I have been thinking recently about how the story of the Children of Húrin is one of the Silmarillion's most tragic stories. While Tolkein's essay on Fairy Stories details the necessity for Fantasy to be intertwined with joy, the story of Túrin is anything but joyful. While this seems contradictory, and it may be, I do think that the tragic nature of the story is what makes it an important piece of Tolkein's mythical puzzle. Joy cannot exist in the world without tragedy, and the same notion applies in Tolkein's created world. Túrin's story mirrors Greek tragedy myths. This must have been purposeful as Tolkein was creating a myth. Anyway, the thing I've taken away from my musings on the sad story of the Children of Húrin is that Tolkein's mission was to create a world where joy can exist both in it and outside of it (by affecting the reader). And in order to do so, tragic stories are inevitable.
What are your thoughts on joy and tragedy in the Silmarillion? (if you've read any of it)
1 comment:
I agree that the tragedy of Túrin’s story is an important contrast to make joy in places such as the story of Beren and Lúthien stand out. There’s a lot of tragedy throughout The Silmarillion, and it’s of a different form than the deep but somewhat distant sadness of the Elves in The Lord of the Rings. This starts with Melkor’s fall, then continues as his lies cause strife and acts like the Kinslaying. But once Fëanor and his sons swear their oath, most of the tragedy that follows is a direct or indirect result. For a time there are many kingdoms of Elves in Beleriand, but their days are numbered. Slowly they fall and there is a good deal of betrayal and murder. As all of the threads of the different stories draw to a close and the overarching narrative of the exile of the Elves approaches its inevitable conclusion, all of the tragedy allows most importantly the story of the Voyage of Eärendil to stand out, and with that and the War of Wrath comes a bittersweet, cathartic and satisfying finish. This, in turn, also sets up the basis for a good deal of the hope in The Lord of the Rings, with Frodo’s phial of light and allusions to the stars as symbols of incorruptible beauty and light beyond the passing shadows of the present.
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