The Sons of Fëanor: Maedhros | Tolkien Explained
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- Опубліковано 30 вер 2024
- Maedhros is the eldest of the sons of Fëanor. With his father and brothers, they would swear a dreadful oath that would lead to great evil. Maedhros would take part in all three kinslayings of elves against elves, seeing five of his six brothers die in the attempts to retrieve a Silmaril.
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Feanoreans - Jenny Dolfen
Oath of Feanor - Jenny Dolfen
Seven Sons - Jenny Dolfen
Alqualonde - Ted Nasmith
It ends in flame - Jenny Dolfen
The Oath of Feanor - Bellabergolts
Maedhros home - YidanYuan
Death of the Trees - Kuliszu
Morgoth came - Jenny Dolfen
Oath of Feanor - Aegeri
The Oath of Feanor - Ted Nasmith
Feanor with Silmaril - Steamey
Taniquetil - Ted Nasmith
Osse and Teleri - Steamey
Swanhaven - Alan Lee
The Grey Swan Ship - Alan Lee
The Kinslaying - Ted Nasmith
Alqualonde - Ted Nasmith
Spirit of Fire - Jenny Dolfen
Bliss of Valinor - Jenny Dolfen
Buring the Ships - Ted Nasmith
Then Maedhros alone stood aside - Catherine Karine Chmiel
Beleriand Map - Lamaarcana
The Battle of the Five Armies - Alan Lee
Feanors last stand - Pete Amachree
Death of Feanor - Jenny Dolfen
Maedhros - Bellabergolts
Luthien Tenuviel - Aegeri
Maedhros and Maglor - Jenny Dolfen
But Morgoth sent the more - Catherine Chmiel
Humiliation - Jenny Dolfen
Captured - Jenny Dolfen
Maedhros beholds the sun - Turner Mohan
Friends - Maedhros and Fingon - Catherine Karine Chmiel
Thangorodrim - Catherine Karine Chmiel
Forgive me my brother - Jenny Dolfen
Helcaraxe - Jenny Dolfen
Himlin - Aegeri
Eithel Sirion - YidanYuan
Fingon - YidanYuan
The Coming of Glaurung - Alan Lee
Battle of Sudden Flame - Alan Lee
Deeds of Surpassing Valour - Jenny Dolfen
Maglor slew Uldor - Jenny Dolfen
Beren Recovers a Silmaril - Anke Eissmann
Noldor - Bellabergolts
Maedhros - Bellabergolts
Turin - Catherine Karine Chmiel
Battle of Unnumbered Tears - Alan Lee
Dagor Nirnaeth Arnoediad - John Howe
Tears Unnumbered - Jenny Dolfen
Fall of Gondolin - Ralph Damiani
Death of the Lord of Nogrod - Steamey
Luthien at Tol Galen - Ted Nasmith
Despair and Determination - Jenny Dolfen
Descendants of Thingol - Jenny Dolfen
Maedhros searches for the sons of Dior - Jenny Dolfen
Elwing receives the survivors of Gondolin - Alan Lee
The Sea - Ted Nasmith
And Maglor took pity upon them - Catherine Karina Chmiel
As little might be thought - Jenny Dolfen
Earendil and Elwing - Aegeri
The Shores of Valinor - Ted Nasmith
Vingilot - Aegeri
Surely that is a Silmaril - Alan Lee
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Gil-Estel the Star of High Hope - Lida Holubova
There will be blood - Jenny Dolfen
Maedhros and Caranthir - Catherine Karina Chmiel
Earendil Searches Tirion - Ted Nasmith
Battle - Anke Eissmann
Tulkas Chaining Morgoth - Kip Rasmussen
Ossiriand - Jenny Dolfen
Maedhros the Tall - Jenny Dolfen
Maglor - Jenny Dolfen
They Prepared to Die - Jenny Dolfen
Maedhros and Maglor prepared to defend themselves - Catherine Karina Chmiel
Maglor - Aegeri
Maedhros - Aegeri
Maedhros - Yidan Yuan
Maedhros casts himself into a chasm - Ted Nasmith
The Halls of Mandos - Ralph Damiani
The Sundering - Ralph Damiani
For more on the life of Maedhros check out:
The Silmarillion by JRR Tolkien
Tolkien Gateway
The Encyclopedia of Arda
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#maedhros #silmarillion #tolkien
Who is your favorite of the Sons of Fëanor?
Maedhros
Probably Maedhros cause he was the strongest in my opinion
Maglor was pretty cool too
Yikes. None
Maedhros and Maglor
Maedhros is the essence of sillmarillion. Noble,heroic,wise,fair,but most of all,tragic. it;s the best character development in first age
"Unable to bear the suffering, Maglor cast his Silmaril into the sea. Thereafter, he wandered along the shores of the world singing laments over the loss of the Silmaril, until he faded from memory though the circumstances and date of his death, if it ever happened at all, are unknown."
