Discussion: The Children of Hurin

<Turin's Tragedy: Fate? His Own Mistake?>

I found an interesting discussion topic related to The Children of Hurin that I introduced last week. The question is, is Turin's tragic death in the end the result of predestined fate or of his flaws in character. I think his tragedy is the result of own flaws and lack of leadership.

Turin has many fatal flaws in his character that have led him to the defeat against Morgoth, The Dark Lord, and ultimately the failure to save his country. Turin is far from other typical heroes in the legends because he is arrogant and stubborn. He despises other people as cravens when they oppose to his suggestion to fight and never listens to other people. In Doriath, Turin ignores Mablung's advice to stay there after accidentally killing Saeros. He leaves the country where he can stay most safely and chooses a harsh, nomadic life, believing that he can make a strong army with his leadership and abilities. It seems that Turin has already been determined to leave Doriath when Thingol and Melian refused to give him their men to fight the Orcs, even when they advised that he would not defeat them alone. In Nargothrond, opposed to Gwindor's suggestion to live in secrecy, Turin insists that they should fight the enemy and even ignores Ulmo's advice to be careful with unnecessary hostility, calling him a coward. The result of his arrogance and inflexibility is tragic: the bridge he built is used as a benefit for the Orcs to approach Nargothrond and the country collapses, along with King Orodreth and his daughter, Finduilas.

Turin has neither intelligence nor leadership. As a leader of the army, Turin often forgets or underestimates the necessity of strategies to win the battle. He just faces the enemy bravely and starts fighting without any plans. He never ambushes, thinking that plans are for cowards. He always survives in the battle with his skills, no matter by how many Orcs he is surrounded, but his men do not because they are ordinary soldiers. Moreover, Turin lacks leadership. Although he becomes a leader of groups which already have leaders, many feel troubled , jealous, and isolated to be with Turin. Turin attracts many women, making the lovers of these women jealous. Finduilas, for example, falls in love with Turin, so her previous lover, Gwindor is in despair. Niniel also breaks Brandir's heart by marrying Turin. Turin does not care about how his men feel and how he should act to keep them on his side. When Glaurung calls Turin "...thief of love, ..., usurper of Nargothrond" (179), it is not only mockery but truth.

Some people might think that Turin has nothing to do with his tragic end of life. All circumstances that happen since his youth have worked disadvantageously toward him. However, he has not tried to overcome them bu compromising with the world and becoming an intelligent, calm leader, and the result is his responsibility. If he were aware of his situation and more desperate to be a true leader of his men, Turin's tragedy would not have happened.