Húrin Thalion, Part 2 by Melesta

Part 2: The Subversion of the Hero

The first part of Húrin's biography, "The Making of the Hero," provided insight into Húrin's origins and early life until his lordship in Dor-lómin and his marriage to Morwen. The narrative surrounding that first part of his life is one of hope and a strong sense of estel. Húrin is a valiant hero, a dear friend to Elves and Men, and a loving father and spouse. Any reader would believe that Húrin will find his happy ending and be repaid with prosperity for his good actions.

Well, this wouldn't be a story of the First Age if that was the case.

In this second part, "The Subversion of the Hero," we'll trace Húrin's life starting with his most heroic moment—his last stand at the Battle of Unnumbered Tears—and the subversion of the heroic character.

Battle of Unnumbered Tears: The Hero's Last Stand, Aurë entuluva!

After the terrible devastation of the Battle of Sudden Flame, Beleriand had little peace. Húrin's lordship of Dor-lómin is marked by continuous watches along Hithlum's borders and preparations for war. In F.A. 468, inspired by Beren and Lúthien's successful quest for the Silmaril, the Noldor decided to summon all their allies for an organized attack against Angband. The initiative was led by Maedhros, son of Fëanor, and High King Fingon eagerly joined the effort, offering all the strength under his command from western Beleriand.

Maedhros, on his end, received the support of the Dwarves of Belegost and the newly arrived Eastern Men. Known as the Union of Maedhros, it was the largest alliance among the free people of Beleriand against Morgoth. Húrin, already Fingon's close friend and ally, prepared his Hadorian warriors while also summoning the help of his mother's kin from Brethil, led by his uncle Haldir.

Despite the tension of this period, this Union is a moment of hope for Húrin and he puts all his trust in the success of the battle. Before departing to join the High King, Húrin tells his wife Morwen:

'Farewell, Lady of Dor-lómin; we ride now with greater hope than ever we have known before. Let us think that at this midwinter the feast shall be merrier than in all our years yet, with a fearless spring to follow after!' Then he lifted Túrin to his shoulder, and cried to his men: 'Let the heir of the House of Hador see the light of your swords!' And the sun glittered on fifty blades as they leaped forth, and the court rang with the battle-cry of the Edain of the North: Lacho calad! Drego morn! Flame Light! Flee Night!¹

It is clear from this scene and heroic cry that Húrin believes in victory, and plans for the future of his house, preparing Túrin to continue in his footsteps as the next Lord of Dor-lómin.

Planning to repeat their tactic from the victory of the Dagor Aglareb, which initiated the Siege of Angband, the battle strategy of the Noldor revolved around Maedhros's host provoking Morgoth's armies and luring them out into the open of the Anfauglith so that Fingon could secretly attack from the west and crush the enemy forces in the middle. Morgoth, who already knew about many of these plans through his spies, sent Orcs to provoke Fingon's people.

Enraged by this, the Noldorin captains wished to rush into battle, but Húrin advised them to be patient:

Húrin spoke against it, and bade them beware of the guile of Morgoth, whose strength was always greater than it seemed, and his purpose other than he revealed. And though the signal of the approach of Maedhros came not, and the host grew impatient, Húrin urged them still to await it, and to let the Orcs break themselves in assault upon the hills.²

This moment captures Húrin's skill as a battle strategist who can easily read Morgoth's plans. Likewise, it speaks to Húrin's position as a trusted advisor during the battle. In this scene, his ranks are positioned closely to the ranks of the High King, implying that Húrin served as Fingon's right hand.

This scene experiences an interesting change in The Children of Húrin as Tolkien decides to swap the dialogue. The order of events remains unchanged, but Fingon, not Húrin, advocates for patience among the ranks. Christopher Tolkien comments that this change was likely done to avoid character discrepancy: "such prudence and experience of Morgoth should lie rather with Fingon King of the Noldor than with Hurin, a Man of no more than thirty-one years."³

Whether spoken by Húrin or Fingon, the bidding to wait wasn't successful. The Orcs used captives, who were violently massacred in front of the fortress, and successfully provoked Fingon's host into joining the battle prematurely. Despite a strong initial attack, Morgoth revealed more creatures, and the host suffered many losses, being driven back across the plains.