Debating his history and possible untold fate going into the second and third ages would be an amazing conversation.
This is going to be a great series! So glad you’re doing videos for Fëanor’s children.
Also Feanor should have written this Oath down and then he might have seen how poorly worded it was, and edited it before swearing it. I think he might have reworked it lol
Aye, but that would require Feanor to reflect and take stock of his past mistakes, which, for all his power and abilities, was beyond his strength of character
Nah, Fëanor knew precisely what he was doing. He is the greatest of the Noldor, the elves most obsessed with words.
@@helenwhs I agree. He might have been mad with grief and paranoia, but he knew exactly what he was choosing for himself, and, which I find more unforgivable, his sons.
The oath was taken under the influence of passion, when the Valar tried to evade responsibility (and in some versions of the canon - to disinherit Feanor), and Feanor himself grieved at the loss of his beloved father. In such an environment, there is no time for beautiful speeches and direct formulations.
Man what a warrior, altough his deeds bring a lot of evil to the rest of the Elves and the entire Middleearth he was an Elf of his word! His oath, his honor, his pride turns out to be his curse and doom! I've never liked Sons of Feanor for their deeds but I will always respect Maedhros, who was closest to his father and yet sometimes tried to be reasonable and honorable!
Matt as always great and amazing video, a small q, if you ever found time, could you make a video about history of Dunedain and Rangers of the North, where they dwelt, fought, their chieftains and everything, that would be great!
Great video!
I second that sentiment, as I respect his unwavering resolve and duty to see the Oath through to the bitter end despite how unpleasant his actions may be in doing so. Also, what stands out to me is that Maedhros not participating in the burning of the Teleri ships at Losgar tells me that even Maglor had some cold-bloodedness to him, or at the very least was tough-minded to commit that act.
Finaly !!! Ty
Yep, being a jackass is truly hereditary when it comes to Feanor and his sons, with the exception of Maedhros and Maglor of course.
So the Noldor who followed Fëanor have a bad rep for causing so much death, destruction, and despair because of their quest to keep possession of the Silmaril’s despite the Valar’s (who were like “Gods” to the elves) request to use them to replace the light of the now destroyed trees, despite the fact their leader Fëanor was the one who created them in the first place. It took him a lot of toiling, time, effort, research and resources to do so, even probably effected him mentally to create this, and then was expected to just give it away? Im sure the other groups of elves that judged the Noldor so harshly would have fought back or tried to get some vengeance if another group of elves or creatures tried to take their most valuable treasures that they toiled so hard for too. In fact you don’t see these other groups running to present the Silmaril they eventually obtain to the Valar as requested of Fëanor, instead stashing it away as their own treasure. They basically stole an elf and his family/people’s rarest, most valuable (almost invaluable in that they was beyond worth) treasures and then didn’t expect the Noldor to come for it or be angry? These other elves/mair weren’t doing the right thing w/it either (giving to the Valar to help restore the lost lights/trees), they locked and hoarded it away just like Fëanor did and became just about as enthralled with it as Fëanor. Elwing only surrendered it in service to the Valar when she was backed into a corner (either she dies, silmaril still gets taken buy Maehdros and Maglor or she jump and die w/the silmaril & when the Valar saves her she really doesn’t have much of a choice to do their bidding with flying the sky w/it w/Earendil (where it is still in hevpresence and can still enthrall her attention). She abandoned her elfling sins (who she thought would most probably be executed) over this stolen jewel that wasn’t hers or her elves in the first place.
I’m not saying the Noldor were noble or everything they did was justified (they did some pretty horrendous things) but I think almost any other group of elves would have acted the same way if in the Noldor’s position. If fact many other elves do resort to death and destruction and putting their people and elfling so at risk by refusing to surrender the Silmaril’s back to their original owners and choosing to engage in death and destruction as well. Yes the No,did did foolish and regrettable things, but it’s not surprising they tried to fight what they perceived to be an injustice against them and other groups of elves act in ways similar to Fëanor and the Noldor in regards to the Silmaril’s and other things (greed, enthrallment, kinslayings, lying, manipulation, secreting awaupy/hoarding), yet the Noldor, who were the ones originally wronged took all of the blame and became a scapegoat for issues beyond the Silmaril’s and their ill fated oath
How Were the Silmarils Made
Such a tragic story. Maedhros is definitely a good guy in his heart, but the oath tears him apart on so many occasions.
'So many vows. They make you swear and swear. Defend the king, obey the king, obey your father, protect the innocent, defend the weak. But what if your father despises the king? What if the king massacres the innocent? It's too much. No matter what you do you are forsaking one vow or another.'
- Jamie Lannister, Game of Thrones.
My favorite guy! He has such 'tired oldest sibling' energy 😂 Glad to see him getting his due!
