The Curse of Mandos

[Finduilas]

‘The Curse of Mandos’-
From the Excellent Policy to a Downfall

Lecture ¹ 1
The Long Road of Anger to a Curse

Lead by common sense and numerous ruins, nowadays people can easily claim that human’s progress is due to desires and temptations. Advancement, beauty and fortune seems to be the motto of citizens of today. However, the truth is that exactly beauty leads to envy and loathing, particularly with the stronger and mightier ones. Moreover, discords make weaker the development of everything amenable to progress. This kind of disobedience and wish for personal expression can be watched ever since the first steps of the First Epoch. The general but most frequently made mistakes in relationships between child-parent are marked. However, some moral admonitions and the part of the family in the growth of a child are concerned. Inexperience ,lead to fatal consequences-wrong upbringing and ‘re-upbringing’(for example the Curse of Mandos). Pure nature ,the one of the Ainur, but ,unfortunately, not experienced strives to idealization and creation* of perfect ,divine Arda. Nevertheless, world could not exist among endless brightness, because it has always gone together with Emptiness. It is wrong to confine a living creature in a cage of radiant grates ,through which can never penetrate the brilliance of reality and future.

Future is irretrievable, as well as past and the Valar determine the present. Their aim :
But this condition Iluvatar made ,or it is the necessity of their love, that their power should thence-forward be contained and bounded in the World, to be within it for ever, until it is complete ,so that they are its life and it is theirs .And therefore they are named the Valar, the Powers of the World.
pure and scrupulous, is ,however, inexperienced and unrealized. No Ainur probably was ready to grow up a child properly, because they didn’t know the Teacher ,’Darkness, which they had not known before except in thought.’ Moreover, Melkor didn’t know but only desired the Light. Because of this inexperience and precipitance next came the unfavourable but necessary doom of the Noldor.

