Fingolfin v. Morgoth || Ar-PharazΓ΄n v. Sauron
I recently made an edit about Fingolfinβs challenge against Morgoth, comparing it with Eowynβs confrontation with the Witch-king, but as I was researching for another edit about Umbar, I came across another passage that strongly reminded me of that one - specificallyΒ βAnd Morgoth cameβ v.Β βAnd Sauron cameβ - and then looking further I realized that both passages are extremelyΒ structurally paralleled.
Now news came to Hithlum that Dorthonion was lost and the sons of Finarfin overthrown, and that the sons of FΓ«anor were driven from their lands. Then Fingolfin beheld (as it seemed to him) the utter ruin of the Noldor, and the defeat beyond redress of all their houses; and filled with wrath and despair he mounted upon Rochallor his great horse and rode forth alone, and none might restrain him. He passed over Dor-nu-Fauglith like a wind amid the dust, and all that beheld his onset fled in amaze, thinking that OromΓ« himself was come: for a great madness of rage was upon him, so that his eyes shone like the eyes of the Valar. Thus he came alone to Angbandβs gates, and he sounded his horn, and smote once more upon the brazen doors, and challenged Morgoth to come forth to single combat.
That was the last time in those wars that he passed the doors of his stronghold, and it is said that he took not the challenge willingly; for though his might was greatest of all things in this world, alone of the Valar he knew fear. But he could not now deny the challenge before the face of his captains; for the rocks rang with the shrill music of Fingolfinβs horn, and his voice came keen and clear down into the depths of Angband; and Fingolfin named Morgoth craven, and lord of slaves. Therefore Morgoth came, climbing slowly from his subterranean throne, and the rumour of his feet was like thunder underground. And he issued forth clad in black armour; and he stood before the King like a tower, iron-crowned, and his vast shield, sable on-blazoned, cast a shadow over him like a stormcloud. But Fingolfin gleamed beneath it as a star; for his mail was overlaid with silver, and his blue shield was set with crystals; and he drew his sword Ringil, that glittered like ice.
βOf the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin
And men saw his [Ar-PharazΓ΄nβs] sails coming up out of the sunset, dyed as with scarlet and gleaming with red and gold, and fear fell upon the dwellers by the coasts, and they fled far away. But the fleet came at last to that place that was called Umbar, where was the mighty haven of the NΓΊmenΓ³reans that no hand had wrought. Empty and silent were all the lands about when the King of the Sea marched upon Middle-earth. For seven days he journeyed with banner and trumpet, and he came to a hill, and he went up, and he set there his pavilion and his throne; and he sat him down in the midst of the land, and the tents of his host were ranged all about him, blue, golden, and white, as a field of tall flowers. Then he sent forth heralds, and he commanded Sauron to come before him and swear to him fealty.
Even from his mighty tower of Barad-dΓ»r he came, and made no offer of battle. For he perceived that the power and majesty of the Kings of the Sea surpassed all rumour of them, so that he could not trust even the greatest of his servants to withstand them; and he saw not his time yet to work his will with the DΓΊnedain. And he was crafty, well skilled to gain what he would by subtlety when force might not avail. Therefore he humbled himself before Ar-PharazΓ΄n and smoothed his tongue; and men wondered, for all that he said seemed fair and wise.
βAkallabΓͺth: The Downfall of NΓΊmenor
I could go on about this -
about how Fingolfin was strong and stood alone and called Morgoth forth with his own voice, where Pharazon was proud and hauled a retinue along with him and doing his dirty work for him;
how Fingolfin was watched with awe as he approached Anbgand, where Pharazonβs approach to Mordor was greeted with fear;
how Morgoth was afraid of Fingolfin but accepted to avoid appearing weak to his subordinates, where Sauron was ready and willing to Pharazon to his advantage and didnβt trust his subordinates to the job right;
how Morgoth was great and terrible and dark as he stood before his foe, where Sauron took a fair form and humbled himself as he began his deception -
I could go on and on, but honestly these passages speak for themselves, about what makes a king, and what makes a goodΒ king, and what makes a coward and a hero and the various ways that evil can work, and how one can learn from history or ignore it, the way Sauron learned from Morgothβs defeat to make himself stronger and the way Pharazon ignored his ancestor Fingolfinβs bravery in favor of his own prideβ¦
Tolkien you clever bastard - youβve done it again!
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