Ikr.... I love him too
So much potential. Such a waste.😞
You forgot his feats during Dagor Bragollach : "Maedhros did deeds of surpassing valour, and the Orcs fled before his face; for since his torment upon Thangorodrim his spirit burned like a white fire within, and he was as one that returns from the dead. Thus the great fortress upon the Hill of Himring could not be taken, and many of the most valiant that remained, both of the people of Dorthonion and of the east marches, rallied there to Maedhros; and for a while he closed once more the Pass of Aglon, so that the Orcs could not enter Beleriand by that road. "
Some say Feanor is the most tragic. Nah, Maedhros for sure. By far the most complex of the Elves, in my opinion. Even more tragic because he absolutely KNEW he was wrong, but was also a very GOOD guy, by "sons of Feanor standards" and just did what he needed to do, like a badass, even to the end.
I think most would agree Maglor was the best and most redeemable, but Maedhros is one of my personal favorite characters in the entire story. Sort of an unwilling villain who never pretended to be a hero, he's much more nuanced than even many protagonists of the Great Tales.
Was Maglor also the great musician?
Yes and yes
Really makes me wonder now why Matt left that out - or that he became an even better swordsman with his left hand than he was previously with his right.
Especially considering the part of all of Feanor's son are almost the same until they die. Why would you leave out the details that differentiate them? Really odd choice IMO.
Maedhros is one of the greatest tragic characters for sure.
What happen to with Maglor?
The tale of Feanor is one of my favorite stories in the Middle Earth Legendarium; worthy of a film series in its own right. You've done a fantastic job, once again, in bringing another excellent story from Tolkien's Legendarium to life.
This should’ve been the first part of the show, not some sort of prequel they will definitely do with it. It is an ultimate creation epic, surpassing most tales in regard to style and grand scale of everything that came from it. It builds the platform for all events that come after such as LOTR. Where many tales come from, where the fates of Beren and Luthien and Arwen and Aragorn are tied. It’s incredible.
One day Silmarillion TV series I think 🤔
Someone already said it but they should've done this story instead of the second age.
I heard that the Tolkien family has forbidden an adaptation be made of the Silmarillion, and I imagine any such adaptation would be a grand undertaking that would probably be ruined, but the war of the ring is well known, and was captured well with the LotR trilogy. I think the more they try to add on to that story the worse the adaptations get.
Perhaps, in years to come, we may see a worthy portraying of Tolkien's world that sits just below the tip of the iceberg.
@@turinturambar1159 Its true. The Tolkien Estate has said in no uncertain terms that source material found outside of the LOTR trilogies, including the appendices, is strictly off limits. There's a reason for that.
Peter Jackson, who is widely revered for bringing the LOTR and The Hobbit to the silver screen, literally wrecked any hope of the Tolkien Estate releasing the rights to the Silmarillion or any other of Tolkien's writings not already on film.
Specifically, the Tolkien Estate (and by that I mean Christopher Tolkien himself) was thoroughly disgusted not only with what Jackson did with the LOTR series but, moreover what he did with The Hobbit. Since Tolkien sold the rights to the LOTR and The Hobbit in 1976, there really wasn't much the Estate could do to stop the films from being made, especially The Hobbit; although they tried very hard to stop the production of The Hobbit.
So, when The Hobbit was split into three movies and all sorts of material were stuffed into the films that were not in the book, the Tolkien Estate pretty much said never again when it comes to the licensing of any other material from Tolkien's legendarium.
So, when Amazon miraculou8sly acquired the rights to produce The Rings of Power, not only did the Tolkien Estate exact a redonkulous price for those rights but, they retained final say on all aspects of the story line content, restricted the source material to the appendices of the LOTR trilogies and what's already been released and confined the parameters of the production to the Second Age. However, all of this came with the overarching caveat that Peter Jackson comes no where near Amazon's production. He can't even step foot on a film set, lend any manner of advice in any capacity.......nothing.
So, if anyone is wondering why we're not likely going to see any material from the Silmarillion or any other books be produced on film in our lifetime, now you know why. Its a shame, too. There are many stories that came out of the First Age that are really good that could be made into fantastic films.
@@akasgsvirgil9503 I have no clue where you gained all this wisdom but thanks for these insights. I think it is charming that the Sil will always be in our own imagination.
Even though he and his brothers were responsible for the deaths of so many innocent elves, of all the brothers he and Maglor were the only two who I felt like they redeemed themselves. The fact that he refused to help the others burn the ships of the Teleri unlike the rest of his family shows that he did have some compassion even when he repented and went back to find Elwings twin brothers after the servants of Celegorm left them in the forest to starve. Of the 7 sons of Feanor he’s is probably one of my favorites. His death was pretty tragic after gaining what he and his brothers and sought out for years only to be burned by it because of all the wrongs he did thanks to an oath made.
I think it was in The Lost Road and Other Writings where Maedros felt remorse for the Second Kinslaying and decided to stop pursuing the Silmarilli, but that did not stop his brothers from organizing the Third Kinslaying. Maedros probably had no part in the Third Kinslaying. It is possible that Maglor took part in neither of the last two Kinslayings. But I still don't see them getting reembodied until the Dagor Dagorath.