On the morning of the sixth day of gruesome fighting, while enemies practically surrounded the host, Turgon of Gondolin joined the main battle in his attempt to help Fingon. This unexpected appearance of the Gondolindrim brings renewed hope and an emotional reunion between Turgon, Fingon, and the Hadorian brothers: "the meeting of Turgon with Húrin, who stood beside Fingon, was glad in the midst of battle."⁴

This hopeful meeting passes all too quickly, and the events at the battle become critical, even with Turgon's aid. The Easterling Uldor betrayed Maedhros's host, Morgoth released a host of dragons and Balrogs, and the strategy of uniting the eastern and the western hosts was ruined. The infamous Balrog Gothmog separated Fingon from Turgon and Húrin's forces, and after fighting two Balrogs, Fingon was killed violently. Knowing that the chance for victory is gone, the Hadorian brothers decided to sacrifice themselves to allow Turgon a safe retreat.

This is one of the key moments of The Silmarillion, where Húrin and Huor not only show their loyalty and gratitude to Turgon for fostering them in Gondolin in their youth but they also influence the course of the history of Beleriand. While bidding Turgon to retreat with his people, Huor reveals his famous foresight: "This I say to you, lord, with the eyes of death: though we part here for ever, and I shall not look on your white walls again, from you and from me a new star shall arise. Farewell!"⁵ The "new star" clearly references the Half-elven Eärendil, Turgon and Huor's grandson, who will take a Silmaril to Valinor and urge the Valar to go to war with Morgoth.

With Húrin and Huor's sacrifice, Turgon escaped down the Sirion with the remainder of his host and some of Fingon's people. The Hadorians retreated behind the Fen of Serech at the river Sirion, serving as a living fence. Committed to fighting to the last Man, the Hadorian soldiers are killed by the overwhelming strength of the enemy, leaving Húrin alone on the battlefield. Tolkien's description of this last stand is likely one of the most emotionally charged passages of the entire Silmarillion:

Last of all Húrin stood alone. Then he cast aside his shield, and wielded an axe two-handed; and it is sung that the axe smoked in the black blood of the troll-guard of Gothmog until it withered, and each time that he slew Húrin cried: 'Aurë entuluva! Day shall come again!' Seventy times he uttered that cry; but they took him at last alive, by the command of Morgoth, for the Orcs grappled him with their hands, which clung to him still though he hewed off their arms; and ever their numbers were renewed, until at last he fell buried beneath them. Then Gothmog bound him and dragged him to Angband with mockery.⁶

This passage serves, without a doubt, as the culmination point of Húrin's life but also as one of the highest points in the story of the First Age. The intention to portray Húrin as a singular hero of the battle was present in Tolkien's mind since the early drafts. In Túrin Son of Húrin & Glórund the Dragon (Tolkien's first attempt to translate the story to alliterative verse), Húrin's last stand serves as the poem's opening:

Lo! Húrin Thalion in the hosts of war
was whelmed, what time the white-clad armies
of Elfinesse were all to ruin
by the dread hate driven of Delu-Morgoth.
That field is yet by the folk named
Nínin Unothradin, Unnumbered Tears.
There the children of Men, chieftain and warrior,
fled and fought not, but the folk of the Elves
they betrayed with treason, save that true man only,
Thalion Erithámrod and his thanes like gods.
There in host on host the hill-fiend Orcs
overbore him at last in that battle terrible,
by the bidding of Bauglir bound him living,
and pulled down the proudest of the princes of Men.⁷

In every version of this scene, Tolkien's writing produces strong visual imagery by depicting a dire circumstance full of darkness and an overwhelming enemy force. Húrin's strength appears superhuman and almost divine, underlying his characterization as "the mightiest of the warriors of mortal Men."⁸ The language narrating this battle and its hero is mythical in nature, contributing to the sense of ancient history and mythology where the fates of mortal people and divine beings occupy the same narrative field.

Last stands of this kind are commonly celebrated across cultures, and their heroes are long-remembered in history. Húrin's last stand shares many characteristics with some of the most famous historical battles: 1) defense of a strategic point, 2) protection for an important leader, and 3) a sense of patriotism. Namely, this last stance is significant for protecting the Fen of Serech, which prevents the enemy from reaching Gondolin and the southern regions of Beleriand. Húrin's sacrifice also protects Turgon, who becomes a high king after Fingon's death. Finally, the Hadorians demonstrate a strong sense of patriotism and love for their country: "[the Men of Dor-lómin] did not wish in their hearts to leave the Northlands, and if they could not win back to their homes, there they would stand to the end."⁹

