When we discover the universe of Lord of the Ringsthe Elves appear as luminous, noble and infallible beings. They often embody good, opposing the evil forces embodied by Sauron and his Orcs. However, by exploring Tolkien’s lore in more depth, notably through The Silmarillion, this Manichean vision is troubled. The line between good and evil becomes blurred, and some Elves, although never comparable to the monsters of cruelty that the Orcs were, prove capable of terrible acts. Here is an overview of the 10 Elves with a dark journey in the universe of Middle-earth.
10. Maglor
Maglor, although the least villainous among the Elves on this list, still commits unforgettable atrocities. A talented poet and singer, he is one of the seven sons of Fëanor, the creator of the Silmarils. These legendary jewels, embodying the pure light of the Two Trees of Valinor, are stolen by Morgoth, the first Dark Lord. Obsessed with these jewels, Fëanor imposes an irrevocable oath on his sons to recover them at all costs.
Under the weight of this oath, Maglor participates in the three Fratricide Massacres (massacres of other Elves) orchestrated by Fëanor and his sons. Although tormented by his actions, he continues to follow the path dictated by the Oath of Fëanor. After finally taking back a Silmaril, Maglor, consumed by remorse, cannot bear the purity of its light. In a desperate gesture, he throws the jewel into the sea and disappears, its legend lost in the waves.
9. Maedhros
Brother of Maglor, Maedhros is perhaps one of the most complex Elves in Tolkien’s legendarium. Known for his greatness of soul, he is nevertheless a key player in the tragedies linked to the Oath of Fëanor. Although he attempts to gather the people of Middle-earth to fight Morgoth, his oath leads him to unspeakable acts of violence, including the three Fratricidal Massacres. Maedhros, captured and tortured by Morgoth, survives with one hand missing, which he sacrifices to escape. Despite this ordealhe remains faithful to the oath of Fëanor, to the detriment of thousands of innocents. The end of his life is as tragic as a reflection of the unbearable weight of Fëanor’s oath on his conscience and his impossible quest to regain his honor. Desperate, he throws himself into a volcanic crevasse with a Silmaril.
8. Amrod
Amrod, also one of Fëanor’s sons, is often mentioned in tandem with his twin brother, Amras. Although he has a more reserved nature and prefers to explore the wilds of Middle-earth, Amrod participates in all the horrors associated with his father’s oath. Like his other brothers, the bloody massacres in which he took part forever tarnish his name and that of his lineage.
After leaving Valinor for Middle-earth, the twins Amrod and Amras settle in a region known as Estolad. Although he stays away from his brothers’ main storylines, Amrod never opposes Fëanor’s oath, thus indirectly contributing to his curse.
7. Amras
Like his twin brother, Amras shares the same dark heritage. Less warlike than some of his brothers, he prefers hunting and exploration to war. However, his silence and his inability to resist Fëanor’s oath make him complicit in the massacres perpetrated against other Elves. Despite a life marked by tragedy, Amras remains faithful to his family until his death. He does not know the shameful and tragic fate of some of his brothers, but his actions, although involuntary, leave an indelible mark on the history of the Noldor. Amras is the one who does not contribute to the massacre but looks away without acting or denounce. He is guilty of nothing, but silent accomplice of everything.
6. Caranthir
Caranthir, nicknamed “the Dark One,” is an Elf known for his strangely angry temperament and contempt for other peoples. Although he established a prosperous kingdom in the Thargelion region (a large plain in reality) and established lucrative relationships with the Dwarves, Caranthir cannot hide his racism towards them, calling them “ugly” (at best…).He actively participated in the first two Fratricidal Massacres organized by Fëanor and his sons, although nothing obliged him to do so, before dying during the second. His hatred towards the children of Finarfin (Galadriel’s father) and his own cousins sows discord among the elven people of the Noldor and accentuates internal divisions within his people.
5. Fëanor
Fëanor is arguably one of the most fascinating and tragic characters in Tolkien’s lore. Artisan of the cursed jewels that are the Silmarils and king of the Noldor Elves, he is both a visionary and a despot. His creation of the Silmarils causes a chain reaction of tragedies that seal the fate of his people and all of Middle-earth. His oath, created in a moment of wandering and anger, pushes his sons and his followers to shameful and unprecedented massacres among the Elves. His conduct and influence over too many Elves (including his sons) resulted in massacres, theft and betrayal, culminating in the exile of the Noldor Elves from the sacred lands of Valinor. In the end, Fëanor dies relatively early in the war against Morgoth, but his cursed legacy continues to haunt Middle-earth for centuries.