Undoubtedly, the Curse of Mandos is a fateful but requisite moment in the History of Noldor. Therefore the question that follows is logical-What challenges the Valar and Fate as well to dispatch such a strong penalty on the young Firstborn. Far fetched seems to be the fury, because it dooms an entire people to suffering and exile and because it occasions discord. They stifle the peace and do not let other races live in understanding. So we can accept the curse and consider it as a warning to everyone, who breaks moral and family laws and reject their creators in the name of boundless sway and fortune. It doesn’t sound nice but is true that Arda came to grief during her Golden Spring. However, is it are they caused only by Melkor and is he the ‘discoverer’ of Gloom? Definitely no. Emptiness exists before the Ainur and their music ,because everything is created from and of It. However, it seems that only Morgoth accepts It and also understand, study, rule. Nevertheless, he most strongly desires the Light and he wishes to rule the Beauty. Yes, a perfect world, weaved of magical music. It burns desire in his heart ,desire for dominion and as it is nowadays, Beauty always causes envy.
Therefore ,it is important to retrace the creepy Darkness, crawling envy, which lead to inconsiderate oath of impossible ,because children can hardly subdue their creators.
Tolkien can be characterized as a patriotic and devoted to traditions person. Having part in a war for defence of his Motherland, he proves the importance of the Native.
This native relation is re-created in his works. The creation of the First and Secondborn, their dooms, lead to unwished denouement, are a part of moral admonitions for spiritual growth of a young child. The Beauty and the Darkness gain powers to re-create a profound song of the family.**
The family is thought that it should unite relatives and the similar blood to fraternize- these are the human’s values ,cruelly and unconsideredly scorned by the Noldor. Moreover, they step over the most important family law.
Of the Kinslaying at Alqualonde more is told in that lament which is named Noldolante, the Fall of the Noldor, that Maglor made ere he was lost.
Fratricide is suable , but not by strict laws but by your own heart, worth, moral, conscious. Probably the Valar are guilty as well , but not because of lack of love and wish , but inexperience. Ainur themselves are still children, not tasted fruit of life ,due to their numerousness. The Great had never brought up a living creature. Moreover, caring for an entire family and even a human race is not possible for their powers. Upbringing is a process ,which cannot be fully mastered, because it cannot be learned at all.
However, contagious love cannot be denied, the love which the Valar bring up the Firstborn with. Unfortunately, it is not enough. The Valar desire and try to bring Arda to life and make it perfectly beautiful. However, life had not yet learnt them that perfection is defect. It causes envy, discord, avarice and desire of sway. Therefore although it is not on purpose ,the Valar cause the spoiling of the Noldor. So later when the mistake is realized and Mandos tries to correct it, it is too late –empty pride and egoism was shedding in Feanor’s blood.
Considering more carefully, we notice a thing that can be found in every valuable book- moral admonitions ,concerning the past as well as the present and future. From this point of view there is no difference between Earth and Middle-Earth. If love, hatred is burning Middle-Earth is our Earth and the problem of bringing up children is our problem as well.
The Curse of Mandos could possibly be related to a late wish of the Valar to bring ‘their children’ back to reality, where moral, family and life laws are kept. Not always will they rely on the Valar*** and not always will they be spoiled with perfect life when fate is laughing maliciously and Darkness had creeped.
On the whole every Ainu make mistakes with the upbringing of the Firstborn : The Vlar gave them fully bliss, while Melkor subdued and awarded them with hatred. Probably Tolkien concerns the negative and even fatal extreme relations child-parent.
Yet this is held true by wise of Eressea, that all those of Quendi who came into the hands of Melkor, ere Utumno was broken, were put there in prison, and by slow arts of cruelty were corrupted and eslaved; and thus Melkor breed the hideous race of the Orcs in envy and mockery of the Elves, of whom they were afterwards the bitterest foes.
In addition, the most loathsome deed of Melkor is the creation of the Orcs and the enslavement of the Light Elves. The Firstborn were still confused ,unknowing ,incomprehensioning. This taking advantage of children’s innocence and pure consiousness is categorically denied. However, the secret of those elves’ destiny causes hatred, discord, doubt.
In addition to this ,the sueing of Melkor in order to be stopped the negative influence on children’s upbringing is naturally unsuccessful, because the harm is done and it is inconvertible.
Nonetheless the Valar did not discover all the mighty vaults and caverns hidden with deceit far under the fortresses of Angband and Utumno. Many evil things still lingered there, and others were dispersed and fled into dark and roamed in the waste places of the world, awaiting a more evil hour; and Sauron they did not find.

[Finduilas]

