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Of the Silmarils
My Silmarillion reading proceeds apace and has overtaken my Iliad reading for now, since I finally got to the good part. Which is, of course, Fëanor. He's an elf I really enjoy reading about: intelligent, charismatic, arrogant, and scary as all hell.
I've noticed a theme of "the masterwork" running through this story. People make one great thing, after which, they can't or won't replicate it. Yavanna and the two trees, Fëanor and the Silmarils, the Teleri and their white ships ("the work of our hearts, whose like we shall not make again"), and even Míriel, Fëanor's mother. After having him, she basically faded away. "Never again shall I bear child; for strength that would have nourished the life of many has gone forth into Fëanor."
I haven't got all through the story of the Silmarils yet, though I know vaguely what happens, but it seems to me that it prefigures the story of the One Ring, in that they are so beautiful that they stir lust for their possession in the hearts of everyone and are the cause of many terrible deeds.
I think the real issue, though, is this:
Who would you cast to play Fëanor in a Silmarillion movie?
I confess, I'm at a loss.
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I always thought of Fëanor as dark. Obviously you really need someone who is tall thin dark and intense. I'm not sure that handsome is a requirement. I draw back from most of the popular stars because I think they might be too recognizable and might interfere with the suspension of disbelief.
Johnny Depp is a strong actor, and he does well in odd roles.
Jeez, now I'm going to spend the whole day surfing the IMDB. *facepalm*
That's a good point, about the creation aspect throughout the tales. I hadn't thought of it that way... it's interesting that in this case, it's beauty that's desired, and not power. The creations are so beautiful that they inspire greed -- but not the kind of greed that we equate with money. The greed in which you say 'this is so beautiful, I want it all to myself'. The kind of possessiveness that leads collectors to buy masterpieces they can never show anyone, but that they hide away just because they can't bear not to have them.
The Simarillion seems to be mainly about the act of creation, the joy of it, the overwhelming achievement of making something as perfect as you can, contrasted with the envy and malice which causes some people to want to ruin something of beauty because they can't create it.
It's also, I think, about love, and how love affects creation and action.
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I have to confess, I really don't like Feanor. I'm on board with all the characteristics you named, but there's something about rebellious elves....I think it's a reminder of my very religious childhood in which I frequently berated Adam and Eve for getting kicked out the garden. I considered them monumentally stupid. My favorite character, possibly more from "Tales of Numenor and Midlle Earth" than from the Silmarillion, is Galadriel, described as Feanor's bitterest enemy. She's amazing.
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Gold-Seven (http://gold-seven.deviantart.com)
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Oh, I'm liking that image.
The Simarillion seems to be mainly about the act of creation, the joy of it, the overwhelming achievement of making something as perfect as you can, contrasted with the envy and malice which causes some people to want to ruin something of beauty because they can't create it.
Yes, good thoughts. One of my favourite parts, is the story of Aule making the dwarves -- out of admiration for creation and the desire to participate. Although I always thought that Illuvatar was a bit of a jerk there, saying that Aule shouldn't have done that.
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Stamp is an interesting choice. He certainly has the necessary gravitas.
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