@@EnerdhilI can't recall the source exactly but it seems all the elves will eventually be reembodied, Feanor being the only one who will have to wait for the last battle. So it will be long for Maedhros but less than his father
@@JSheridanEntilZha
Eöl and his son Maeglin will not be embodied until the Dagor Dagorath, me thinks.
You should rank them all after you finish the series.
Like how bangable they are?
Shelob: 10/10
What I don't get is. Before Belariand sinks, how do the elf's find out and our how do they all escape if knew?
Awesome shout!
Number 4 will surprise you…!
Luthien was such a badass, bro. The fact that they didn't even try to take the Silmaril from her speaks volumes.
She bewitched the great dark lord, blackmailed his second in command, stunned his hellhound into sleep and moved death itself to pity.
OBVIOUSLY you don't mess with her.
@@michaelt.5672 Yes, especially that she is half maia.
Damn, what a mary sue! Luthien sucks.
@@CarnisianLady LMFAOOOO 🤣
One of the few to ever defeat Sauron almost singlehandedly (with the help of Huan)! Luthien is the best.
Maedhros stands out among all the 7 sons, firstborn, red-haired, hung from Thangorodrim, a Noldor king, seemed the most sane of all his brothers. A sad ending for a first age hero, when you realise the oath that led you down this long dark was for all in vain...even in the end he took the Silmaril with him, in a way still fulfilling the oath he had sworn. Tolkien was an absolute genius.
It's not that the oath was in vain, for they did keep it. It's that the oath was vain in and of itself, and the dark acts they committed in its name voided any right they had to such...holy relics.
@@blackmage665 Yet the Silmarils still belong to the House of Fëanor, whether they are actually deserving of them or not.
@@indio4-215 clearly they did not. I think in their essence being of the two trees, they ultimately belong not to feanor but to illuvatar.
The light of the Two Trees was created by Yavanna and hallowed by Manwë and Varda but the Valar had no idea of how to break the silmarils. Fëanor had not shared the secret of how to create the silmarils with anybody.
Actually Maglor was the most sane of them all. After Maedhros was rescued from Thangorodrim, he was mentally never the same again.
I want to give a huge shoutout to Jenny Dolfen, who painted like half the paintings in this vid and is an amazing artist! I think Maedhros is also her favorite Silmarillion character, which is why she painted him so often. Her picture of him throwing himself in the chasm is such a beautiful composition, too - it's my favorite of her!
YASSSSS Jenny Dolfen is a BOSS!
she is brilliant!
Maedhros is one of my favourite characters from middle earth as his story is exactly like on old legend of a misguided hero. His story definitely feels like one Elrond would tell his kids or Bilbo would tell Frodo and the Hobbiton kids as an old tale.
Maedhros is a tragic hero. Although he was aware they were all doomed, he kept fighting Morgoth. He was horrified by the evil deeds caused by the Pursue of the Silmarils but he felt bound to the oath and to the memory of his father. I hope that in the end he will be rembodied and will reunite with his mother in Valinor.
Imho, there's no reason why he shouldn't be reembodied. He fulfilled the oath. However, the amount of counselling he'd need would be unbelievable.
Nope he will have to wait for the second song.
He knew what he was doing was evil so his ass is just going to have to wait like his daddy
cry me a river tootsie!
As much I love Maedhros, I find myself liking Maglor a bit more. I liked how an elf known for his singing was later only known as a kinslayer. Even though we don't know much about all of their personalities, I always viewed Maglor being just as reluctant/horrified as Maedhros. His composing of The Noldolante just hits hard, plus how he tries to persuade Maedhros that they should go back to Valinor to receive judgment for their dark deeds.
Wish Tolkien wrote more about Maglor after he threw his silmaril into the sea, but it's definitely a fitting tragic ending for him.
Excited for more vids on these interesting and complex characters.
I read the last battle of Fingolfin to my dad on his deathbed. The Silmarillion is a haunting beauty, like the elves themselves.
Feanor: **Self-incinerates when he dies because his zeal was literally too hot**
Amros: Well at least that will save funeral expenses!
Maedhros/Maglor: >:(
Maedhros always seemed like the most noble of the Sons to me. Its sad that he, like all his kin, are held to the oath of Feanor.
He seems like he would probably have been one of the greatest heroes of Middle-Earth if not for that stupid oath.
Curufin is the coolest son of Feanor
@@fatrider1four no no no
Dior didn't kill Celegorm, Curufin and Caranthir - they all die during the attack on Doriath - but only Celegorm dies by his hand :
"There fell Celegorm by Dior’s hand, and there fell Curufin, and dark Caranthir; but Dior was slain also, and Nimloth his wife, and the cruel servants of Celegorm seized his young sons and left them to starve in the forest."
