I'll note that this does not state that Nerdanel was "gentle" but rather, firm of will, patient and empathetic. Not gentle. *snip* One wonders why "gentleness" is assumed.
Perhaps looking at her in contrast to Feanor? Though you bring up a great point; this is another one of those fanons that has weaseled its way into everyone's mind, including mine, despite little evidence in the texts. (Because--famous last fanon words!--I would have sworn that it was there! ;)
I wonder also if her faith in the Valar doesn't contribute to that impression. Yikes, now you've got me pondering another essay, and I haven't even started writing this one and already have another lined up after ... ;)
Had he fleshed out the other five, I would imagine each would be equally nuanced.
I think that the HoMe shows this as well. For example, JRRT's earliest version of Celegorm had him--not Barahir!--rescuing Finrod during the Battle of Sudden Flame. The detail that Celegorm and Curufin rescued Orodreth from Minas Tirith was conveniently edited out of the published book. C&C asked--and convinced!--their father to let Aegnor and Angrod on board the ships to Losgar in some early versions as well. I'm not sure if JRRT struck that idea, or if it just never made it into the published Silm but, in any case, I've always taken details like those to mean that JRRT certainly didn't have them in mind as unequivocal villains, even if they did end up that way in the published book.
no subject
I'll note that this does not state that Nerdanel was "gentle" but rather, firm of will, patient and empathetic. Not gentle. *snip* One wonders why "gentleness" is assumed.
Perhaps looking at her in contrast to Feanor? Though you bring up a great point; this is another one of those fanons that has weaseled its way into everyone's mind, including mine, despite little evidence in the texts. (Because--famous last fanon words!--I would have sworn that it was there! ;)
I wonder also if her faith in the Valar doesn't contribute to that impression. Yikes, now you've got me pondering another essay, and I haven't even started writing this one and already have another lined up after ... ;)
Had he fleshed out the other five, I would imagine each would be equally nuanced.
I think that the HoMe shows this as well. For example, JRRT's earliest version of Celegorm had him--not Barahir!--rescuing Finrod during the Battle of Sudden Flame. The detail that Celegorm and Curufin rescued Orodreth from Minas Tirith was conveniently edited out of the published book. C&C asked--and convinced!--their father to let Aegnor and Angrod on board the ships to Losgar in some early versions as well. I'm not sure if JRRT struck that idea, or if it just never made it into the published Silm but, in any case, I've always taken details like those to mean that JRRT certainly didn't have them in mind as unequivocal villains, even if they did end up that way in the published book.
Make that Essay #4 ... ;)