Our own history has many variations of such valiant acts, from the antique Battle of the Persian Gate during Alexandrian times to more recent cases such as the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. Last stands loom large in historic narratives due to their impact on the popular imagination. Historian Nathaniel Philbrick explains this effect:

Long before Custer died at the Little Bighorn, the myth of the Last Stand already had a strong pull on human emotions, and on the way we like to remember history. The variations are endless ... but they all tell the story of a brave and intractable hero leading his tiny band against a numberless foe. Even though the odds are overwhelming, the hero and his followers fight on nobly to the end and are slaughtered to a man. In defeat the hero of the Last Stand achieves the greatest of victories, since he will be remembered for all time.¹⁰

The Battle of Unnumbered Tears ends at sunset on the sixth day as Húrin, the last living Man, is taken alive to Angband, but his deeds are indeed remembered for all time within the context of Middle-earth.

Angband: Morgoth's Curse and Divine Justice

After the battle, the rule of Húrin's lands was given to the Easterlings, the mortal Men who betrayed Maedhros's host and served Morgoth. None of Hador's people returned to Hithlum, and Morwen received little information about Húrin's capture. Despite Húrin urging Morwen to flee if the battle fails, she refused to leave her house, partly due to her pregnancy with her second daughter, Nienor, but also out of hope that Húrin will return:

And her heart still cheated her with hope unadmitted; her inmost thought foreboded that Húrin was not dead, and she listened for his footfall in the sleepless watches of the night, or would wake thinking that she had heard in the courtyard the neigh of Arroch his horse.¹¹

Morwen's character is akin to Penelope, refusing to acknowledge the loss and clinging to the sense of love and loyalty to her husband. Húrin's son, Túrin, is sent to Doriath by Morwen, where King Thingol received him in honor of Húrin and his friendship with Beren Erchamion. Morwen and newborn Nienor remained in Hithlum, ostracized from the rest of their community. It won't be until many years later that they will journey through Beleriand in an attempt to find Túrin.

Failing to overcome Turgon during the battle, Morgoth was angered and had Húrin questioned on the location of Gondolin. Húrin's oath of silence to Turgon and his loyalty to his Elven friends become the biggest reason for his demise. The published Silmarillion narrates these events briefly, mentioning Húrin's refusal to reveal anything about Gondolin and his defiance, resulting in Morgoth chaining him to a stone chair upon Thangorodrim and casting a curse over him:

'Sit now there; and look out upon the lands where evil and despair shall come upon those whom thou lovest. Thou hast dared to mock me, and to question the power of Melkor, Master of the fates of Arda. Therefore with my eyes thou shalt see, and with my ears thou shalt hear; and never shalt thou move from this place until all is fulfilled unto its bitter end.'¹²

In the Children of Húrin, Húrin's torment is described with much more detail: Morgoth attempts to intimidate him with magic, slow torment, and finally by offering Húrin promises of power and rank as Morgoth's own captain in exchange for information on Gondolin. Morgoth takes Húrin to the top of the Haudh-en-Nirnaeth, the Hill of the Slain, and places him on the very top in an attempt to intimidate the warrior. Húrin still refuses to yield and Morgoth curses him.

Similarly, in the Lay of the Children of Húrin, we see a more visceral language that provides details of Húrin's torment:

Then hung they helpless Húrin dauntless
in chains by fell enchantments forged
that with fiery anguish his flesh devoured,
yet loosed not lips locked in silence
to pray for pity. Thus prisoned saw he
on the sable walls the sultry glare
of far-off fires fiercely burning
down deep corridors and dark archways
in the blind abysses of those bottomless halls;
there with mourning mingled mighty tumult
the throb and thunder of the thudding forges'
brazen clangour; belched and spouted
flaming furnaces; there faces sad
through the glooms glided as the gloating Orcs
their captives herded under cruel lashes.
Many a hopeless glance on Húrin fell,
for his tearless torment many tears were spilled.¹³

The different versions of Húrin's imprisonment serve as puzzle pieces that illustrate Morgoth's immense power, the cruelty of his devices, and the miserable conditions in which the thralls of Angband are kept. These added worldbuilding details reinforce Húrin's strength and almost superhuman capacity to endure, as he never begs pity or mercy. Instead, Húrin insults and challenges Morgoth, relying on his knowledge of the lore of the Elves and reaffirming his faith in the Valar:

