Oh Noldor! I remember when I read this the first time, as more or less a kid, and to begin with I was oh yea, elves! And at Chapter 9, if not earlier, “WTF elves! Nooooo!” 😳😨😱 This is a horrible chapter.
And Fëanor and his house are horrible elves! Yes, I understand they were led astray by Melkor, but still! I hate him just as much as I did then, although now I perhaps feel more sorry for him too.
Practical question. In the beginning of the chapter it says something like (remember I have a translation) “and the valar were sitting in shadow, for it was night”, which is of course the case with the Trees just destroyed. But, when the noldor attack the teleri at the harbor to get the ships, it says ”swords were drawn at dawn”. What dawn? Everything was in darkness at this time, no?
For the same reason, how come they could see the dangerous ice in the Helcaraxë? It specifically says that the cold fog was not penetrated by stars. Elven eyes or not, how far can they possibly see in those conditions?
Also I had completely forgotten that Fëanor had the ships torched when Fingolfin’s people were still in the West. He’s even worse than I remembered.
Incidentally, this sort of thing seems very appropriate for a television series produced now. It seems to me all television is very bleak nowadays, and this will be brilliant source material for a series that makes sure the viewer doesn’t become joyful or feel-good!
I knew this was here and still I’m a bit upset. Noldor Y U do this?