The fatalist and most incorrigible mistake seems to be the desire of the Valar-Parents to impound the freeborn Elves in a golden cage. Even Mandos the Wise didn’t perceive the shade of the disadvantages of meat life.
Now therefore the Valar were gathered upon Almaren, fearing no evil, and because of the light of Illuin they did not perceive the shadow in the north that was cast from afar by Melkor; for he was grown dark as the Night of the Void. And it is sung that in that feast of the Spring of Arda Tulkas espoused Nessa the sister of Orome, and she danced before the Valar upon the green grass of Almaren.
Let’s trace out the development of the Great’s fatal decision :
At the last, therefore, the Valar summoned the Quendi to Valinor, there to be gathered at the knees of the Powers in the light of the Trees for ever; and Mandos broke his silence, saying:’So it is doomed.’ From this summons came many woes that afterwards befell.
First of all, brothers should not be separated during their fragile age. Estranged from each other since they were young ,they form completely different characters. For example, the ones living in Valinor (not everyone pf course) became haughty ,due to the luxury they live among. However, the Avar were richer and more loved –by the Stars, expanse of Middle-Earth. Thus undeservedly lived they among evil in Arda.
The Valar does not hide the cruel reality from the fragile Firstborn, but this is not a right step in the upbringing of the Elves.Children should not be stressed, but bit by bit should be lead into the world.The shock they experience causes doubt and frightening seems to be the light Island they wanted to go to.
And of the love of Thingol and Melian there came into the world the fairest of all Children of Iluvatar that was or shall ever be.
Thus should be loved children-temperately but dedicatedly .Strongly but furtively in a way.
Obviously, it is wrong for a child to be showered with love. In a way Finwe forshadows Feanor’s fate because he nearly esteem him as a God and thus he turns him into what he was then.
Feanor has a very strong will and that is undoubtedly a positive feature.However, his will is mixed with stubbornness, obstinacy, even dazzling.This leads to disobedience and we can even claim that here is concerned the saying-Control is a supreme form of trust!****Control,however, is not needed to no purpose after all,is it?
Another factor of the upbringing of Feanor is the step-mother.Often she is not accepted and even hated by force, because the child thinks she takes his place in his father’s heart. Unfortunately, that is what happens when Finwe marries Indris. Feanor feels neglected. Moreover,Tolkien himself thinks so :
…if Finwe had endured his loss and been content with the fathering of his mighty son, the courses of Feanor would have been otherwise,and great evil might have been prevented
Undoubtedly, the Valar make a terrible mistake when they release Melkor, but for the children it is a fatal one. They still cannot discern good from evil.However, they have to face the Greatest ,’First’ Evil.
:For Manwe was free from evil and could not comprehend it
Undoubtedly,however, this mistake is caused by inexperience and lack of evil.
Nonetheless, The Valar forget the one that should not be forgotten-Darkness. It is the beginning of everything, of Melkor.
Moreover, pride does not let Feanor understand the wise words of Mandos.
‘Not the first ,’said Mandos
Not only for Finwe’s death he spoke but for the revenge which will come after as well. Wished but inconvertible.
For they told how a blind Darkness came northward, and in the midst walked some power for which there was no name, and Darkness issued from it.
Although we know that this is Ungoliath, we can consider the probability that Tolkien might have spoken of the discord and doubt in Valinor which Melkor brought with his Darkness.
It is too rashly to swear by anything and undoubtedly, swears lead to downfall.
For so sworn , good or evil, an oath may not be broken, and it shall pursue oathkeeper and oathbreaker to the world’s end.
The phrase ‘shall pursue’ tells us about the evil which will cause this oath- the Curse of Mandos.
However, from my point of view, even without the curse Feanor’s clan would become a exile’s one. It is due to their oath and desire of the Silmarills, sealed Feanor’s doom in their crystal body.
He would not yet either forbid or hinder Feanor’s purpose; for the Valar were aggrieved that were charged with evil intent to the Eldar, or that any were held captive by them against their will.
There is no other choice for the Valar because their own mistakes lead to the ruin of a people during its Golden Spring.
They, the Great themselves fire and give life to the fire in Elves’ hearts and raised pride.
The warning after the oath is a father’s advice and a hope .
The Great want to make the Noldor give up their craziness on their own not by force due to their strong love to the Firstborn.
After the fratricide, when it is already too late , the Valar find their mistake and understand Feanor’s madness and the power of his oath.Thus ,The Graet want to punish the Noldor,however, they still feel them as their own children so it is impossible to let them go to sure death.And if the Curse had been sent in order to punish, its aim had also been to stop or at least delay a madness.The divining, irresistible voice of Mandos is supposed to stop the sensible ones, but is a person who had killed a brother due to war, a sensible one.
Even at Eru’s kingdom there is Darkness. It surrounds everything and is unavoidable if a person sags to its aspect- temptation, pride, power, sway. Greyness surrounds and stifles its ‘friend’, young , innocent. However, the whiteness of the Greyness should not be mistaken with the Radiance, because it dooms you to exile. Endeavour and Aspiration for perfection has always lead and mislead us in life. So if we do not learn to differ the good from the harm opportunity when young ,it seems that future is doomed. Therefore, whom do we owe our success- the Parents undoubtedly. And if the Valar fail in their efforts us parents, it is not due to stone-heartedness and unwillingness. They can never bring the Firstborn up properly, due to their inexperience. So it seems that even Eru was a bit or the guiltiest for the doom of the miserable Noldor. As it is said- one thing is to want it, another to can and third to do it. Fate should not be determined so easily, the fate of living creatures whose downfall starts when their birth. The Curse of Mandos is deserved in a way for the Valar because they should have known that Birds sing most marvelously at liberty and not in a cage.
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*Creation- giving life, birth
**Here we can find similarity between Tolkien’s and Bulgarian literature during 19-20 century.Although the family problems is a frequently found topic ,we can consider the fact that Tolkien might have known a lot about Bulgarian folklore as well.
***As in the chapter about the Counsel of Elrond. The Valar do not take part in the war and even the opportunity concerning taking the Ring to West seems impossible.
****Translated from Bulgarian.