But Húrin answered: 'Do you forget to whom you speak? Such things you spoke long ago to our fathers; but we escaped from your shadow. And now we have knowledge of you, for we have looked on the faces that have seen the Light, and heard the voices that have spoken with Manwë. Before Arda you were, but others also; and you did not make it. Neither are you the most mighty; for you have spent your strength upon yourself and wasted it in your own emptiness. No more are you now than an escaped thrall of the Valar, and their chain still awaits you.'¹⁴

The chain Húrin mentions is Angainor, the chain Tulkas used to contain Morgoth in the halls of Mandos and later in the narrative, he will use it again to capture Morgoth during the War of Wrath. Thus, with his taunt, Húrin predicts Morgoth's downfall in what can be read as Húrin's unshaken faith in the Valar or perhaps even a moment of foresight. It is interesting to note that Húrin's physical description matches the one provided for Tulkas himself: of golden hair and beard, ruddy complexion and outstanding physical strength. This resemblance was likely to infuriate (and perhaps even scare) Morgoth all the more.

The rumor of Húrin's defiance spreads among the thralls of Angband. Years after his father's capture, when Túrin is a grown man, he meets the escaped thrall Gwindor who reveals that "rumor of [Húrin] runs through Angband that he still defies Morgoth; and Morgoth has laid a curse upon him and all his kin."¹⁵

Morgoth enchants Húrin with his power, ensuring he cannot move from nor die on his chair upon Thangorodrim. The curse unfolds over the course of twenty-eight years, and Húrin helplessly watches the tragedy of his family and the death of his children. These events, including the death of the Elf Beleg, the destruction of Nargothrond, and Túrin and Nienor's suicides, are explored in detail in firstamazon's biography of Túrin.¹⁶

Húrin's curse poses a dramatic shift in the narrative of his life. In his youth, explored in the first part of this biography, Húrin is a living symbol of hope and valor: "in Húrin's company the hopeful ever seemed the more likely."¹⁶ But after the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, the story begins questioning Húrin's estel and the price for the hope he stubbornly maintains. His heroism and sacrifice in battle lead to his imprisonment, his faith in the Valar seems to bring even more torment, and his strength and steadfastness are repaid with an inescapable doom.

In this aspect, Húrin's journey parallels the fate of Fingon, his lord and friend, who likewise received a bitter payment for his goodwill: "truth and justice he loved and bore good will to all, both Elves and Men, hating Morgoth only; he sought not his own, neither power nor glory, and death was his reward."¹⁸ Yet, while Fingon dies heroically in battle and finds an end to his suffering, Húrin survives and witnesses the destruction that follows.

This moment in the narrative poses existential questions that reveal much of Tolkien's imagination about the order of the world of Arda. The dialogue in the famous chapter "The Words of Húrin and Morgoth,"¹⁹ tests the weight of spirituality and belief, human endurance, and sacrifice. Similar in nature to the debate between Finrod and Andreth in the Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth, this segment of the story functions as a philosophical treatise on divine justice.

Many readers will certainly be reminded of foundational texts from our own philosophies and religions. A notable example is the Book of Job from the Bible, which traces the life of Job, a faithful worshiper of God who is put to the test by Satan with God's permission.²⁰ Being stripped of all his good fortune, family, and friends, Job refuses to lose faith. Still, after prolonged hardship, he begins questioning God's intentions, believing that God does nothing to punish evildoers and needlessly submits the faithful to suffering. 

Similar stories are found in Eastern literatures also, one of my favorites being the life of the hero Karna from the Indian epic Mahabharata who, despite being favored by the gods, suffers many injustices. Like Húrin, Karna is a warrior with extraordinary abilities and a loyal friend but all his actions conclude in his tragic end.

The stories of Job, Karna, and Húrin, all similarly explore why good people suffer unjustly and what kind of role divine creators, such as Ilúvatar, have in ordaining justice in the world. Wouldn't we expect that someone as brave and loyal as Húrin deserves a good ending? Why don't the Valar or Ilúvatar himself intervene on behalf of those suffering in Beleriand? Húrin's story never provides a definitive answer but rather opens a pathway to examine questions around divine justice, particularly concerning hope, faith, and spirituality.

