Guide to The Silmarillion: Of the Coming of Men into the West (Ch. 17)
Chapter Seventeen: Of the Coming of Men into the West
This chapter is about the race of Men (humanity) but specifically the three kindreds of men, and these are called the Edain, the Men of Beleriand.
Three Households of the Edain:
House of Bëor — most like the Noldor, love knowledge
House of Haleth (The Haladin) — not interested in learning lore, want to be left alone
House of Marach — strongest/most warlike
The Elf-Friends: refers to anyone who the Elves have deemed allies; in this chapter, it specifically refers to the Edain in general who were friendly with the Elves.
As the chapter begins, we are in a period of general peace. However, the servants of Morgoth are still wreaking havoc around Middle-earth, so these groups of Men come into Beleriand to escape them.
Finrod and the House of Bëor
Finrod Felagund, lord of Nargothrond, came into the land of Ossiriand. There, he beheld a “strange people”: Men of the house of Bëor.
The Men called King Felagund “Nóm” (Wisdom). And they named his folk Nómin, the wise. The Men thought Felagund was of the Valar, but he taught them “true knowledge.” And they loved him and were loyal to the house of Finarfin.
Felagund realized that he could read the minds of Men when they wished to reveal through speech to him so their words were easily understood. He also learned that the men didn’t know a lot about their own origins, which was different from the Elves. Since they did not die of old age, they were able to pass down their history more easily.
The Elves understood that Morgoth had found the Men even as they awoke and had already been working to corrupt them.
Bëor told Felagund that the other two houses of Men would be coming over the Mountains soon: the Haladin and the House of Marach.
Unfriended by the Green-Elves
The Green-Elves of Ossiriand were troubled by the coming of the men and asked Felagund to tell them to return to where they had come from, or else to go forward and away. They desired no strangers in their land and called themselves the “unfriends” of the men, threatening them.
At the advice of Felagund, Bëor moved his people to Estolad, “the encampment.” When Felagund returned to Nargothrond, Bëor went with him as a servant until the end of his life. Bëor left his people under the protection of Baran, his son. Felagund often visited the Men.
The Rest of the Edain Arrive in Beleriand
When the Haladin came over the mountains, they went to Thargelion (the country of Caranthir, son of Fëanor). When the House of Marach came in the next year, they settled in Estolad, close to the people of Bëor. They were more warlike, and the Green-Elves were a little bit afraid of them, so they didn’t bother them along their way.
Fingolfin, King of all the Noldor, welcomed the Men, and many of them went into the service of the lords of the Eldar. One of these was Malach, son of Marach, also called Aradan.
The Migration of the Edain
The Kings of the Noldor sent word to the Edain that they might live among their people. Thus began the great migration of the Edain. Over the next 50 years, many thousands of Men moved to various regions of the Noldor.
The people of Bëor came to Dorthonion.
The people of Aradan went to Hithlum.
Magor, son of Adaran, went to Ered Wethrin.
Finrod was the only one of the Noldor to speak to Thingol about the coming of Men. Thingol was troubled concerning the coming of Men and would not allow them to dwell in Doriath. However, Melian made a prediction to Galadriel that one man would indeed come into Doriath.
Of the Men in Estolad
Many men remained in Estolad, and many of them distrusted the Eldar. Eventually, these Men gathered in council to debate what to do about Morgoth and his servants.
Bereg and Amlach were the chief instigators of the unrest, saying that they would not go North because this was where Morgoth dwelt, and they were trying to escape him. The Elf-Friends advised the Men that they could aid the Elves in their war against Morgoth.
Amlach, or one who appeared to be Amlach, said: “All this is but Elvish lore, tales to beguile newcomers that are unwary. The Sea has no shore. There is no Light in the West. You have followed a fool-fire of the Elves to the end of the world! Which of you has seen the least of the Gods? Who has beheld the Dark King in the North? Those who seek the dominion of Middle-earth are the Eldar…”
However, later the real Amlach came into the group and denied ever saying this. And then they realized that a servant of Morgoth had taken on Amlach’s form in order to deceive them. After this, Amlach had a personal grudge against Morgoth. Amlach went into the service of Maedhros to fight Morgoth.
Many listened to Bereg and many doubted what they had been told. Bereg led a thousand of these people southward, and they passed out of this story. Some of his people went back over the mountains into Eriador and passed out of this story.
The Haladin in Thargelion
Morgoth sent out orcs to destroy the Haladin who remained in Thargelion. Haldad gathered all the men he could find, and they built a stockade behind which to protect their women and children. However, they were held under siege until their food was gone. Haldad had two children: Haleth his daughter and Haldar his son. At last, Haldad and Haldar were slain by the orcs.
Haleth held her people together and fought for seven days until suddenly the people of Caranthir came and drove the Orcs into the rivers. Caranthir offered Haleth and her people the friendship and protection of the Eldar, if only they would dwell further north.
Haleth instead chose to go west to Estolad, where she brought her people to the Forest of Brethil. Brethil was claimed by King Thingol, and he would have denied it to Haleth, but Felagund spoke to Thingol on her behalf. Haleth lived in Brethil until her death.
Of Elves and Men
The Elves and Men dwelt in peace together for a long time. After a while, the Elf-kings set regions apart where the Men would rule themselves.
Hador, of the house of Malach, entered the house of Fingolfin and was loved by the King. Fingolfin gave Hador the lordship of Dor-lomin.
In Dorthonion, the lordship of the people of Bëor was given to Boromir, great-grandson of Bëor the Old.
Here, Tolkien drops a family tree for Hador, which includes a few names that we’ll see later on: Húrin and Húor; Túrin; Eärendil; Beren; Lúthien; Elwing; and from these came all the Kings of Númenor.
The Death of Bëor
When Bëor the Old died at age 93, of no wound or illness, the Elves were grieved but also confused by the mortality of Men.
Key Quote:
“All this is but Elvish lore, tales to beguile newcomers that are unwary. The Sea has no shore. There is no Light in the West. You have followed a fool-fire of the Elves to the end of the world! Which of you has seen the least of the Gods? Who has beheld the Dark King in the North? Those who seek the dominion of Middle-earth are the Eldar…”
Chapter Resources:
Discussion Questions
How does Felagund first react to seeing Men? How do they react upon hearing his song?
Who is Bëor?
How is Felagund able to converse with the Men?
How does Morgoth work to come between Elves and Men?
Who suffers most at the hands of Morgoth in this chapter?
Who do you think it was impersonating Amlach?
Reflect on the theme of Mortality in this chapter...