[Finduilas]

‘The Curse of Mandos’-
From the Excellent Policy to a Downfall

Lecture ¹ 2
From Deserved Destiny to Brought Doom

Following the long road from the Elves’s anger till the Curse of Mandos, it is logical to consider the frequently discussed topic- who actually deserves the Curse and why and if not why not. Many thoughts and theses are expressed but is there a true one or it depends on each person’s point of view?For example, many people might think that Galadriel is guilty or at least responsible for the tragic consequences , but others may have better arguments. Some people do think as well that Feanor has no guilt due to his desire and not evil personality. The problem can certainly be looked in some aspects. However, I am considering now the ones which seem possible to me.
Firstly, Feanor’s birth is extraordinary ,foreshadowing his doom and part in history.
'Never again shall I bear child; for strength that would have nourished the life of many has gone forth into Fëanor.'
Probably Miriel puts a deeper sense in those words, sense and idea about Feanors personality and future character. The truth is that every human’s got an incredible individuality, everyone’s ‘different’ –bright and dark people are born. Therefore we can conclude that Feanor’s got an enormous power, unfortunately, it contains positive and negative ‘shades’.His Darkness grows and grows keeped up with Melkor’s lies. We do cannot judge a person/elf because of his nature but of his actions caused by his weakness and vocation for Greyness. A person should not invite himself the Dark side of Life. Breaking this family and moral as well law ,Feanor miscarry comes to nothing.He fails before he has succeeded. Acting a fracticide, scorning sacred laws and traditions, betraying the Gods-this are enough actions for which Feanor deserves HIS Curse.*
Creating the Palantiri, Feanors brings evil to life. They undoubtedly cause great defeats during the War of the Ring and if we continue considering deeper and deeper ,it turns out that Feanor’s overt detestation of Melkor and his desire to conquer Him probably cause the formation of the thought of creating the All-powerful Rings.
Another possible culprit is Galadriel. But is she?
She more needs the Curse than deserves it:
It was not until two long ages more had passed, when at last all that she had desired in her youth came to her hand, the Ring of Power and the dominion of Middle-earth which she had dreamed, that her wisdom was full grown and she rejected it, and passing the last test departed from Middle-earth for ever.
She wouldn’t have probably become as wise as she is without the Curse and before that the oath .She has to grow in wisdom, moreover she had refused the Valar’s pardon:

Most notable however in the passage just cited is the explicit statement that Galadriel refused the pardon of the Valar at the end of the First Age.
Galadriel neither contradicts the Valar, nor takes part in the Uprising of Feanor and the Fratricide.She ‘desperately’ leaves Aman and involuntarily breaks or even not waits for the Vlar’s decision. So Galadriel needs the Curse over her People in order to acquire a more detailed and realistic view of the world.
However, in the earliest version of the story she is considered as guilty:
This story, withdrawing Galadriel from all association with the rebellion of Fëanor, even to the extent of giving her a separate departure (with Celeborn) from Aman, is profoundly at variance with all that is said elsewhere.