The Wanderings of Húrin: To See with Morgoth's Eyes

After the fulfillment of Morgoth's curse and the suicide of his children, Húrin is released from Thangorodrim at the age of fifty-nine. His appearance is changed dramatically after his long torment and he appears as an old and haunted man who nevertheless maintained much of his strength: "His hair and beard were white and long, but he walked unbowed, bearing a great black staff; and he was girt with a sword."²¹ He attempts to return to his home in Dor-lómin, but seeing him coming with Morgoth's soldiers, the remaining people of Hithlum shun Húrin, considering him either a traitor or one whose mind has been manipulated to obey Morgoth's will fully.

The release of Húrin and his return to his homeland is a complete subversion to the ideal of the hero and the notion of nostos—the heroic homecoming. The hero does not win over evil in this case; Húrin is an Odysseus who has failed in his mission and can never return home truly. Despite his heroic moments, a day never comes for our tragic hero, even at the moment of his release from imprisonment.

Bitter, Húrin wandered away into the mountains until he came to the southern side of the Encircling Mountains, attempting to find a way into Turgon's realm. The great eagle Thorondor noticed him and informed Turgon but the king refused to let Húrin into the city, believing that even Húrin had lost against Morgoth's power. Húrin's cry toward the King of Gondolin reveals his despair and loneliness:

'Turgon, Turgon, remember the Fen of Serech! O Turgon, will you not hear in your hidden halls?' But there was no sound save the wind in the dry grasses. 'Even so they hissed in Serech at the sunset,' he said; and as he spoke the sun went behind the Mountains of Shadow, and a darkness fell about him, and the wind ceased, and there was silence in the waste.²²

The visual language paints a vivid picture of sundown concluding in the dark of night, a mirror to the scene of Húrin's final stand where the battle ends at sunset and the night symbolically overcomes the lands of Hithlum. Turgon's rejection is another lost battle.

Turgon pondered his decision for a long time, remembering Húrin's sacrifices at the Nirnaeth Arnoediad. He eventually changed his mind and asked the Eagles to look for Húrin and bring him to Gondolin, but by that time, Húrin had already gone and could no longer be found.

Húrin continued his journey from the Encircling Mountains to Brethil after hearing Morwen's voice in a dream. He found her sitting by the Stone of the Hapless, which served as Túrin and Nienor's grave. This reunion brings little joy, as both Morwen and Húrin are old and exhausted by the hardship of their lives. Nonetheless, there's a small but significant moment of courage:

'You come at last,' she said. 'I have waited too long.'

'It was a dark road. I have come as I could,' he answered.

'But you are too late,' said Morwen. 'They are lost.'

'I know it,' he said. 'But you are not.'

But Morwen said: 'Almost. I am spent. I shall go with the sun. Now little time is left: if you know, tell me! How did she find him?'

But Húrin did not answer, and they sat beside the stone, and did not speak again; and when the sun went down Morwen sighed and clasped his hand, and was still; and Húrin knew that she had died. He looked down at her in the twilight and it seemed to him that the lines of grief and cruel hardship were smoothed away. 'She was not conquered,' he said; and he closed her eyes, and sat unmoving beside her as the night drew down.²³

The Children of Húrin ends with Morwen's passing and leaves Húrin's story unfinished, making this scene an impactful ending to the great tragedy. Yet, despite his losses, Húrin finds one small victory and identifies an aspect of his life that Morgoth couldn't fully destroy. Morwen's endurance—"She was not conquered"—serves as Húrin's final strand of redemption.

In The Silmarillion, Húrin continued his wanderings, now filled with the need to avenge his misfortunes. He continued to Nargothrond, where he found the Petty-dwarf Mîm, who had previously betrayed Túrin and Beleg to Morgoth's Orcs and was now roaming alone through the abandoned city. Learning of his identity, Húrin slayed the Dwarf, despite Mîm's begging.

Húrin took with him the Nauglamír, the golden necklace made for Finrod Felagund by the Dwarves, and journeyed to the borders of Doriath, where he was taken by Thingol's march-wardens and brought before the king. Thingol recognized him and received him with honor, but Húrin threw the necklace at the king's feet and scorned him for failing to protect his family.

King Thingol's wife, the wise Maia Melian, recognized the influence of Morgoth's curse on Húrin, whose vision was deliberately warped by Morgoth and affected the way he perceived the events that took place in his absence: "Húrin Thalion, Morgoth hath bewitched thee; for he that seeth through Morgoth's eyes, willing or unwilling, seeth all things crooked."²⁴

Melian's words shook Húrin, lifted Morgoth's spell and he finally came to his senses, understanding that everything he had done since his supposed freedom only furthered Morgoth's evil plans. With this new perspective, Húrin showed honor and gratefulness to Thingol: "Receive now, lord, the Necklace of the Dwarves, as a gift from one who has nothing, and as a memorial of Húrin of Dor-lómin. For now my fate is fulfilled, and the purpose of Morgoth achieved; but I am his thrall no longer."²⁵ Húrin's awakening by Melian is a moment of redemption for this tragic hero, and Morgoth's curse is finally ended. Despite all his losses, Húrin regains a sense of freedom at the end and spends the short reminder of his time as a truly liberated man, physically and mentally.

