Poll: Fan Perceptions of Maglor

[dawn_felagund]

ETA:: Please note: As of 10 May 2009, I have collected the results for this poll. You're welcome to still contribute, if you wish, as I may return to this topic in the future, but further replies will not be used in my current essay. However, do check out the discussion on this post, which is as fabulous as I have come to expect from my flist and passersby! :) A sincere thank-you to all who participated in the poll and provided such insightful discussion of the topic. /ETA

I am getting ready to write an essay for my weble The Heretic Loremaster, and I am interested in how Tolkien fans familiar with The Silmarillion perceive the character of Maglor. I appreciate the input of anyone who has a few minutes to spare me and my LJ-created poll. :) Also, please pass the word to other Tolkienites, if you're so inclined. I would like as many responses as I can get.

If you do not have an LJ account and would like to contribute to the poll, feel free to leave an anonymous comment with your responses. (Click "Confabulate with Me" at the bottom of the post.)

Please note also that I do not expect people to look up information for this. I am interested in your perceptions of his character, not how well you can find what the book says about his character. (And, for those who do not already know, I don't believe in "canon," so I don't believe that there are right or wrong answers to any of these questions, although I certainly possess my own opinions on them. :)



[Poll #1387001]

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Anything that you'd wish to add or elaborate upon, please feel free to do so in the comments. :)

Comments

[atanwende.livejournal.com]

I have to admit I skipped 1 and 2 because I just couldn't decide. When looking at a lot of fanfics it would probably be Maglor, reading the Silm without thinking further on it, it would probably be him, too. But considering my perception of the sons of Feanor (and that's just a personal thing, nothing of the "if-you-had-read-the-book-more-thoroughly-you'd-be-of-my-opinion-too" sort) it would probably be none. I think all of them probably had their kind moments (and in my version of the event that's mostly stemming from the fact that blood is so much thicker than water among Feanorians), but you don't hold land or command armies by being such a nice guy. I mean, my Haleth and Carathir are being nice to each other too. But that doesn't change the fact that Caranthir doesn't like people and that Haleth is of the rather bitchy sort. ;) (Damn, it's time I re-wrote that story!) So really, considering question 1 and 2, I just couldn't answer... hope that doesn't mess up your poll! ;)

Considering your last question I'm recently beginning to realize that my conception of Maglor is more and more based on more obscure events than the obvious, like the reason he went to Himring when the Gap fell and didn't flee South like his other brothers. It's hard for me somehow to describe that with certain character traits, but those facts somehow shape him for me as a character more than the musician and Silmaril bit do (and the wandering the shores thingy and all happens at a point where everything is fallen to pieces anyway, so it's not that important for my conception of Maglor as a character throughout the events of the First Age). I actually seem him as a diplomatic and rational person (did I choose the latter or did I forget?), which may probably make him seem softer than his brothers but I don't think he is. Not anymore, at least.

Wow, I think it's time I put all of my thoughts into a story once more. I seem to think a lot more these days and write a lot less. It's a pity, somehow. :(

Well, and now I'm going to read the other comments. I bet that's going to be interesting.

[dawn_felagund]

Nope, it doesn't mess it up at all! :) If I correlate between answers, then I'll just skip yours if it involves those questions.

I actually agree with you (although I answered all of the questions ...); I think that all of the brothers had their good and bad moments. Even the 3Cs--who tend to get vilified except among Feanatics--could not have been all bad and had their redeeming traits/moments. (Especially looking back into the earlier material; it always strikes me that JRRT introduced a stricter good-evil dichotomy between the Feanorians as he wrote.)

Considering your last question I'm recently beginning to realize that my conception of Maglor is more and more based on more obscure events than the obvious, like the reason he went to Himring when the Gap fell and didn't flee South like his other brothers.

I feel the same, which is probably why I get annoyed when, in general, fandom tends to regard him as the wishy-washy and sweet-as-pie because he was a musician and fostered E&E after Elwing took a long walk off a short pier. Maedhros gets explicit credit for taking Himring, so near to Morgoth, but Maglor tends to be overlooked for holding the Gap, which sold really stunning khakis and sweatervests was not only in the same region geographically as Himring but also did not have the protection of the hills that Maedhros had. As you note, when the Gap was overrun, he went to Himring--that oh-so-dangerous realm--and not into secluded/protected realms, as all of his other brothers save Maedhros did. Then, his behavior at the Nirnaeth ... yes, I think the majority of textual evidence points to him as being a much stronger and braver character than most fans seem to give him credit for. I'm really interested to see what the conclusion among Silmaniacs is; I have other tricks up my sleeve for tapping into the ff.net hive mind. ;)