarfin 💜
The accidental King 👑
Thank you for covering one of my favs. It's like everyone forgets about Finarfin. I know there isn't much written about him but he deserves it ♥️
I was under the impression that Elladan and Elrohir chose to become mortal and remain with the Dunedain. I never thought of whether Finarfin visited the graves of his fallen brothers and nephews in the aftermath of the war of wrath, nor if he met with his remaining kin (Maedhros and Maglor survived the war of wrath, but not for long).
Though my favorite was Fingolfin, I do really like the character of Finarfin. I was always glad that as the wisest of Finwe’s children, he should remain in Valinor and take up the mantle of Chief of the Noldor. Of course I wish more were written, but we have to remember that all of these tales Tolkien wrote from the perspective of the hobbits, Bilbo and Frodo. Though it’s possible they may have learned much from both Elrond and Galadriel (and possibly Glorfindel), there is no way even those high elves would know much of the elves in Valinor after the Noldor left. He had to write it that way to coincide with the Red Book.
Oh my goodness!! I'm so excited this is my favourite character no one ever talks about him I'm going to shut up now and watch the video... I'm so excited🤸🏻♂️💃🏻
Just found your Channel it's absolutely amazing and your stories are beautifully told well done. Can't wait to watch more of your videos in the future. Hope you have a great day -bye
Great as usual, I find Finarfin very underrated
I think that in the characters of Fingolfin and Finarfin, Tolkien is exploring that locus classicus of medieval theology and philosophy: the ethical question of whether the Divine Good is better served by leading the *ACTIVE LIFE* (Fingolfin), or by leading the *CONTEMPLATIVE LIFE* (Finarfin). As is so often the case in medieval literary debates on this topic, ultimately Tolkien seems to provide no “absolute” answer to the question.
Awsome video once again! I'm interested in what can you tell us about Igue the High King of all elves in Valanor.
What must not have been his suffering: the children who left Valinor after the carnage at Aqualonde. most died, including granddaughter Finduilas. And Finrod was resurrected. But his favorite daughter was exiled for millennia in Middle-earth separated from her family.
Even in the face of so many misfortunes, he remained resolute and led the armies of Valinor in the War of Wrath. I think Finarfin is very underrated.
I saw lotr as a kid but in the last two weeks I watched the hobbit trilogy then the lotr trilogy then played shadow of war and have been binging your content since I finished the movies I’m so happy I became a fan of Tolkien diving into the lore through your channel has been an absolute treat. Keep up the great work!
Read the Lord of the Rings books…they are so much better than the movies (no shade to PJ’s trilogy either, it’s great) but the books are next level awesome. As for The Hobbit movies…meh…..but you should definitely read the book because The Hobbit is AMAZING. Heck, maybe give The Silmarillion a shot. Try the Martin Shaw narrated audiobook if you don’t want to read it….It’s very intriguing and full of so much information and history of the elves.
That was absolutely amazing ..... Please, more sir !!!!
While I may admire Finrod the most of all the Elves, it may be Finarfin who I honestly have the most in common with: for counseling against the journey East, then initially going along when no one listens, and finally having the sense to turn back when it was clearly crazy to go on, and maybe saving a few others along the way, is the course of action I can sincerely see myself taking, flawed as I am.
Finrod Felagund id my favorit elf, i think his wisdom and his beauty is inheritted from Finartin, his father.
What a beautiful video! You truly made justice do Finarfin's story
Anything silmarillion I am totally going to dig..
Finarfin is my favourite! The goat
Hi Yoystan, with you making epic character history videos about lesser important characters now, can we get one about Ecthelion of the fountain?
Thanks for all the research and insight. It makes want to write fan fiction of my own!
There is a whole history of elves in Tol Eressea and Alqualonde that is not recorded in the history of Middle Earth because it was detached. Many acts and deeds done while Middle Earth history past on
It's really good to see this character get his due recognition
I’ve only watched the movies and started the first book about a week ago so getting some back round on other characters has been super helpful. Thank you
What did the Elves actually do in the Blessed Realm? I mean, they got up to all kinds of cool and advertursome stuff in Middle Earth, and it certainly never got boring there. After sitting around in Uttermost West for millennia living artsy-fartsy lives of eternal peace and happiness, I think I'd wanna bail for Middle Earth myself.
