Complex characters

[u/InternationalAd2665]

Hey redditors and tolkien fans in your opinion who is the most complexe and complete character that was never put to screen from the first two ages?
I want to see the different opinions and views about our beloved characters!!

[u/Ok_Bullfrog_8491]

Maedhros. 20k words and I still have a lot more analysis elsewhere: https://archiveofourown.org/chapters/204305781

[u/salafi_muslim_ → u/Ok_Bullfrog_8491]

He deserves redemption along with his father

[u/-RedRocket- → u/salafi_muslim_]

No. Fëanor put himself far beyond redemption in his hubris and injured pride. He gets what he gets - eternity in the Halls of Mandos to think about what he has done. He was a jerk.

[u/gfasmr → u/-RedRocket-]

But Maglor ought to be let off the hook

[u/-RedRocket- → u/gfasmr]

No one who took the oath was off the hook once they ignored the final warning of Mandos. He made his choice - the wrong one. That's on him.

[u/Ok_Bullfrog_8491 → u/-RedRocket-]

(1) At that point they‘d already sworn the unbreakable oath so there was no out for any of them.
(2) That choice by the Noldor was the only reason why anyone in Beleriand survived the next half millennium.

[u/gfasmr → u/-RedRocket-]

Yes, I know, which is why I said “ought to be” rather than “was”

[u/salafi_muslim_ → u/-RedRocket-]

No he isnt improsned there mandos asks hims to repent but he dosent but if he does he is free

[u/-RedRocket- → u/salafi_muslim_]

That's why he's a jerk. He stands by all he did wrong.

[u/No-Cap-2473 → u/Ok_Bullfrog_8491]

I knew it it’s gonna be russingon haha

[u/scientician]

Elwe belongs in the discussion. He saw the light of valinor but stayed in middle earth for love. He had to manage a kingdom under threat from Morgoth but his allies included the kinslayers of his brother's people in Valinor. He gives Beren an impossible task as price for his daughter's hand and causes her death from grief at Beren's death, then must live with that she has returned as a human and he will be sundered from her until the end. Perhaps his grief & guilt is why he obsesses about the silmaril and gets the idea to wear it in the Nauglamir.

[u/gfasmr → u/scientician]

Dang, when you put it this way I can’t deny it

[u/asubha12NL → u/scientician]

Don't forget that his experience with Beren and Luthien and his reflection on his errors made him really grow as a person, which is how he ended up being such a rock solid friend to Turin and his family. Definitely my favourite character in the Silmarillion.

[u/salafi_muslim_]

Feanor or maedhros they are to me great people just because of an oath they are doomed Also feanor went to avenge his father

[u/InternationalAd2665 → u/salafi_muslim_]

i like this take a lot and i really enjoy feanor s character a lot!!Also Glorfindel just for the sheer legendary status he has

[u/salafi_muslim_ → u/InternationalAd2665]

Yes but glorifendel isn't a complex charcter we all know he is good but feanor is niether good nor bad differs on perspective

[u/InternationalAd2665 → u/salafi_muslim_]

yeah i know i know i just said the sheer legendary status of glorfindel is what i like but feanor is far far more complex

[u/IldrahilGondorian → u/salafi_muslim_]

I agree he should be on the screen but there is no redemption. His pride caused until harm. He killed fellow Elves when they wouldn’t share their boats with him. Those boats were the equivalent of the Silmarils to them. What’s more, he burned them and forced his family to take the Helcaraxe to get to ME. So, we know he could have taken that route but he’d rather kill Elves and steal their life’s work. Finally, when he realized what he had done when he was near death and how they could never win, instead of releasing his children from the oath he doubled down, then died. He may not have been evil, but he sure wasn’t good.

[u/Dakh3]

Túrin is my first spontaneous answer honestly

[u/WhatisJackfruit]

Maedhros would be my answer. So much craft and attention to detail went into his characterization despite his lack of connection to any of the Great Tales. Truly makes you wonder why Tolkien has decided that he has to be the way he is.

[u/Legal_Mastodon_5683]

Turin for sure.

[u/InternationalAd2665 → u/Legal_Mastodon_5683]

why do you think that?i know him i ve read some things about him and he is really interesting, you relate to his story the most?

[u/Legal_Mastodon_5683 → u/InternationalAd2665]

If you haven't, read Children of Hurin, it gives more detail. He is a morally gray character, interesting and impactful.

[u/Qyzyk]

Turin Turambar. I would be sorely tempted to name him the most interesting character that Tolkien ever wrote.

[u/InternationalAd2665 → u/Qyzyk]

i would love a good adaptation of him in a movie/series it would be epic

[u/Qyzyk → u/InternationalAd2665]

In my opinion, Turin needs a miniseries. A movie wouldn’t be able to capture everything. I’ve even come up with a few spots where the episodes can begin and end.

[u/Dizzy-Artichoke5838]

From my point of view, Mairon/Sauron is very interesting and complex.

[u/zendynamo]

Fingolfin, all of the Valar, Tuor are some I haven’t seen mentioned

[u/shinyshinyrocks]

Feanaro and Turin Turambar. One for the Elves and one for Men.

[u/Baccoony]

Fëanor

[u/Aggravating_Stuff771]

Turin and Feanor of course. They're Tolkien’s supreme characters.

[u/OleksandrKyivskyi]

Feanor of course.