Finrod: 30-Day Character Study - Study Days by cuarthol

9. Weak Points, Part One

Weak Points, Part One. Think about at least three shortcomings of your character - things they are bad at, mistakes they make, bad habits… Write a scene in which their failings play a pivotal role.

For today's creative writing scene see Regrets: One

This was really a hard one for me.  Finrod is generally written without many of the overt faults that are ascribed to much of his kin, but I think they are there, especially when his strengths become his weaknesses.

One weak point Finrod seems to have is a desire to appease others, or not cause strife.  The times this becomes an issue is when it is impossible to appease everyone, he seems to make less than ideal choices on which edge of the line to walk.

For instance, he doesn’t speak about the kinslaying at Alqualondë to appease the other Noldor, lest he be accused of being a traitor to his father’s kin, which is what Caranthir basically does (even calling into question his kinship at all)

But Caranthir, who loved not the sons of Finarfin, and was the harshest of the brothers and the most quick to anger, cried aloud: ‘Yea more! Let not the sons of Finarfin run hither and thither with their tales to this Dark Elf in his caves! Who made them our spokesmen to deal with him? And though they be come indeed to Beleriand, let them not so swiftly forget that their father is a lord of the Noldor, though their mother be of other kin.’

The Silmarillion

And when the truth is later brought out, Thingol then turns and accuses him of being a traitor to his mother’s kin for not saying anything:

‘I marvel at you, son of Earwen,’ said Thingol, ‘that you would come to the board of your kinsman thus red-handed from the slaying of your mother’s kin,and yet say naught in defence, nor yet seek any pardon!’

Then Finrod was greatly troubled, but he was silent, for he could not defend himself, save by bringing charges against the other princes of the Noldor; and that he was loath to do before Thingol. But in Angrod’s heart the memory of the words of Caranthir welled up again in bitterness, and he cried: ‘Lord, I know not what lies you have heard, nor whence; but we came not red-handed. Guiltless we came forth, save maybe of folly, to listen to the words of fell Feanor, and become as if besotted with wine, and as briefly. No evil did we do on our road, but suffered ourselves great wrong; and forgave it. For this we are named tale-bearers to you and treasonable to the Noldor: untruly as you know, for we have of our loyalty been silent before you, and thus earned your anger. But now these charges are no longer to be borne, and the truth you shall know.’

The Silmarillion

Finrod was stuck in the middle of competing loyalties and I’m not sure he necessarily chose correctly here, because in his choice of silence he sided (intentionally or no) with the kinslayers.  

Still, he does manage to salvage the relationship with Thingol, and is close to Círdan.  But I would certainly say Finrod’s desire to both appease and attempt to hold a neutral position on matters like this is not a good trait.

It seems to surface again when Celegorm and Curufin take refuge with him.  He says they have been friends to him in every need while in Nargothrond, but knows they will turn on Beren if they learn of his quest.

What he doesn’t seem to realize is that they will turn on him, also.  Not only that, they turn almost the whole of his people against him.  He does seem to fall into this sense of the trust he extends will be repaid by being earned, and he is proven wrong on this point.

I have had to backpedal on a few ideas about him that could come off as negatives.  I tend to have this sense of Finrod mostly staying hidden in Nargothrond once it’s built and leaving the fighting to others (and particularly his brothers and nephew) - but the Athrabeth makes it clear he did spend time fighting at the siege.

But I think there is one situation in which Finrod’s strength as someone wise and learnèd becomes a weakness when he ascribes too much to his own knowledge.  He can come across as arrogant at times to Andreth, and while he is eager to learn the lore of the Edain, he only does so up to the point that it seems to conflict with his own beliefs (or at least he pushes back harder on those points of conflict).  That is a normal reaction, yes, but it is not really a high point of his character.

One connection I recently made is that Finrod can be fiery in anger and argument:

Recalling this paragraph when the Noldor debated on their course of action before they had chosen to rebel and leave Valinor, it gives a very dense rundown of who took what position:

Fingolfin and Turgon his son therefore spoke against Feanor, and fierce words awoke, so that once again wrath came near to the edge of swords. But Finarfin spoke softly, as was his wont, and sought to calm the Noldor, persuading them to pause and ponder ere deeds were done that could not be undone: and Orodreth, alone of his sons, spoke in like manner. Finrod was with Turgon, his friend; but Galadriel, the only woman of the Noldor to stand that day tall and valiant among the contending princes, was eager to be gone. No oaths she swore, but the words of Feanor 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. Of like mind with Galadriel was Fingon Fingolfin’s son, being moved also by Feanor’s words, though he loved him little; and with Fingon stood as they ever did Angrod and Aegnor, sons of Finarfin. But these held their peace and spoke not against their fathers.

The Silmarillion

So if we draw out these two sections:

Fingolfin and Turgon his son therefore spoke against Feanor, and fierce words awoke, so that once again wrath came near to the edge of swords.

Finrod was with Turgon, his friend...

It seems to me that Finrod was part of those who were so fierce in their argument that they almost came to blows!  I kinda love this - I love a Finrod that hints at the wild spirit that wrestled a werewolf with his bare hands and teeth!  I love a Finrod that is not just quiet and accepting.  Yes I know this is supposed to be Finrod’s weaknesses.  I did say this was hard for me!

For today's creative writing scene see Regrets: One