Comments on The Parting of the Ways

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I love this. I love that it answers so many arguments in the Silm and L&C, either directly made or implied against the Elves who chose to stay. Morwe asks hard questions, as I imagine the Elves must have. And he has foresight--I can't help but wonder if Finwe will stand on the steps of Formenos, facing Morgoth and his death, and remember what his friend predicted so long ago.

I don't think it's a matter of faith either. At it's heart, this was a moment where people were being asked to upend their lives and choose how they wanted to live. Morwe makes a strong case for staying where they know they can survive, where they were born, and where even they they were placed by Iluvatar. I think he believes all that Finwe has witnessed; he just wants something different.



Precisely! Calling the Avari stubborn or misguided (or even just "unwilling"), or reasoning that they, too, would have gone to Aman if only they had been present when Orome first arrived (... bzuh?!) is missing the point completely, I think (and I can't help wondering whether Rúmil himself believed it, or whether even he just made it up to quieten his own doubts! Oh damn, here we go with the authorial bias again!). It is perfectly possible to "have faith" (in whatever) and believe that Aman exists and the Valar are (at least) benevolent, and yet decide against the journey. Glad if I managed to bring that across here!

Yeah, my heart bleeds at the idea of sending Morwe to Mandos, but it seems kind of worth it just so he and Finwe can discuss everything they've learned since, and perhaps really tell each other that they were both right. Or were they? *dun dun dun* (Of course, I'd want Morwe's people to build a spectacular kingdom of Southern Avari first. So many ideas, so little time... ;))

I caught up with this one...

I like how free of the fear Morwe appers here that according to canon seems the main motivation of the Avari and also how Finwe is both entirely convinced of his goal and nevertheless entirely respectful of Morwe (regardless what canon says later). 

A really well-written discussion.



Thank you!
I'm sure the Avari did have their fair share of fears that were part of their decision, but I just can't believe that with all the dangers they're used to, fear would be their main motivation. Not simple fear of the unknown, at least! And I'm glad that you like the respect between Finwe and Morwe. I felt it was important to show them both as reasonable and level-headed, and moreover to paint neither of them as genuinely wrong (let alone "evil"), and I'm glad that works for you!