Vision and perception appear repeatedly in Tolkien's writing, beyond the case of Húrin. A similar distortion of perspective can be noted when the dragon Glaurung enchants Húrin's son, Túrin, during the sack of Nargothrond. Glaurung casts a spell on Túrin and points out Túrin's shortcomings while portraying his actions in an exaggerated negative light. Túrin is unable to move under the spell and falls prey to the dragon's words: "And Túrin being under the spell of Glaurung hearkened to his words, and he saw himself as in a mirror misshapen by malice, and loathed that which he saw."²⁶

There's a clear indication that Glaurung's spell is visually manifested and can enact false images. As Túrin runs to Hithlum, believing the dragon's lies, he can envision Orcs burning his childhood home and enslaving his mother and sister. This image completely replaces all other senses of the present moment and drives Túrin forward to Hithlum.

Similar narrative strategies can be observed in The Lord of the Ring, where Sauron influences perception through manipulative vision. He usurps the Palantír of Osgiliath and uses it to manipulate Saruman to his will and Denethor of Gondor to a limited degree. Gandalf describes the palantíri as "those that watch from afar,"²⁷ much like Húrin from his chair upon Thangorodrim.

Seeing, however, is not always a negative action within the universe. A stark contrast to Morgoth and Sauron's manipulation is Galadriel's mirror. While she is able to control, to a certain degree, what the mirror shows, she does not abuse this power. When Frodo asks if he should look into the mirror, Galadriel leaves the choice to him: "I do not counsel you one way or the other. I am not a counsellor. You may learn something, and whether what you see be fair or evil, that may be profitable, and yet it may not. Seeing is both good and perilous."²⁸

Seeing openly, without constraint, gives the characters a choice and a sense of free will. For example, Sam looks into the mirror also, and while he sees the destruction of the Shire, he also sees Frodo's distress and chooses to follow him to Mordor. Likewise, Aragorn looks through the palantír and announces himself to Sauron as a challenge, effectively distracting him from Frodo's quest.

With this in mind, Húrin's perspective prior to his arrival in Mengroth is the perspective of a prisoner. He is bound by Morgoth's visions and thus, inherits Morgoth's thoughts and perspective of the world. Vision is a powerful theme throughout the books, and while it can be a dangerous thing to do, it can also allow goodwill, protection and strength. By allowing Húrin to become free of Morgoth's visions, the text implies a redemption or even somewhat of a renewal for the hero. The curse is completed, but not without an element of courage to make the tragedy more bearable. 

Death and Legacy: An Open Ending

The final ending of Húrin's life is perhaps one of the most challenging aspects of his story. Tolkien wrote and rewrote his ending many times without ever arriving at a final decision. In The Silmarillion, Húrin, "bereft of all purpose and desire,"²⁹ commits suicide by casting himself into the Western Sea. The longer version of The Wanderings of Húrin that appears in The War of the Jewels expands Húrin's journey, where he returns to Brethil again and effectively causes the destruction of the house of Haleth.³⁰ His story there is open-ended, as Húrin departs toward Haudh-en-Elleth, and no one ever sees him again.

In the earliest version, Turambar and the Foalókë, Húrin never reunites with any of his family members. He does not "wake" from Morgoth's spell with Melian's help and instead, after giving Thingol gold from Nargothrond, returns to Hithlum and dies there.³¹ The legend ends with the belief that Húrin's ghost haunts the forests for a long time, looking for Morwen, before departing to Mandos. This version, however, predates the introduction of the Nauglamír, Melian, and even the story of Beren and Lúthien.

Húrin's story does not end with his death, and his presence is felt throughout the narratives of Beleriand. His actions contribute to some of the major developments in the histories of the Elven kingdoms. The gifting of the Nauglamír is a crucial element for the plot of The Silmarillion, given that it connects the actions of The Children of Húrin to the main story surrounding Fëanor's Silmarils. After the departure of Húrin, Thingol fell prey to his own ambition and commissioned Dwarven craftsmen from Nogrod to set his Silmaril in the Nauglamír, resulting in the greatest creation that united the skills of Elves and Dwarves. This, in turn, awoke the lust of the Dwarves, who killed King Thingol and took the jewels, leading to the eventual destruction of his kingdom.

