Home » Reading & Literature » J.R.R. Tolkien » It's All in the Family: The Finweans - Page 11

It's All in the Family: The Finweans - Page 11

© Michael Martinez

Of Feanor and Nerdanel's sons, only three took wives: Maglor, Curufin, and Caranthir. In Note 7 appended to the essay "Of Dwarves and Men" ("The Peoples of Middle-earth", pp. 295-330), Christopher cites a note his father made in 1966 after the second edition of The Lord of the Rings was published. There, Tolkien decided that Celebrimbor (named lord of Eregion in the appendices) must be the son of Curufin, for Maedhros and the twins had no wives. Curufin, inheriting the greatest part of his father's skill among the seven, passed this skill (and presumably much lore) on to Celebrimbor, who disapproved of his father's behavior in Nargothrond. When Celegorm and Curufin were driven out of Nargothrond, Celebrimbor stayed behind. Curufin's wife elected not to follow her husband into exile, so she remained in Aman among the people ruled by Finarfin (and was, therefore, presumably a Noldo). There is no mention of any other grand-children of Feanor and Nerdanel, and the fates of the wives of Maglor and Caranthir are not given. Fingolfin and Anaire had four children: Findekano (Fingon), Turukano (Turgon), Irisse (Aredhel), and Arakano (Argon). Although Anaire remained in Valinor when Fingolfin went into exile, all their children followed Fingolfin. Fingon led the vanguard of Fingolfin's host, and he rushed to help Feanor's Noldor against the Teleri of Alqualonde when he learned there was a battle at the haven. Turgon led a third of the Noldor of Fingolfin's host, and he was accompanied by his wife Elenwe of the Vanyar. Irisse was close to Turgon as their aunt Irien (Lalwen) was close to Fingolfin. Irisse remained with Turgon's people until she persuaded him to let her visit Fingon in Hithlum. Instead, after leaving Gondolin, she fled from her escort and wandered east into Nan Elmoth. There she married Eol and bore him a son, Maeglin, with whom she returned to Gondolin many years later. Arakano emerged relatively late, probably after the second edition of The Lord of the Rings was published. He is described as "the tallest of the brothers and the most impetuous". Tolkien found it difficult to assign him a role in the generally complete history, and at first he devised deaths for Arakano in Aman. But eventually Tolkien decided that Fingolfin's host would be attacked by an army of Orcs as the Noldor passed south along the coast of Middle-earth. There Arakano would both distinguish and sacrifice himself for his people:

The copyright of the article It's All in the Family: The Finweans - Page 11 in J.R.R. Tolkien is owned by Michael Martinez. Permission to republish It's All in the Family: The Finweans - Page 11 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.