Tuor and Túrin

Tuor and Túrin of the House of Hador. Though only seeing each other once (and then not even speaking) these two characters always seem to remind readers of each other. It’s perhaps not suprising then that their lives were very similar, while at the same time extremely different.

To begin with, both boys ‘lost’ their fathers in the Fifth Battle, and following this were placed in the care of the elves, who fostered them by request of their mothers. They both had a Vala take an interest in their lives, both spent time as outlaws in the early years of their manhood, both were befriended by at least one elf during their days away from the elves of their fostering, and both came to dwell in favour with the Kings of the Noldor after this time as outlaws, winning the heart of the princess in both cases.

However, despite these similarities, Túrin’s story is one of grief and tragedy, while Tuor’s is one that contains some grief, but also love and hope, a story which eventually leads to the overthrow of Morgoth. How different were these characters, and did these differences ultimately decide the way each man’s path would end? Did the power of Morgoth and Ulmo strive within the house of Hador through their influence on each man, or was it the characteristics and upbringing of the men themselves that decided their fate?

Childhood

Tuor lost both parents at the battle of Unnumbered Tears, for when his mother Rían learnt of his father’s death, she was full of grief and went to the waste of Anfauglith. Laying herself down at the Haudh-en-Ndengin, she died. Before departing, she had begged Annael of the Grey Elves to foster her infant son, and so Tuor grew in the care of the elves with probably little memory of either parent.

Túrin was nine years old when his father failed to return from the battle. Fearing for his safety in a land then plundered by Easterlings, Morwen, his mother, sent him to Doriath, where he was fostered by King Thingol. Morwen remained in Hithlum and gave birth to his sister Nienor, refusing to go to Doriath herself until much later.

From this beginning it is already possible to see the differences between the two emerging. While Túrin was fostered just as Tuor was, and by similar elves, one can see that Túrin’s grief was greater. Túrin was forced to leave his mother, unsure of when and if her would see her again, and knowing that his father was either dead or captured by Morgoth. As he was older than Tuor, these relationships had been formed already, and this made the parting bitterer. Even for his young years, Túrin rarely wept, but he did so at the parting with his mother. Tuor, however, was an infant when his mother died, and he grew up with the elves as an orphan, but had favour with Annael and learnt much. Túrin also grew in strength and is one of the only Men to have received fostering as a son from an Elf-lord like Thingol. Túrin also learnt much from the elves, but his grief was ever fresh, as messengers were constantly sent to Morwen, asking her to come and dwell in Doriath, but she refused. Finally, the messengers did not return, and Thingol sent no more.

Túrin seems to be longing for the return of a relationship he once had, but which is now held out of his reach. From one viewpoint, Tuor’s parents both being dead is less of a burden for him than both parents being alive was for Túrin. Tuor knows they will not return and he cannot feel helpless about the situation. Being an infant when his mother died and unborn at the death of his father means that, while a longing may arise, it will not be like Túrin’s, who had relationships with both parents and was unable to return to either of them, even though theywere still alive.

Adolescents

During their late teenage years, both Tuor and Túrin spent time as outlaws before once again living in elvish communities different to those of their fostering. One of the main differences to occur is that one is outlawed with the option of returning, while the other is outlawed without any other choice.

At the age of sixteen, Tuor was captured by the Easterlings as he and the Grey Elves were leaving the caves where they had dwelt. When the attack came, Tuor had refused to flee, but wielding his axe like his father, he slew many enemies. However, he did not escape capture, and was enslaved by Lorgan, chief of the Easterlings, and his life was bitter. Three years of slavery did he endure before his chance for escape arrived. Having been sent on an errand in the woods, he slew his guards with an axe and escaped. Tuor was then alone in the land of his birth and became an outlaw. He caused so much grief to the Easterlings that Lorgan offered a reward to anyone who killed or captured him.

Túrin growing up in Doriath had found favour with his foster father, King Thingol. However, one of Thingol’s advisors, Saeros, had begrudged this favour. Upon his return from the marches of Doriath, he noted Túrin’s wayworn garments and taunted him saying:

If the Men of Hithlum are so wild and fell, of what sort are the women of that land? Do they run like deer clad only in their hair?

