lordofthesilmarillion

[lordofthesilmarillion]

Although Tolkien never really discussed this at length, the plot of LOTR and especially Silmarillion imply some really interesting ideas about immortality. Sure, he says that mortal men need to accept their mortality, because it’s inevitable, and the pseudo-immortality offered to some of them is a trap that will take their selfhood and autonomy. But then he also writes a whole race of immortals and says that they need to learn to accept loss and grief and change: even if they themselves don’t die, time will pass and things will change, and an immortal who cannot let go of ephemeral things will die over and over, or break the world in trying to recover what he lost.

[lordofthesilmarillion]

Incidentally there may be no clearer case of having the best taste in men ever known than Eowyn.

Sees Aragorn, son of Arathorn, AKA the Literal Hottest Human Man Alive, and is like oh DAMN. DAMN OKAY. YEAH I WOULD LIKE ME A PIECE OF THAT THANKS.

Finds out he's already taken, gets sad about it, slays the Witch King of Angmar, and then sees Faramir, AKA the Second Hottest Human Man Alive, and goes 'WELL THEN'.

Literally the best taste in men possible. Get it girl.

[lordofthesilmarillion]

[lordofthesilmarillion]

Sometimes I forget about size scaling and how small dwarves are. Imagine one holding a goose. Probably Ori.

[lordofthesilmarillion]

That one “It’s HOT on the BOTTOM” audio from tiktok makes me think of Bilbo (yet unaware of dwarf heat resistance and dealing with an already completely covered countertop) trying to hand off a casserole fresh from the oven to various members of the company and getting increasingly frustrated because they all try to do it barehanded. The whole company is trying to get one stubborn hobbit to hand over a pan and completely confused why he’s getting so upset.

[lordofthesilmarillion]

i read CS Lewis’ A Grief Observed one time years ago and i’m still not recovered from it

[lordofthesilmarillion]

The way Legolas and Arwen approach falling in love with a mortal is really, really funny to me because

Arwen: I will give up my immortality, and my chance to see my mother and father again, because I would rather die with you than live forever after you’re gone.

Legolas, building a ship: Hey Gimli have you ever heard of this little thing called breaking and entering because we’re going to do it to heaven.

[lordofthesilmarillion]

I do think it’s strange that Maedhros of all people is a character that gets woobified so hard because the MOST compelling thing about him isn’t his heroism, it’s the fact that he was heroic and the BECAME A VILLAIN. I’m not even going to say became an anti hero because I don’t think that’s accurate, I mean he became a straight up villain. Destroying what was basically a refugee camp, attacking the army fighting against morgoth when half of his identity post thangorodrim was once based around fighting Morgoth. I’m not the first person to mention the irony of the fact that maedhros is the only person to ever escape Angband without being in thrall to Morgoth, and then years later his actions are absolutely aiding morgoths cause rather than the cause of the remaining Noldor.

And that is what sets this character apart. His downfall. Part of that downfall is his earlier heroism but what makes this character so well written in the first place is that the seeds of that downfall start early at Alqualonde. It’s tragic but it isn’t surprising.

I changing this character around so that somehow his later actions are excusable or against his will or that deep down he has actually been a hero this whole time is very strange because if that’s the case then how is he any different than fingon or turgon or thingol? In fact if that’s the case then he’s more boring than these characters because he’s not nearly as outwardly noble.

He becomes a villain and as the shadows of that villainy were apparent early on, the shadow of his heroism is still apparent later on as well and that’s the tragedy. He could have turned around at any point, he could have still saved himself. But he doesn’t and it’s horribly tragic and as a story, it’s absolutely brilliant character work.

[lordofthesilmarillion]

Every time I read Tolkien lovingly describing a piece of jewellery or how his faves wore their best jewels "on their brows", I feel slightly sorry for him that he lived in one of the rare moments in Western History where it was not ok for men to be covered in expensive jewellery.

Thankfully for him he had his tweed waistcoats and academic regalia to make up for it, but don't tell me he wouldn't have loved wearing a tiara on at least a semi-regular basis.

[lordofthesilmarillion]

✶

[lordofthesilmarillion]

Of Friends and Foes

[lordofthesilmarillion]

Cathartic hetalia fanart because unfortunately, the looming threat of fascism brings out the worst in me.

[lordofthesilmarillion]

elrond

[lordofthesilmarillion]

Eowyn & Faramir

mixed media, 53*35 cm

[lordofthesilmarillion]

[lordofthesilmarillion]

Horoscope for The Silmarillion.

Aries - Feanor. Does and then thinks. Then does it again.

Taurus - Thingol. Won't give up what he thinks is his, even if it's a stone that kills everyone.

Gemini - Amrod and Amras. Well, mostly Amras.

Cancer - Finrod. The kindest. Sacrifices himself for his friends.

Leo - Fingolfin. Goes alone against Morgoth. VERY brave.

Virgo - Kelebrimbor. Creator, but trusts the wrong people.

Libra - Earendil. Always torn between two worlds.

Scorpio - Turin. The main thing is not to ruin his life, but .... it didn't work out.

Sagittarius - Maedhros. Survives after everything, but at the cost of great suffering.

Capricorn - Manweh. Does important things, but seems unapproachable.

Aquarius - Ulmo. Always gives good advice, but no one listens.

Pisces - Elwing. Turns into a bird and flies away from problems.

[lordofthesilmarillion]

Celebrimbor: What benefits do you get for working for the King? Good health care?

Elrond: You think I get health care? The only benefits I get are tax evasion.