I like to imagine a scenario in which, shortly after the War of Wrath, Finarfin meets up with Galadriel and they both tearfully hug each other. Then Finarfin asks Galadriel "Where are your brothers? Where are my sons?" And then she tells him that they're all dead, and she takes him to visit their graves. and he just cries his heart out, just like how Théoden cries on the grave of his son thousands of years later.
I'd really love it if they went into the different elven races sucha as high elves dark elves and wood elves in the rings of power
Im not happy with how they showed him in a Rings of Power show, short hair for such a wise and skilled warrior, I dont know...I can buy an excuse about that only young and naive elves have short hair...ok they arent wise and they dont know how the world works, but Finarfin with a short hair, I dont know, I wish they havent done...
One of the greatest friends and most loyal friend in all of legendarium!
Yoystan another great video!
I was about to check on something else before I clicked this accidentally.
Nice work dude thanks
Cool subject !
Just found your channel, its great! Also, is there any possibility of you using a de-esser in the future? Sometimes its a little hard to understand you cause the T’s and S’s are considerably louder than the vowels…
Great channel, congrats!
Yay, Finarfin! One of my favorites. Next one should be Ingwë, High King of the Elves...as in ALL the Elves. :-)
Very good . Made me remember what I read .
King Finarfin Is Now My Favorite Elf
This is why Galadriel had golden hair with silver strands, being the hair color of her father and mother. This hair inspired Feanor to capture the gold and silver light of the Two Trees in the silmarils.
Awesome listening to these stories
Such is the price to pay when one is compassionate wise and slow to anger. Some view it as weakness however it takes much strength to hold fast even when those you love fail to understand
One of most misunderstood characters in Tolkien's legendarium.
Awesome video!
Wonderful, many thanks.
I am new to making comment, but please continue your work it is well recieved.
Cool subject
I never considered that he would get to meet his family after the elves sailed back after the 3rd age. It's a nice side to see.
It also took no small amount of courage to decide to turn back and not follow Fëanor in his mad scheme to attack Morgoth.
A beautiful video, but I'd like to point out that Elladan and Elrohir did not pass onto the West with their father Elrond and shared the Elves' fate, so Finarfin would not have been able to meet them.
I might be able to explain the reason why some of these Noldor like Finarfin were named in Sindarin even though it would not make sense.
Although the out-of-world writer of the Legendarium was of course JRRT, in-world the story would have been written by character(s) who experienced all this (a bit like how Bilbo and Frodo wrote The Hobbit and LOTR in the story). Undoubtedly, it would have been one or some of the Noldor Exiles, as they had a great tale to tell including, going over to Middle Earth. Since the use of Quenya had been banned by Elu Thingol while he was alive, after him hearing of the Kinslaying of the Falmari, the Noldor would gradually have fallen out of use of their own language. Perhaps habit made them write still in Sindarin even after Thingol's demise, perhaps they wanted to make sure those in Middle Earth would actually understand the story. So their writings would have been in the language of the continent, and they would have referred to even the Valinorean Elves in a Sindarinised way.
Acting the role of FInarfin in a virtual world, I have found that many people have trouble pronouncing or remembering elven names and tend to shorten it to simply "FIn" or "Prince" lol. I think it is part of human nature to make things easier. :)
Love your videos! Question: If Orcs are corrupted Elves derived from the first children of Eru Ilúvatar, would this mean that they are also immortal but when they are slain return to the Halls of Mandos in Valinor?
Beautiful
5th! I'll take it.
Do we _know_ for sure that Angrod, Aegnor etc would only have been reincarnated after the breaking of the world? Why would they have suffered a near-eternity in Mandos, the same fate that Feanor himself (with all his evil deeds) would have been doomed to? I can imagine that Finrod Felagund was reincarnated first for his incredible good deeds and courage, but I would imagine his brothers would also have made it out before the end of time.
Being with Mandos for a period of time was not always as punishment, but it was a time taken to heal before returning.
He would of buzzed out when finrod told him how fingolfin had challenged melkor to single combat and delt him grevious wounds 😂 my bro was hard as nails!!
Oh kings of old! Ye may be gone..but thy deeds and lessons shall be remembered when a new Age of scholars arise
Yeah I go with the published text. Orodreth is brother to Galadriel, Amrod Aegnor, and Finrod.