4. Violence
Curufin, yet another son of Fëanor, finds himself higher in the rankingst because, unlike most of his brothers, he does not seem to be morally bothered by the abuses he carries out. Indeed, Curufin is known for his cunning and political maneuvering. Unlike his brother Maedhros, who has a strong sense of honor, Curufin is ready to do anything to achieve his goals. He knowingly participates in the first Fratricide Massacre and conspires against his own cousin, Finrod, to take control of the prestigious elven city of Nargothrond.
Best of all, inspired by his father, he also feels the wings of a despot and tries to impose a forced marriage between his brother Celegorm and Lúthien (a distant ancestor of Arwen). Lúthien, one of the most important heroines of the saga in Tolkien’s eyes, escapes to flee this forced marriage, and Curufin then attempts to have her assassinated, but fortunately fails. At any rate, Curufin is clearly one of the most hateful Elves and creatures in the lore.
3. Celegorm
Celegorm, nicknamed “the Righteous,” only has his appearance to deserve this title. He is a master hunter and a friend of the Vala Oromë (a god or archangel, to simplify), who gives him the faithful dog Huan. However, beneath his angelic exterior, Celegorm is actually a deceiver (to put it politely), who betrays the trust of his people and his allies on several occasions.Celegorm participates in the first two Fratricidal Massacres, plotting to usurp the throne of the elven city of Nargothrond, and sides with Curufin in his machinations against poor Lúthien. His death during the second Fratricide Massacre is a well-deserved end for this character, who is clearly one of the greatest shames of the elven population.
2. Maeglin
Maeglin is the son of Eöl, often called the Dark Elf. With such a legacy, you can imagine that we are heading towards a poor example among the Elves. To put it simply, Maeglin is the embodiment of betrayal in Tolkien’s universe. Born from a forced union (it starts strong), he grows up in an atmosphere of resentment and contempt. Having fallen in love with his cousin Idril, he falls into the shadows after being rejected by the latter. Quickly, he turns to Morgoth, the first Dark Lord.In exchange for the promise of power and control over Idril, Maeglin betrays the location of the hidden and peaceful city of Gondolin. This betrayal leads to his downfall and the destruction of one of the greatest and finest achievements of the Elves in Middle-earth.
1. Eoil
Eöl, nicknamed “the Dark Elf” or the Dark Elf, is an enigmatic and disturbing figure in Tolkien’s legendarium. Living in the dark forests of Nan Elmoth, he keeps himself aloof from other Elves, harboring a deep dislike for the Noldor, whom he considers arrogant and destructive. Master blacksmith, Eöl has exceptional talent, particularly for working with black metal called galvorn, that he invents. However, his gifts are tarnished by a dark soul, filled with jealousy and resentment.
His obsession with Aredhel, a noble Noldor lady, leads him to a dastardly act: he forces her to stay with him and marry him, reducing their union to a relationship of constraint. From this union is born Maeglin, a son who will inherit his father’s darkness.
When Aredhel attempts to escape with Maeglin to return to Gondolin, Eöl pursues them. His anger, combined with his inability to accept rejection, drives him to attempt to kill his own son, but he mortally wounds poor Aredhel instead. Captured and sentenced to death by the inhabitants of Gondolin, Eöl, in a final act of hatred, cursed his own son Maeglin, condemning him to become the agent of destruction of the city. A model dad, in short.
Bonus: two elves a little apart and therefore out of competition in the lore of Middle-earth
Annatar, the avatar of Sauron
Under the pseudonym of Annatar, or “Lord of Gifts”, Sauron uses his immense cunning to seduce and manipulate the Elves of Middle Earth. Taking the appearance of a noble and magnanimous Elf, he presents himself as a guide and an ally to the blacksmiths of the city of Eregion, led by Celebrimbor (grandson of Fëanor). Posing as a craftsman of infinite wisdom, Annatar teaches the Elves the secrets of forging the Rings of Power. However, behind this elven facade obviously hides thethe goal of corrupting and enslaving free peoples by creating the One Ring, Sauron’s supreme weapon. Although he is not an Elf himself, his appearance and charm allow him to fool some of the wisest among them.
Adar, the first corrupted Elf
Adar, character introduced in the series The Rings of Power, is therefore not canon in the lore as it was thought by Tolkien. Adar is introduced as one of the first Elves captured and corrupted by Morgoth, becoming a proto-Orc. Although he does not appear in Tolkien’s original works, his role enriches the understanding of the dark origins of the Orcs. In the series, Adar sees himself as a father to these fallen creatures, claiming their right to an identity of their own.. This vision “humanizes” the Orcs while exploring the little-known tragedy of the Elves victims of Morgoth’s manipulations.
Source: hitek.fr
