Feanor’s Folly to Aragorn’s Ascension: Oaths in Tolkien’s Lore

The White City

Matt and Philip delve into the theme of swearing oaths in J.R.R. Tolkien's works. They analyze the consequences of these oaths through characters such as Feanor and his sons, who swear to retrieve the Silmarils, and the Men of the Dead, who are bound by an oath to Isildur until released by Aragorn. The discussion explores the implications of swearing oaths, the motivations behind them, and their impact on the characters and the story. Listeners will also hear about the contrasting motivations of characters like Beren and Luthien compared to the Sons of Feanor. The episode ends with references to Gollum’s oath to Frodo and Aragorn’s promise to Boromir in the film adaptation. Packed with insights and connections to larger themes in Middle-earth, this podcast episode offers a deep dive into the gravity of promises made in Tolkien's world.

00:00 Introduction

01:14 Feanor's Oath to Reclaim and Protect the Silmarils

07:00 The Tragic Hero: Feanor's Downfall

18:45 The Men of the Dead and Isildur's Curse

30:26 Gollum's Oath and the Master of the Precious

38:49 Aragorn's Pledge to Protect Gondor

45:20 Conclusion and Show and Tell