Stories are populated with romance stories, featuring characters we love and want to see together. Memorable classics like Romeo and Juliet (Romeo and Juliet play), Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester (Jane Eyre), Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy (Pride and Prejudice). Newer stories like Bella and Edward (Twilight saga), Four and Tris (Divergent series), Katniss and Peeta (Hunger Games trilogy), Ratha and Thakur (Books of the Named series).
But today I'm here to address an epic romance which is lesser known than some of the above tales. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you: Beren and Lúthien.
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| 'Beren and Lúthien' by Marilena Mexi |
Everyone knows about 'The Hobbit' and 'Lord of the Rings', and the characters which play a part in it. Tolkien published several other works as well relating to Arda. Among these is 'The Silmarillion', an account of early history. One of the many stories it tells is that of Beren and Lúthien.
What makes these two characters awesome, you might ask? Well, I'll tell you. Everything. Their incredible devotion to each other, the incredible feats they performed, the ways they shaped Arda's history. And did I mention that they're awesome?
Anyway, let me elaborate further. (Note that there are potential spoilers forthcoming.)
Lúthien, also known as Tinúviel, was an Elf maiden, daughter of Elu Thingol and Melian the Maia, King and Queen of Doriath. She is the most beautiful of all the Children of Ilúvatar.
Beren was a mortal Man. He was brave, and played a part in fighting the forces of Morgoth, an Ainur who turned evil and was a powerful destructive force against Arda.
Later, Beren is forced to travel farther from his homelands, due to the many evil beings of Morgoth who are seeking him. While traveling through a forest, Beren meets Lúthien, and the two of them soon fall in love.
However, her father, Thingol, refuses to give Beren her hand in marriage. He says he will only permit the marriage if Beren can take a Silmaril from the Iron Crown of Morgoth and bring it to him. This task, of course, is surely impossible.
Not easily dissuaded, Beren sets out to Angband. He intends to go alone, but Lúthien insists on accompanying him. The two endure many perils on their quest, including facing Sauron, Morgoth's most powerful lieutenant. They succeed in taking the Silmaril from Morgoth's crown and flee with it, but one of Morgoth's wolves, Carcharoth, come after them. Beren holds up the Silmaril, hoping its brilliance will ward the wolf off. Instead, Carcharoth lunges forward and bites off the hand holding the Silmaril. Its inner fire burns Carcharoth, and he runs off in a maddened frenzy.
The two are rescued by the great Eagles of Manwë, and return to Thingol. Beren tells of how he obtained the Silmaril, only to lose it and his hand. Hearing the story, Thingol is impressed by the feats of Beren, and allowed them to marry.
Beren goes out with a hunting party to slay Carcharoth, and eventually succeeds in doing so. However, in the process, Beren is mortally wounded by the wolf's poisoned teeth. Another from the hunting party cut open the wolf's belly to retrieve the Silmaril and give it to Thingol. The task was completed; the Silmaril taken from Morgoth and finally given to the king, but Beren died in the process.
When Lúthien heard of Beren's demise, she died from grief. Her soul went to the Hall of Mandos, where she sang of her sorrow. Mandos was moved by this, the only time in his life to have done so. As he had no authority to allow Beren to live again, he sought Manwë's advice. Manwë then asked Eru Ilúvatar (the Creator of the universe).
Lúthien was given two choices: to dwell in Valimar in the afterlife forever as reward for all she had accomplished; or for her and Beren to be returned to life, on the condition that she would become mortal as Men are. Lúthien chose mortality, and she and Beren were reunited again.
However, her father, Thingol, refuses to give Beren her hand in marriage. He says he will only permit the marriage if Beren can take a Silmaril from the Iron Crown of Morgoth and bring it to him. This task, of course, is surely impossible.
Not easily dissuaded, Beren sets out to Angband. He intends to go alone, but Lúthien insists on accompanying him. The two endure many perils on their quest, including facing Sauron, Morgoth's most powerful lieutenant. They succeed in taking the Silmaril from Morgoth's crown and flee with it, but one of Morgoth's wolves, Carcharoth, come after them. Beren holds up the Silmaril, hoping its brilliance will ward the wolf off. Instead, Carcharoth lunges forward and bites off the hand holding the Silmaril. Its inner fire burns Carcharoth, and he runs off in a maddened frenzy.
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| Carcharoth, also known as Anfauglir or The Red Maw. |
Beren goes out with a hunting party to slay Carcharoth, and eventually succeeds in doing so. However, in the process, Beren is mortally wounded by the wolf's poisoned teeth. Another from the hunting party cut open the wolf's belly to retrieve the Silmaril and give it to Thingol. The task was completed; the Silmaril taken from Morgoth and finally given to the king, but Beren died in the process.
When Lúthien heard of Beren's demise, she died from grief. Her soul went to the Hall of Mandos, where she sang of her sorrow. Mandos was moved by this, the only time in his life to have done so. As he had no authority to allow Beren to live again, he sought Manwë's advice. Manwë then asked Eru Ilúvatar (the Creator of the universe).
Lúthien was given two choices: to dwell in Valimar in the afterlife forever as reward for all she had accomplished; or for her and Beren to be returned to life, on the condition that she would become mortal as Men are. Lúthien chose mortality, and she and Beren were reunited again.
The story of Beren and Lúthien plays a large role in Arda's history. Their deeds gave people hope against Morgoth, and fostered better relations between elves and men. Their marriage was also the first between an elf and a human. It is said that their line will not die out as long as the world exists. Their tale is told in the Lays of Beleriand, and referenced in multiple books by Tolkien.
Beren's and Lúthien's love for each other proves to be a particularly moving romance, as well. Throughout their adventures, one would often try to face things without the other, in the hope of keeping the other safe. But they proved to be inseparable. Where one went, the other would go.
And it goes deeper than that. It was said that when Beren came across Lúthien, she was dancing in the forest. However, Beren was so enamored by her beauty, he was unable to speak to her and tell of his feelings for her. Then one day, when watching her from afar, dancing on a green hill surrounded by hemlocks, she began singing. The beauty of her voice finally broke him free of his enchantment, and he rushed forward and called out to her. It was then that they finally met, and Lúthien fell in love with him as well.
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| Lúthien dancing in the forest |
Tolkien also frequently referred to his wife as 'his Lúthien'. In fact, when Edith died, the name 'Lúthien' was inscribed on her tombstone. When J.R.R. Tolkien died, he was buried with her and the name 'Beren' written on the tombstone beneath his name.
To close this blog post, I'd like to say that I did not become a hopeless romantic, or nerd out, or click on any related links. In fact, there is not a Wikipedia article about a Celtic legend which the love story may be related to, currently open in another browser tab for me to read once I finish this post. I also did not spend hours on this, as shown by the remarkable brevity of this Valentine's Day special.
So until my next blog post, farewell!
Have you heard Oonagh's song about Lúthien?
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/kUai-hzOvl0
Apparently Blogger chose not to e-mail me about pending comments like it usually does, so this remained in limbo for three weeks. ARGH!
DeleteI haven't listened to much Tolkien-inspired music. It's one of the things I keep threatening to do, but haven't yet. I'll have to check out that link later, though. ;)