Also Sons of Feanor were likely had much less forces than Doriath : "The realm of Fingon was no more; and the sons of Fëanor wandered as leaves before the wind. Their arms were scattered, and their league broken; and they took to a wild and woodland life beneath the feet of Ered Lindon, mingling with the Green-elves of Ossiriand, bereft of their power and glory of old."
Mardhros was indeed a gray character although we never know if he is a broken hero or a villain
he was indeed the best of Feanor sons and he proved that by passing The Noldor High King right to his uncle Fingolfin and later gifting him horses of Valinor
but i see that he could have redepmtion even that the Silmaril burned his hand as a sign of he is not worthy to touch it but he wanted to go back and ask the Valar to spare him sadly for him he name Eru Eluvatar
Well technically, you could say he gained redemption, and then screwed it with the second and third kinslaying. Plus murdering those poor guards who were just doing their jobs.
Fate is usually even less kind to relapses than first offenders 😉
@@bishop6218 well he surely didn't want to do the last kin slaying and kill the guards but he had to because the oath can't be broken , also war wasn't his first choice he didn't just go raid for silmaril out of the blue he asked for it before and the other elves knowing how important it is because they are bound by an oath they still chosed to keep it
@@donya716 he tried to talk Maedhros out of killing the guards in order to take the silmarils but eventually gave in.
The friendship between Maedhros and Fingon is my favourite
“Friendship”. Or some sort of -ship, anyway. (Runs away fast). Seriously, that between Meadhros and Fingon seems to me the most touching and tragic relationship in the whole Legendarium, if you think that Meadhros failed to reach him as planned during the Nirnaeth. I keep thinking that it was Fingon that kept Meadhros together, and was only after his death - and the loss of all their armies, their lands, their hope - that the whole Feanorians brood went to wreck and ruin.
🖤
@@annafdd Perhaps it was like the relationship between Achilles and Patroklos?
@@untruelie2640 Totally cousins!
@@annafdd They were roomates. Confirmed by history I am telling ya. Jokes aside I am glad I am not the ONLY one that notices this dynamic between them. Fingon saved Maedhros from Angband and gave him a second chance to life and if we think about it Maedhros really did take that chance he tried to be a better man all because of this and that is reflected in all of his selfless acts until the Nirnaeth Arnoediad. Once Fingon dies this hope Maedhros had this reason to be a better person I believe dies with him and that is trully unbearably heartbreaking. I don't even think Maedhros wanted to try anymore. I get the feeling that as you said it all went downhill from there. Fingon's death was a breaking point for Maedhros. I even think that Maedhros had lost the will to live since then but couldn't die because of the damn oath. For me not going to lie they are like the not so secret protagonists of the book. (plus come on that rescue scene, it's just embedded in my brain so freakin beautiful!)
Maedhros represents a character whom if he was born at a different time or family or environment would be a good guy. He represents someone forced by circumstances, there are constant glimpses of his good character throughout his life and even up until his death. He is more relatable, a person you can't help yourself but have sympathy for what they've gone through. Today, he'll represent a good man loyal to the ideology of his country, family, tribe or race (even to the detriment of others) but glimpses of his true deeper good would still display themselves now and then. He is as almost as Boromir is.
It seems to me more that he is a GOOD GUY whose circumstances force him to do BAD DEEDS. And with all this, he remains a gray-light character, because for every sin, he tries to pay off with a good deed. The killings are a tragedy, not a forced necessity for him. And although his thoughts and ideas are unknown to us, it should be remembered that he was once a king, the leader of his people, who fought against a great enemy. And I like to think that he continued to care for his companions, and even in the darkest days of Beleriand, he continued to fight Melkor. openly or secretly.
maedhros is probably my absolute favorite character… also how do you absolutely nail the pronunciation every time!?
The best character. I love him endlessly.
I am really looking forward to your Sons of Fëanor series! Maedhros is my personal favorite. He is quite different than his father. Noldor was on the edge of civil war, but because of his decision to move east, it didn't happened. And he also participated in unification of Noldor. He must be also great military leader, because he withhold Himring during Dagor Bragollach. He shows empathy and conscience when he tried to find Dior's sons or when he raised together with Maglor Elrond and Elros. His eventual end is very sad.
Hope we see Maglor and Caranthir soon!
Of all charakters in the Silmarillion, I like Maedhros the most. He is an ambiguous and somewhat tragic character, torn between loyalty and conscience. He tries to do the right thing yet ultimately fails in everything. He is one of the most realistic characters in Tolkien's work, because he isn't just purely good or evil and he also isn't a "you can't alter your fate" type like Frodo. He has agency and he uses it to do both good and bad things.
I absolutely love Maedhros, he might be my favorite character from all of Tolkien's works. His story and life are so tragic, and I believe that if he wasn't bound to the Oath, he would be considered one of the greatest heroes of the First Age. I can't wait to see your videos on his brothers!