Thanks for all the uploads! I wondered for a while, are you all British?
Thanks for watching! I’m American actually! I’m from Colorado!
@@MenoftheWest no way! That might explain why I could never get where the accent was from ;)
You're a real scholar and lore teller with these videos. Are you a writer yourself?
U am glad the legendarium has some many characters
Great Video! One question I had. Is it noted anywhere that Elladan and Elrohir actually sail west? I've always been curious about that, and seem to find conflicting information.
Having played endless hours of Kerbal Space Program I find watching these videos distracting as the background music makes me feel like I’m trying to land on Minmus.
Why queen melian abandoned doriath and left her people to die?
Gathered friends… listen again to our legend of the bionicle. In the time, before time, the great spirit descended from the heavens bringing we the ones called the matron to this paradise
Yoystan I aways wondered.
Was he just king of the noldor in Aman or or king of all the elves, or were there other kings in Aman?
who is the better craftsman? is it not written on the gates of Moria, that the masters of their respective crafts have laboured together?
Filgolfin was re-embodied by the Valar and fought in the War of Wrath? That doesn't ring any bell to me. Where is that written?
Thanks guys . Hail finafin king of the noldor.
finarfin was always my favorite of the elven princes- more wise and understanding than his brothers.
So I have a question for you guys is Finarfin considered the high king of all Noldor in Aman and middle earth because there is no other claimants to the title. Before anyone says Elrond is a claimant he is from the line of Turgon through Idril so he is from a female line which disqualifies him, thus I believe that Finarfin is the high of all Noldor in Arda as he is the last living male descendant of Finwe.
Can't wait for the what-if video for what if Gandalf never fell at the Bridge of Khazad-dum and continued with the fellowship to Lothlorien and on forward?
Shouldn’t he be a regent of his folk while the king was in exile in Middle-Earth? After all, if Turgon had been able to return to the Undying Lands, wouldn’t he be the rightful king? Or were the exiled considered disinherited? What would happen if his brother Filgonfin was brought back to life? Who would be the king?
Here's a question for all Tolkien scholars here: It has been said that Elrond's children, if they stayed after he left, would become mortal. Is there anything in the legendarium which hints at their fates?
Arwen did. She stayed and after Aragorns death she went to Lothlorien which was now empty as all the elves had gone. She lied down on the hill and passed away. I believe that it was in the appendix of the Lord of the Rings. Elrond knew that that would be the consequence of her choice and it grieved him deeply.
Yeah this is one mistake. The choice of the sons of Elrond isn’t known, though if anything it leans to them staying in Middle Earth.
@@OrangeMapleLeaf Yeah, but Arwen deliberately made Luthien's Choice. With Elladan and Elrohir, there are conflicting reports of their mortality.
@@ghostdreamer7272 You're right, it isn't stated. Though I hope they did travel eventually to Valinor. Perhaps they were staying on because Arwen was still there, and when she died they possibly sailed across the Sea then.
To the OP (Paul), I think it was the choice of Arwen to "cleave herself" to (i.e. love) Aragorn that made her mortal, not staying in Middle Earth per se. The films seem to give that impression, but I recall from the books that it was her choice to commit to a mortal that made her mortal. Therefore, her brothers - who had not committed to mortals - should still in theory have been immortal themselves.
I know this has nothing to do this video but this is the most recent version i could comment on... But i wanna see a video if hobbits or at least sam is an alcoholic cause when the hobbits are trying to leave bag end it says sam was saying goodbye to the beer barrels... And when frodo finally found him sam said sorry sir i have enough to last me now... So does he get the shakes.... Is thay why inns are so important in Tolkien... Was he trying to tell us something.. Id love to see ypu dissect the importants of inns and drink in his writings... I l know totally off subject... Especially cause the hobbits are "supposedly" him and his friends and the shire is a rough version of his home... Thats why the scouring of the shire is important cause the same thing happened to the mill by his home that he loved... So alot of his writings reflects his real life... God damn that what you get for listening to the audiobooks high as F
🔥👁🔥
Yeeeeeessssssss!!!!!
If every single Noldorian elf is rembodied then every rembodied elf would be subject of Finarfin. Tell me if i am wrong
hey heres a good question why didn't any other races take the ring or try to such as orc or troll or even goblin they werent bound to the one ring like the wraiths were what if one of those races got it or even a balrog got it