[Finduilas]

This might be due to the undeveloped states of her character and the first consideration of her aim in life.
No oaths she swore, but the words of Fëanor concerning Middle-earth had kindled in her heart, for she yearned to see the wide unguarded lands and to rule there a realm at her own will.
Tolkien’s initial impression of Galadriel was probably that ,fascinated of Feanor’s speech, her one desire is to rule over lands and kingdoms.
"And now at last it comes. You will give me the Ring freely! In place of the Dark Lord you will set up a Queen."
However, these are earlier concepts, when her uniqueness had not yet been realized.Which obviously had happened during the last month of Tolkien’s life.
. It arose from "philosophical" (rather than "historical") considerations, concerning the precise nature of Galadriel's disobedience in Valinor on the one hand, and her status and power in Middle-earth on the other.
And
A wholly different story, adumbrated but never told, of Galadriel's conduct at the time of the rebellion of the Noldor appears in a very late and partly illegible note: the last writing of my father's on the subject of Galadriel and Celeborn, and probably the last on Middle-earth and Valinor, set down in the last month of his life.
It is well-known that people think most philosophically in the end of their lives, due to their entire life’s experience. Furthermore, people fear their destiny and death although almost nobody expresses it.Therefore, it is logical that this final image of Galadriel is her real one.
. In Fëanor's revolt that followed the Darkening of Valinor Galadriel had no part: indeeed she with Celeborn fought heroically in defence of Alqualondë against the assault of the Noldor, and Celeborn's ship was saved from them. Galadriel, despairing now of Valinor and horrified by the violence and cruelty of Fëanor, set sail into the darkness without waiting for Manwë's leave, which would undoubtedly have been withheld in that hour, however legitimate her desire in itself.
. But together with Celeborn she reached Middle-earth some-what sooner than Fëanor, and sailed into the haven where Círdan was lord.
Tolkien himself writes about Her personality that she had finally ‘reached’. It then turns out that she has no fault and does not deserve the Curse.
Giving a Curse is an action that should not be easily done due to its seriousness. Moreover, you could never stop disliking the person(a god or not) made the damnation. In addition to this, her refusal is probably because of her pride and memory of evil old events. Nonetheless, life in Middle-Earth would have never been the same without her part in its history.
while later in the narrative Galadriel's remaining in Middle-earth after the defeat of Sauron in Eriador is ascribed to her sense that it was her duty not to depart while he was still finally unconquered.
Moreover, undoubtedly things wouldn’t have developed as they did during the War of the Ring without her participation.
Therefore, let’s imagine that Mandos have never send a Curse towards the Noldor. Feanor’s revolt would have certainly continued but Galadriel might have accepted the Valar’s pardon later. However, History of Middle-Earth would have then been different and even more tragic.
Therefore, we can conclude that the Curse of Mandos is needed for Galadriel as well as for Middle-Earth.
On the contrary, Feanor, although is fairly Bright, completely gives in to Darkness, which he should be punished for.
However, do all other Elves deserve the Curse? I do not think so. They are at least brought under by Feanor or led by incredible love and respect to him as a leader.
Initially, Feanor’s sons (Maedhros and Maglor and Celegorm, Curufin and Caranthir, Amrod and Amras, princes of the Noldor)are led exactly by these feelings as well as by admiration for their father and esteem to the family oath.
Quote and all Fingolfin's folk went forward still, feeling the constraint of their kinship and the will of Fëanor, and fearing to face the doom of the Valar, since not all of them had been guiltless of the Kinslaying at Alqualondë.
Thereupon even those who continued walking along the road of revolt, did in a way deserve the Curse. They did have a chance to refuse hatred, discord and return in the Lands of Piece. However, they didn’t help with anything for stopping war so with what they mostly deserve their doom.
In conclusion, I shall claim that the ones who deserve the Curse and a sorrowful doom are Feanor(certainly) and every single elf who continues through the mist of War.Galadriel as well as Fingolfin and the ones who return to the Undying Lands do not deserve any sorrow but punishment and a lesson. In addition, I would like to say that every person- good or bad minded- deserves and usually needs a second chance.However, some damages can never be forgiven like War, discord and hatred.
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* In the Greek, Egypt and Christian mythology and religion betraying and not respecting or honouring Gods is sueable .

