This spring I re-read Tolkien’s Silmarillion for the first time since learning WoW lore, and I was struck by the similarities between Illidan and Tolkien’s elven king Fëanor. The more I thought and read the more convinced I became that Fëanor was in some part and inspiration for Illidan. Both are fascinating and rise above being mere characters to become forces of nature that drive their stories and shape the people around them. Illidan is not a simple copy of Fëanor by any means, however, and I find that the differences between the two provide compelling insights into the ways that Tolkien’s writing and the WoW storyline work. I’ve put together some of my thoughts on this topic in this post.
I’ve broken this post into three parts. First, I give a brief overview of Fëanor’s story since it is probably less familiar to readers on this subreddit than Illidan’s. I’ve tried to keep things accessible by simplifying the nomenclature. Second, I point to the similarities between the two characters that lead me to connect them, and discuss how these conserved features function within the narratives. Finally, I highlight some of the key differences between the two characters and discuss the implications for two narratives.
I. The story of Fëanor
Fëanor translates to ‘Spirit of Fire.’ He is the polar opposite of the aloof, contemplative elves like Elrond and Galadriel. He is dangerously impulsive, passionate, and justifiably arrogant. Fëanor was the best elf. Tolkien knew it, the other elves know it, the gods knew, and Fëanor sure as hell knew it. Fëanor is immediately the best ever at anything he tries. He invents the Elvish alphabet (in Tokien’s world this is a pretty big freaking deal). When he has to give a speech he turns out to be the best orator ever. Even people who hate him are convinced to abandon elf-heaven to follow him. When he starts murdering orcs he’s so much better at it than his fellow elves that that they can’t keep up. You get the idea. Fëanor had a younger half-brother named Fingolfin (be thinking of Malfurion here). Fingolfin was far more even tempered and rational* than Fëanor, and Fëanor was consumed with jealousy towards Fingolfin especially for the love of their father.
Fëanor’s true genius was in crafting. As in Azeroth, Tokien’s elves draw their power from magic trees and wells. This is no coincidence: one of two tree is named Telperion, a likely inspiration for Teldrassil. These trees are the precursors of the sun and moon, and their
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Upon reading The Silmarillion, I can’t help but notice a lot of similarities between Melkor and Fëanor.
Since Melkor, mightiest of the Ainur, had been given the greatests gifts of power and knowledge, and had a share in all the gifts of his brethren; and Fëanor was made mightiest of all the Children of Illuvatar ; and both of them desired to create and rule over things of their own, and both rebelled in attempt to achieve their desires. I find that to be all too similar, and then I remembered the Music.
Given that in the Music, each one of the Ainur had a theme that contributed to the creation Eä and all that lies therein [including Fëanor], each with his own thoughts and devices. What if Fëanor’s might and fire, came from Melkor’s own thoughts that he wove in the Music ?
What if, in his desire to rule over things of his own creation, Melkor’s own rebellious theme brought into a being someone who would never submit to his rule ?
Putting that in the context of no theme exists “that doesn’t have its uttermost source” in Eru, makes me think, even more than I did before, that Tolkien didn’t just write a story, but he created an entire world in every possible meaning.