Moreover, while attempting to find an entrance to Gondolin, Morgoth's Orcs managed to spy on Húrin and discover the approximate location of the city. Some years later, Maeglin, Turgon's nephew, is captured in the same area, which leads to the betrayal of Gondolin and the destruction of the city.

Notwithstanding, Húrin's life is also connected to some of the most important victories of good over evil. Perhaps most significantly, Húrin's sacrifice during the Nirnaeth Arnoediad allowed the Elves of Gondolin to maintain the city for nearly forty years after the battle. During this time, the Half-elven Eärendil is born in the city, whose father Tuor is Húrin's own nephew. It can be argued that in the long run of history, the intervention of the Valar and the capture of Morgoth outcompete the destruction of both Gondolin and Nargothrond.

Húrin's legacy transcends the timeline of the First Age, and his heroic deeds remain a part of the wider history of Arda. Many ages later, at the Council of Elrond, Húrin is remembered as one of the greatest heroes among Men. While addressing Frodo's choice to carry the ring, Elrond says: "But if you take it freely, I will say that your choice is right; and though all the mighty Elf-friends of old, Hador, and Húrin, and Túrin, and Beren himself were assembled together, your seat should be among them."³² Húrin's valor and friendship with the Elves are an inspiration to many warriors of the second and third ages, especially within the context of the renewed Alliance of Elves and Men.

Some might ask: Is Húrin's story a complete tragedy? Does his story have a sorrowful or a happy ending in the grand scheme? The answer likely has to do with the version of Húrin's story and which corners of the legendarium we're revisiting. But ultimately, it's up to the reader to decide. Tolkien never concluded himself, after all.

An epic hero whose story could rival many of the heroes from histories and mythologies across cultures, Húrin continues to capture the imagination of many readers. His character allows us to explore some of the most challenging emotions, such as loss, sacrifice, anger, and injustice, while inspiring us to celebrate love, loyalty, courage, and hope.

Works Cited

1. The Children of Húrin, "The Childhood of Túrin."
2. The Silmarillion, "Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad."
3. The History of Middle-earth, Volume XI: The War of the Jewels, The Grey Annals.
4. The Silmarillion, "Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad."
5. Ibid.
6. Ibid.
7. The History of Middle-earth, Volume III: The Lays of Beleriand, The Lay of the Children of Húrin, Túrin Son of Húrin & Glórund the Dragon.
8. The Silmarillion, "Of the Ruin of Doriath."
9. The Silmarillion, "Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad."
10. Nathaniel Philbrick, The Last Stand: Custer, Sitting Bull, and the Battle of the Little Bighorn (New York: Viking Books, 2010).
11. The Children of Húrin, "The Departure of Túrin."
12. The Silmarillion, "Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad."
13. The History of Middle-earth, Volume III: The Lays of Beleriand, The Lay of the Children of Húrin, The Second Version of The Children of Húrin.
14. The Children of Húrin, "The Words of Húrin and Morgoth."
15. The Children of Húrin, "Túrin in Nargothrond."
16. Firstamazon, "Túrin," Silmarillion Writers' Guild, August 5, 2022, accessed August 4, 2023.
17. The Children of Húrin, "The Childhood of Túrin."
18. The History of Middle-earth, Volume V: The Lost Road and Other Writings, Quenta Silmarillion.
19. The Children of Húrin, "The Words of Húrin and Morgoth."
20. The Book of Job: Authorised King James Version (Edinburgh: Canongate, 1998).
21. The Silmarillion, "Of the Ruin of Doriath."
22. Ibid.
23. The Silmarillion, "Of the Ruin of Doriath."
24. Ibid.
25. Ibid.
26. The Silmarillion, "Of Túrin Turambar."
27. The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Palantír."
28. The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Mirror of Galadriel."
29. The Silmarillion, "Of the Ruin of Doriath."
30. The History of Middle-earth, Volume XI: The War of the Jewels, The Wanderings of Húrin.
31. The History of Middle-earth, Volume II: The Book of Lost Tales, Part Two, Turambar and the Foalókë.
32. The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Council of Elrond."