Definitely wish now that eventually the Tolkein family will allow someone to put a movie(s) or new TV show to go more into the story of Feanor, his sons, the oath of Feanor, and the kinslayings that occurred because of this oath. A show or movie like this could make someone like Maedhros a good anti-hero because of his imprisonment by Morgoth, his capable leadership on the battlefield, and his humanity/humility over his brothers in cases like in the burning of the ships. At the same time, he has those moments that remind you why he's not a hero when he decides to participate in the three kinslayings (the later two led by him personally).
In summary, Maedhros sounds like a great movie/TV character because he would be a complex one where at times you're rooting for him, but at other times you're not!
While for Man/Edain Turin is the most tragic character, for Elves I see their tragic counterpart to be Maedhros; was good at heart and was a valiant warrior that ultimately was brought to a bad end because of a curse, and right at the every end of the War of Wrath not living to see what became of his house and race after the banishment of Morgoth.
Maedhros: Uncle gets to be king
Brothers: Angry
Me: get over yourselves, you brought this on yourselves!
I think the tragedy of Maedhros is quite poignant. His is not a story of valiant feats and heroism, but one of struggles and failures. He doesn't win, and it's debatable whether he ever redeems himself, but it's noted that his struggles are important. There's something redemptive and poetic in the acknowledgement that he's tried, that his doom, while inevitable, isn't the only thing that defines him.
The other day I was dicussing with a friend how pleople dislike the sons of Fëanor, because of the Oath and what they had to do to fulfill it. Since first I read the book I felt extemely sad for them, specially Maedhros and Maglor! On the other hand, I used to get upset because I never saw anyone commenting on Elwing taking the Silmaril and fleeing two times with it.
that was really unnecessary of Elwing if she could just be wise as her great grand mother and give it to the sons of Feanor if she just knew that the doom of her kin is because of this cursed jewel , but because of her the Valar interfered and took away Morgorth for good , if she gave the jewel to Feanor sons the Valar would never see her with the jewel and decide to take out Morgorth and go to middle earth , or the first age wouldn't end
@@donya716 Yes! Exactly my point, she did not appear wise as Melian, as in both occasions she puts the Silmaril above her people (including her brothers and later her sons). But of course, I understand that it was necessary for the story to continue, and for Eärendil to reach Valinor. But still, I wish Tolkien had explored that too, as it never mentions why she was so keen on keeping it even after whet happened in Doriath and then at the Mouths of Sirion. It was my gut feeling as a teenager to be upset, specially for how things develop for the Sons of Fëanor, that literally had to do things because of the Oath! I am still critical of it to be honest.
Don't forget the Doom of Mandos. The Oath of Feanor is tied to the Silmarils, and so is the first kinslaying and the subsequent judgement and punishment. If you posess a Silmaril or even just desire to posess it, you fall under the doom of Mandos. This caused the death of Thingol, the destruction of Doriath and the sacking of the Sirion havens.
@@1310Gaytan i think it was necessary for the story to continue too , i really hoped deep down that Maedhros and Maglor could have redemption , but not giving the first silmaril is exactly the reason that Morgoth is defeated
@@MrRenanHappy they asked for the Silmaril before they raided , Dior should have given them the jewel and avoid war and kinslaying he had the choice and then she had the choice , okay do i give back the Silmaril or do I test the loyalty of the sons of Feanor to their oath ? they know they have an oath and they know how important it is oaths and how it is a big deal but they chosed that they must keep it for themselves , at some point they both share the blame because Dior and Elwing both knew about the oath of Feanor they could've just avoided kinslaying but they didn't
at some point i do understand that it was necessary for the story to continue
but Feanorians despite being more bad than good they do not take the blame alone
My baby boy. The entire Silmarillion is about Maedhros more than anyone else, really. From the creation of the silmarils to the war of wrath, he played an important part in almost all the major events.
His Union is even mentioned in the prologue of The Children of Hurin.
I am so glad to read such comments about Maedhros... Of all Tolkien characters he has always been my favorite, and I wondered whether I was the only one.
After all these years, I realize not only Maedhros is a popular character but even a *very* loved one...
I love Maedhros because of his valour and similarities to Feanor, and his acts in the war of morgoth.
Also I am an oldest son as well so *respect* ...
I'm so excited that you are covering the sons of Feanor! I can't get enough of them! Thank you so much
I genuinely appreciate that you were able to correctly pronounce the name of Eärendil.
The movie made the mistake of thinking that the two dots were an umlaut, rather than being a diaeresis and so they mangled the pronunciation of his name.
I really like that you took your pronunciation queues from Tolkien, rather than the movie.
Maedhros is my favorite character from the first age, cool, powerful and tragic.
is it just me or i do think that Feanor sons should not take the blame alone for the kinslaying ?
king Elu Thingol knew about the oath and the doom of mandos
but he chosed to keep it and it ended badly for him
now it goes to Luthien being such a nice elf that no one dared to ask her for it
her son must at least learn from his grandfather's mistake
or at least he knew about the oath and he know that such oaths can't be broken even when it is regret
THEY KNEW THAT THEIR KIN (feanor sons) ARE DOOMED BUT YET THEY CHOSE NOT TO HELP BUT TO INTERFERE AND HAVE WAR WITH THEM
Maedhros and Maglor at the end they didn't want to do the last kinslaying (the guards) but the oath could not be broken
i think the best thing the have done is casting away the silmarils
Am I the only one who would like to see a What If were The Oath was never taken?