[Finduilas]

‘The Curse of Mandos’-
From the Excellent Policy to a Downfall

Lecture ¹ 3
Tolkien’s View of Pedagogy and Politics

J. R. R. Tolkien is not just a professor or even writer, he is an extraordinary man skilled with highly qualified abilities and knowledge. His general knowledge envelops a vast area of problems and science facts as well as a logical thought and practical training. He is not only an extremely talented man of art but also a person who knows how to deal with life. The greatest example we can point out is his incredible ability of bringing up his children properly. He does not want fame and money but a descent family relationships which he perfectly manages to keep.
In 1925 a marvelous thing happens- a vacation which probably gives the start of his serious writing career. Tolkien takes his family on a holiday but ,unfortunately, they do not have luck so his son, Michael, loses his favourite dog-toy. This is described in his work ‘Roverandom’. In order to assuage Michael, Tolkien …invents a story which develops into a book. There are few parents who will do it even though they do not have the talent to write it down. It gives off his devotion to his children who in fact are his own blood. So it seems and we can assure ourselves by going through his works, that he is incredibly experienced in taking after his children. It then turns out that he must have tried to re-produce his practice knowledge over the subject in his works and especially masterpieces. So it happens.
Starting with the improper bringing up of the Firstborn and finishing with their own ‘destruction’ ,he attempts to teach us how to deal with those problems because, undoubtedly, they are not insignificant.
First of all, he completely denies piling children with endless love and richness, by developing the story in a way that finishes ‘doomly’ . Then he also denies letting inexperienced parents taking after a child because they simply condemn it. Allowing a child to do what ever he/she wants is a fatal mistake because it leads to disobedience and worse –to no respect. Furthermore, the most important characteristic of a proper relationship child-parent is probably the respect.
Moreover, he turns a great attention to the problem concerning lately realized mistake which has been attempted to be corrected. This is actually the main purpose of the Curse in a non literal sense abstracting from the plot of the book. It discusses that we should not try to correct mistakes when it is impossible and by force but attempt to talk calmly, understandingly and wisely, of course. However, it is better if you never reach this stage of the problem.
If we look into another aspect ,we do find that Tolkien touches politic problems as well. If we consider Elves as a people which needs to be properly governed, then some actions of the Valar are certainly not the right choice. There is a saying* that if you want to be successful in life and secure your children’s future as well as yours, you should learn how to rule other’s life, especially if you act politics. However, the Valar are certainly not ready. So it comes the spoiling of the Elves and soon their disobedience which is inadmissible. Letting your people doing what ever it wants proves that you are either not born(created in our case) for a leader or you are not ready. We would preferly accept the second thesis because this is the Valar’s fate after all.
A leader should firstly take and then give in order to be respected. If you spoil your citizens they will certainly oppose you when the situation is so or when you attempt to want something from them (as actually happens when the Valar ask Feanor to give a flame of his Silmarills). Therefore, it is not a good idea to try to calm them down by force (the Curse is a kind of use of force).
Many mistakes they do,the Valar,the Great. And if person tries to penetrate into the philosophy of his works and draw a lesson, he will find dealing with life and bosses or workers easier.
Leaded by his rich common sense and general knowledge as well as his talent, Tolkien creates a world paralleled to ours which explains and solves our main politic, children, family, love problems. It, his entire work, is a moral admonition, lecture and extra school education preparing us for future failures because people should learn by others mistakes but not waiting till we do them on our own. So try to understand the modern definition of Tolkien’s books in order to help you his lessons to avoid a downfall but create an excellent policy.
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* It comes from Bulgarian language.