In anger, Túrin threw a ‘drinking vessel’ at him, wounding him. A few days later, Saeros waylaid Túrin in the woods and they fought. However, Túrin proved the more skilled, and Saeros, fleeing him, fell into a stream and died. Túrin feared he would be made captive for his actions, so he fled into the wild, banding together a group of wild men whom he led. Thingol discovered what had occurred and sent Beleg to Túrin with word that he was pardoned and asking that he would return to Doriath. Túrin, however, refused and remained an outlaw.

Elvish influence

It can already been seen in the childhood of both men that they were influenced by elves. However, for neither of them did the infleunce end there, and both had somewhat of a ‘break’ from the elves where they were outlaws, and were then influenced by one elvish companion. In the case of Túrin this was Beleg, later Gwindor, and in Tuor’s case it was Voronwë.

During his time as an outlaw, Tuor would at times search for the Gate of the Noldor, that Annael had spoken of. However, he did not find it. Finally, four years after his escape from slavery, Tuor sat beside a stream and noticing it suddenly gurgle and flow down, he followed it, hoping it was a sign from Ulmo. After a while he stood before the Gate of the Noldor (though he knew it not) and two elves came passing by. They showed him briefly the way through, and then went on their way. For many days Tuor travelled alone before coming to the land of Nevrast, where Turgon had dwelt before the building of Gondolin. Here he found the armour left by Turgon under the instruction of Ulmo, and dressed himself in it. Then, on the shores of the sea, Ulmo himself appeared to Tuor and spoke of the Doom of Mandos and the Fall of Gondolin. He gave Tuor words to speak to King Turgon and then left, promising him a guide. In the morning, Tuor awoke and found nearby an elf from the Hidden City of Gondolin named Voronwë. Voronwë led him to the city and Tuor found favour with King Turgon.

For Túrin, the most influential elf was probably Beleg. It was Beleg who found Túrin and his companions when he was first sent to Doriath as a child, it was he that came after Túrin when he fled Doriath, and finally, with leave of King Thingol, he became a companion of Túrin while he was an outlaw, to watch over him and guide him. However, Beleg was accidently slain by Túrin, and this was one of Túrin’s greatest griefs. Túrin had been captured, and Beleg rescuing him went to cut his bonds, but his hand slipped, cutting Túrin and awakening him. Túrin leapt to his feet and grabbing his sword slew Beleg in the night, believing him to be an orc. For many days he walked as one in a dream, guided by Gwindor, an elf whom Beleg had found on his way to rescue Túrin. Finally, Túrin was healed of his anguish at the waters of Eithel Ivrin, where he finally wept. Gwindor then led him to the land of Nargothrond, where he had previously been a lord. Here both him and Túrin were welcomed with favour by the King.

Already it can be seen that both characters were very similar in their experiences and upbringing. Both grew up at least partly fostered by elves, both spent time as outlaws in their youth, both had at least one elvish companion during their wanderings, and both found favour with the Kings of the last two Noldor kingdoms to fall. However, their paths were also influenced by their choices and reactions to different situations, as well as the influence of a particular Vala in each case.

Character

From the beginning Túrin is described as being:

…dark-haired as his mother and promised to be like her in mood also for he was not merry , and spoke little, though he learned to speak early and ever seemed old for his years… slow to forget mockery or injustice but the fire of his father was also in him and he could be sudden and fierce. Yet he was quick to pity and the hurts or sadness of living things might move him to tears. (Unfinished Tales)

He was also strong in body, and in childhood did not fall to the ‘Evil Breath’, which claimed the life of his younger sister. However, patience doesn’t seem to have been one of his strengths, and even in his younger years in Doriath he excelled in almost everything except craft, as he would usually have a ‘sudden stroke’ which would destroy his work.

Tuor, on the other hand, was very different. There is not much said about his childhood, but he did learn things quickly and accomplished much in his time with Annael, and then again in his time in Gondolin. When captured by Lorgan, Tuor was treated badly, but he faced everything “with watchful patience,” despite being constantly mocked in the beginning, for Lorgan knew he was from the house of Hador and wished to break his pride. In contrast, Túrin is taunted by Saeros and immediately throws a drinking vessel at him. Túrin seems to react with the fierceness of his father on many occasions, killing at times only to regret it later. He finally falls prey to this weakness when he commits suicide in the height of his grief.