EDIT: HOLY SHIT! I'VE BEEN NOTICED. THANK YOU!
A little foreshadowing of his fate by his hair? 🤔🤔🤔
Oh.My.God ....... I never thought of that !
Don't know why its taken me so long to get reading the Silmarillion, but I'm about halfway through and just started the story of Numenor's fall. I've read LOTR and the Hobbit multiple times, but somehow never got around to reading Tokien's other works. All good stuff. Next comes Unfinished Tales of Numenor and Middle-earth and then, to infinity and beyond! Oooops, wrong storyline.
Maedhros is by far his best son, and the most likeable alongside Maglor!
One of my favorite Middle-Earth characters and can you imagine how depressing it would've been if it was Maglor who jumped into the fiery chasm instead of Maedhros.
I mean being the eldest is one thing, but outliving all of your younger brothers would've been dark af.
I know Men of the West has done something like this, but I'd be interested to see a video on middle earth food and drink.
My favourite son and my favourite family (except for Celegorm and Curufin)
So how does he hang on the side of the mountain for 24+ years without dying of starvation? He can't die of age due to being an Elf and we are told they have to get him by eagle, so how did he get water/food? Would he not refuse such goods and die by his own will?
Again we hear of the battle were Dragons and countless Orcs pour forth and as we know, Morgoth can't create, only corrupt, so how does the dragons appear? They are not mentioned as similar beings as Ungoliant and The Watcher, as far as I know. Would they not have to capture and corrupt an equal amount of Elves to bring forth that many Orcs? Or can they simply apply the Elven essence/recipe into these mentioned cesspooles (LotR)?
I can't seem to find any answers to this, as I am genuinly curious about how a lot of these things works. But maybe they simply just are and I should not seek answers to this. :)
If you think about it, it was the loss of Fingon that broke Maedhros. Up until then, he was a genuinely good person, giving up the High King title to his half-uncle and carrying on with fighting Morgoth despite the pain and terror he had suffered in captivity. But after Fingon was killed in action, that was when Maedhros went mad.
This character was always my favorite from the Silmarillion
I'm curious about something. If all the elves know who the sons of Feanor are and that they have an unbreakable oath to get the Silmarils, why do so many people refuse to give them over so that they can be free from their oath? I know after a certain point they didn't deserve them anymore but what about all the times before they reached that point?
I am probably thinking about this wrong but are the sons of Feanor required to bring the gems back to the Valinor or do they just have to keep them in their possession? Otherwise could just holding the gems free them from their oath?
I find Maedhros' relationship to the Silmarils/his demise to be a really interesting parallel to Gollum's relationship to the One Ring/falling into the cracks of doom. They both seem capable of doing the right thing which gives us hope and makes us root for them, but they ultimately fail, and it creates this feeling of both pity and contempt. I see them as the most human characters in all of Tolkien. They mirror how we the audience see ourselves. We want to achieve our potential but often fail, and it's very cathartic to exercise feelings of anger and sadness towards them as anti-heroes.
Love the content. Please could you do a travels of fingolfin he's my favourite elf.
Have you paid attention that he still likes our comments even with 500k subscribers? A nerd truly, and a chieftain of the March of maedhros the tall indeed.)
“Fair shall be the end, though long and hard the road!” - Feanor
They were the Heisenbergers of Middle Earth!
His story just makes me think "Feanor was still screwing everyone over and he was dead for a good chunk of Maedhros' own story".
Maglor, who loved them and became foster father of Elrond and his brother, that in it's self should have earned forgiveness. Only Maglor of all the brothers, even Maedros, was able to free himself from the oath, by throwing the silmaril he kept into the sea. No one knows if he allowed himself to die, or whether he still wanders the shoreline of the sea in contrition of his evil deeds.
Maedhros has no business being so relatable.
I love how they would “never dare assail Luthien”, yeah you better not. And Dior killed THREE of the sons of Feanor
Never fails to break my heart. Meadhros is one of my favourite among Tolkien’s characters.
My favourite son tied with Maglor. I love pronouncing his name.
A four hundred year siege is mind blowing.
The info you put in them. The artwork is amazing. I feel that if they never made the oath that they could have made less of a mess.
sweet boy maedhros (who committed kinslaying, but that's... ok). i love him. ♡
this story is one my favourites. Feanor is such a great character 👌🏼
You're saying his name wrong. The "dh" is supposed to be a "th" sound.
my favorite son of Feanor is maglor
Hope Maglor is the last to be told. His premise and ultimate fate is a great mystery to delve into.
