Three Jewels, Two Brothers and an Oath
the silmarillion read-through 2025 pt. 3
“But the chief artificer of the Elves (Feanor) had imprisoned the Light of Valinor in the three supreme jewels, the Silmarilli, before the Trees were sullied or slain. This Light thus lived thereafter only in these gems. The fall of the Elves comes about through the possessive attitude of Feanor and his seven sons to these gems. They are captured by the Enemy, set in his Iron Crown, and guarded in his impenetrable stronghold.” -Letter 131, J.R.R. Tolkien
Happy Silmarillion Sunday!
We’ve now come to events which put in motion all the following stories of the book. Fëanor, the greatest Elf to ever live, puts forth all his skill and successfully captures the light of the Two Trees in his most famous creations, the Silmarils. So beautiful and powerful are these jeweled works of Fëanor’s hand that Melkor himself lusts for them.
Melkor resumes doing what he began during the creation of the world: sowing discord. He works in subtle ways to erode the trust the Elves have for the Valar. And though there is no friendship between Melkor and Fëanor, the Elf falls prey to Melkor’s lies and deception.
Fëanor begins to speak openly of rebelling against the Valar. Enmity grows between brother and kin. The gods of the world experience the double-edged sword of their subjects having autonomy and freewill. An unholy alliance is formed to destroy light itself. Doom is proclaimed. Betrayals unfold. The battle to reclaim Middle-earth begins.
Let’s get into it.