Tolerance and patience seem to be two traits that separated the behaviour of these men. Even after Tuor had escaped from the Easterlings, his revenge on them was for his people and not for his own harsh treatment. This can be seen by the way he didn’t specifically target Lorgan, but rather any Easterling in the land of his fathers. The only record of Tuor slaying an elf is when he killed Maeglin the Betrayer in the Fall of Gondolin, for he was kidnapping his son and wife as the battle raged. This seems the only time he reacted quickly and with great fierceness at anyone not obviously a servant of Morgoth, and it can be said he did this with very good reason.

Valar influence

One of the most important and significant differences between the two men was the influence of two opposing Valar. Ulmo and Morgoth both took an interest in the house of Hador.

Tuor was guided by Ulmo through a number of signs, beginning after his four years as an outlaw. Ulmo used streams, birds, and the occasional elf to help Tuor along his path to a meeting with Ulmo himself. This meeting ultimately led Tuor to Gondolin, where he did more than just deliver the message to Turgon from Ulmo. Tuor stayed and grew in favour with the King, he also won the heart of the Princess Idril and they married. It was their son Eärendil who many years after the fall of Gondolin went to the Valar for aid, speaking on behalf of both Men and Elves, and ultimately leading to the final defeat of Morgoth at the end of the First Age.

On the other hand, Túrin received an interest from Morgoth, along with the rest of his family. Morgoth had captured his father Húrin, and for Húrin’s undaunted refusal to speak of Gondolin and its whereabouts, Morgoth placed a curse on his family. Morgoth was also eager to capture Túrin, but he never did. However, Túrin believed after the death of Beleg that he was indeed cursed, as shown in his conversation with Gwindor:

‘Then have you seen Húrin son of Galdor, the warrior of Dor-lómin?’ said Túrin.
‘I have not seen him,’ said Gwindor. ‘But rumour of him runs through Angband that he still defies Morgoth; and Morgoth has laid a curse upon him and all his kin.’
‘That I do believe,’ said Túrin.

Later in the story he believes in the curse so blindly that he refuses to return to Doriath where his mother and sister are, because he believes he would bring them more grief. His father, on the other hand, rejected the power of Morgoth’s curse:

But Húrin said: ‘You speak in vain. For you cannot see them, nor govern them from afar: not while you keep this shape, and desire still to be a King visible upon earth.’

Though, aside from all this, just as Ulmo used elves to help him guide Tuor, Morgoth had his servants too. Probably the worst influence Túrin had from Morgoth was through his greatest dragon Glaurung, which attacked Nargothrond. Had this lizard not interfered, Túrin’s life may not have ended so tragically. Even though Túrin slew Glaurung, the enchantment that he had placed on Nienor (Túrin’s sister) and on Túrin himself ultimately led to their suicides.

Throughout their lives both characters were given great opportunities. Out of the two, Túrin probably had the best start. In his beginnings one seems to believe that he will most definitely achieve amazing things. The heir of Dor-lómin, exceptional at almost everything he did, and fostered and shown favour by Thingol and Melian of Doriath. However, the grief from his family’s situation and the failings of his people seem to have affected him greatly. This, coupled with his pride, a series of horrid events, and finally the enchantment of Glaurung, seems to have destroyed his life. Túrin, who is potentially a heroic character, becomes one of tragedy, and, though accomplishing much, ends without hope or peace. Alternately, Tuor’s start in life prepares the reader for a story of hardship and tragedy. Tuor began as an orphaned infant, raised by a fairly unknown elf, at sixteen he was enslaved, before spending four years as an outlaw following his escape. Though his upbringing is a little less extravagant than Túrin’s, it is Tuor that ends with hope. Two men of the House of Hador. Both with similar upbringing and family situation. Both did amazing deeds in their life and are renowned for their valour. But with two different personalities and behaviours, two different Valar to influence them, and ultimately two very different conclusions. One ended in hope, the other in grief.

by Elvishmusician

Artwork by: Michelucci; Nasmith.