Really good video I love the caracter Fëanor
Maedros started out as a decent person, but lived long enough to see himself become the villain. The Silmarils certainly judged him as such.
This is such a great channel and I really enjoy your videos. Presented very well and I learn a lot. Some I watch multiple times to get all the details, or just love the character you’re discussing.
What is the picture that is shown at the 25 second mark?
What I don't understand is why Lúthien and her descendants insist on keeping the Silmaril. It only brings them problems. And Elwing is mom of the year with the whole abandoning her kids for the sake of a pretty stone. Honestly, I'm surprised Elrond and Elros weren't more damaged in their childhood from both their parents just abandoning them.
I feel that after Luthien's death, the Silmarill should have been returned to Maedhros. His family sacrificed their whole lives in their pursuit, fighting Morgoth for thousands of years. Then when the Silmarill was stolen from Morgoth, they left it with the person who managed to do it. But afterwards, they have the rightful claim to it, and people who didn't do anything to get it refused to turn it over.
Finally i have waited solong for this. Can you please make a video on Samwise gamgee. Or the gaffer
"I shall take a great guard to treat with Morgoth, as I expect treachery"
Noone ever expects DOUBLE treachery... also balrogs
Great video! love this topic! Maehdros and Maglor have been among my favorite characters always. Can't wait for Maglor's video, I always wonder where is he. How about Dior, that would be an amazing character, pity we didn't get to hear much of him, but he killing three of Feanor's sons is an amazing feat.
12:38, not sure if this was a slight error or if im confused, but you say Morgoth instead of Maedhros? not being picky tho excellent oration
Gonna name my first child (son) Maedhros. Coming in 4 weeks wish me luck
Great video! I just finished reading the fall of Gondolin and I read whatever you just told in that book, do you think the prophecy of Mandos is ever fulfilled?
Maedhros is my favourite one of the brothers (and of all Noldor elves), but waiting for more stories about them all. The only thing I missed is whether he took part in the final battle against Morgoth or was somewhere else at that moment.
I beg you to continue this series, i would really like seeing maglor and the rest of the brothers here on your channel!!
If there is going to be a silmarilion film or series, maedhros should be the main protagonist
Have you done a video on Turin yet? I just finished the Children of Hurin and it was amazing! Your channel has got me much deeper into Tolkien lore than I ever have before and I have always been a fan! Also Debbie is the bomb!!!!
Bravo! You've done it again!
The story of the life of Maedhros is truly amazing and epic.
The OATH of all things is what got me emotional this time. It is so horrifyingly potent (Tolkien should be applauded!), one can absolutely understand why the sons of Feanor were incapable of breaking it. It's curious why Christopher Tolkien left the actual text of the Oath out of The Silmarillion (much like the omission of the actual text of Morgoth's curse on Hurin and his kin).
The Nirnaeth Arnoediad told from just about any angle gets me emotional, as well. Also, imagining what was going through Maedhros' mind as he searched in anguish through the forest for the twins, Elured and Elurin, the pity of Eonwe towards Maedhros and Maglor by letting them go with the Silmarils rather than slaying them (which would have been just), and the finality of Maedhros fullfilling his doom when the Silmaril burns his hand, and he realizes he has lost his Claim.
Truly tremendous storytelling!
May have said this before. But I love all of your videos
The Simarils otherwise known as the reckoning of the "terrible oath" which drives this great mythos/saga/ high romance of Middle Earth. There needs to a an anime of this, Excalibur-esque. I have reread this tragedy over and over for years and it still does not gets less awesome. It's outstanding and terrifying. Tolkein understood inner conflict as the driving force of drama to a tee.
Amazing work. Thanks for your videos.
however, in this video you mentionned at 4min15 that Fëanor died in the battle of Dagor-Nuin-Giliath, but in a previous video titled The Life of Fëanor | Tolkien Explained (ua-cam.com/video/oe7mFrL4hBw/v-deo.html) You said13min45 that de Feonor and the Noldors won this battle and continue further towards Morgoth and Angband. You said there that they reached his Land and that this is where Fëanor was ambushed and killed by Gothmog and his army of Balrogs.
Would it be possible to develop and shed light on this point please ?
Thanks again for your great work !
Hi Nerd, correct me if I'm wrong, the Silmarils were made ny Feanor with inspiration from galadriels hair? Also the rings of power were made by Celebrimbor partly as gift to Galdariel? So Galadriel somehow influenced the making of the Silmarils and Rings of power?
Is Unfinished Tales narrative based or in the style of notes like History of Middle Earth?
"Unfinished Tales" was, in a way, the embryo idea for History of Middle-earth collection
I'm rereading the Silmarillon and he is honestly my favorite of the sons of Feanor. It just makes me sad that he's a tragic character who causes so much evil, but I suppose that's the fun of Middle Earth.
If we are talking about sons, how they went from 144 elves in Cuiviénen to 10k in 2.000 year?