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| A Case of Mistaken Identity by Conquistadora | 67 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| mystarlight | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 11/1/2019 |
| Tolkien uses 'if' as I remember correctly and this word is really important. Author Reply: Very true. ;) | |
| mystarlight | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 11/1/2019 |
| Perfectly summarized Thranduil's personality. Thank you. | |
| earthdragon | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 12/23/2015 |
| I fully agree with you that Thranduil has been badly slandered. I have read both LOTR and The Hobbit many times and, in neither book does Tolkien say that Thranduil is bad-tempered, despotic and a bad father. If Legolas never mentioned that he was the Crown Prince of the Greenwood, it is more likely because he simply wanted to be treated as an ordinary elven warrior, rather than as royalty. I certainly agree that if he had endured an abusive childhood, he would not have grown into the cheerful elf that accompanied the Fellowship. As regards the dwarves, well they were their own worst enemies when they strayed into elven territory. Why on earth wasn't Thorin honest with Thranduil and simply say that they were on their way to Eribor to reclaim his long lost kingdom from Smaug. He didn't have to mention treasure - especially since it was probably already common knowledge that all dwarven kingdoms had vast hoards of gold, mithril and precious stones. Why else would a dragon have taken up residence, since they love treasure as much as a dwarf does. I would imagine that Thranduil would have been (justifiably) more concerned about what damage the enraged dragon would do once it was disturbed by the dwarves. I wonder how Thorin was planning to dispose of the beast, if it was just he and the dwarves fighting it. As for Thranduil's alleged greed, I think there is more proof that it is the dwarves themselves who are greedy, as well as being ruder and far more arrogant than any elf. Sadly, it seems that many fan fiction authors are referring to Peter Jackson's warped view of Thranduil the fabulous, rather than reading Tolkien properly | |
| guest | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 11/3/2015 |
| Nice analysis I myself always thought that both Thingol and Thranduil are treated unjustly in fandom :) and in the end they are much better persons than people give them credit for. That reference to wars waged with the dwarves for treasure majority always brings up the case of Thingol and Nauglamir (justifying it maybe as left-over of early drafts of The Hobbit being set in Beleriand as some analysis suggested) but I always liked to think that the Elvenking in question is indeed the current one (Thranduil) and he may some squabble with dwarves from Grey Mountains before king Thorin I removed from Erebor into north where most of his subjects were gathering (my headcanon which explains why Thorin Oakenshield family was not involved because some local dwarf lord of the Longbeards that must have ruled communities in those mountains before kings of Durin's line took residence there :)) and I thought that even though it's stated that the Wood Elves do not mine or work metal and jewels maybe they are occasionally panning for gold and silver in the Forest River (yeah technically it is also considered form of mining but of different kind) and from there came raw gold and silver, in form of gold and silver dust and nuggets flushed out from some rich lode in Ered mithrin the Grey Mountains which were "rich and little explored" and we see the proof that even though they "bother little" with trade they do so nonetheless (and most likely it is very profitable we are not told what the Wood Elves sell in return but primeval forest like Mirkwood is full of resources, maybe fur trade, timber while in the same time practicing forestry, venison, pitch and tar, maybe dyes and pigments made of some plants, medicinal herbs, nuts and possibly nut butter, roots, berries, mushrooms, honey) and most likely they do farm as well, in the forest clearings or on edge of woods in the open lands where they are said to run or ride (so they have their own horses?) and possibly if they took part in Great Journey they must have lembas corn which it is said in essay by Tolkien on this topic was 'grown in guarded lands in sunlit glades' so they may have their own forest gardens and fields some small orchards (though for certain there are no grape vines or apples growing near since both wine and apples are bought from outside the Woodland Realm in barrels). Hahah economic acivities of elves, Tolkien wrote in one letter that he is fully aware of economic thought especially when mortals are concerned but I guess with elves we must also take in their 'elven magic' as factor if Galadriel's blessing on the soil from her orchard was enough to cause a famous Year of Plenty then they may have amazing talent for growing crops and food production :). | |
| Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 12/29/2013 | |
| Thank you for sharing this. It is an eye opening especially to those like me whose perception of the characters lies almost entirely from what we saw in the movie. I love reading fanfiction especially ones that tackles the relationship between legolas and thranduil or just legolas in general. Therefore, it is no suprise when there were few times I unfortunately tumbled upon fanfics that fall under thranduil bashing category or the one that I really cannot accept that is the incestuous relationship between my favourite elfs. That is just wrong in so many level. Your essay brings a whole new understanding of King Thranduil's character. It also make me love and respect him even more...maybe not as much as I love his movie verse son but love is love. Goheno nin for my poor grammar. | |
| Ybs | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 3/28/2013 |
| Wow! What an essay! You've raised some fantastic points here and I wholeheartedly agree with your closing remarks, particularly that line of "a tribute of a "fan" becomes an insult to the author." I myself can't stand it when some fans don't see past the movie to the deeper philosophical and moral implications that are so abundant in Tolkien's original works. It was such a pleasure to read this essay! I wish you all the best for any future writings. ~Ybs Author Reply: Thanks! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Now you're making me want to make time to write again. :) | |
| RenewedBlade | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 8/7/2010 |
| I find your writing insightful and lovely - thank you very much for sharing it! (: The slight sarcasm was extremely refreshing - on occasion it made me laugh out loud, even. Thank you again for sharing this! R.B. | |
| nessie6 | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 1/4/2010 |
| Yaay! A very good, well thought-out defense of my favorite Elven-king! I hardly read stories featuring Thranduil anymore, unless they are written by daw the minstrel, whose Thranduil is my favorite by far (good father, good king and based pretty much off of canon facts). I want to send this to every person who has ever written Evil!Thranduil and wish they'd see sense. Thank you for writing this :) ~nessie~ | |
| Lirulin | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 10/17/2009 |
| Thanks so much for writing this essay! Your points are all extremely valid and you have obviously done a lot of research. I think it's great how you applied the passages from Morgoth's Ring to Thranduil. I'm sure that the Sindar were not that much different from the Noldor, they were all elves after all and had the same origin. I can't list everything I liked, otherwise I'd be sitting here tomorrow or simply quote your whole essay. :) So just a few point. I think it's wonderful that you raise the issue of The Hobbit being essentially from Bilbo's point of view. Before leaving the Shire he had most likely never seen an elf and knew nothing about them, and who knows what the dwarves told him on long evenings around the campfire. No matter how much he came to esteem Thranduil afterwards, I can well imagine that something of these first accounts he heard was stuck in his subconciousness and came out at least partially in his writings. I hope that makes sense. :) And then I liked your point that Thrainduil is perfectly within his rights to detain the dwarves while they walking through his realm without permission. His was a country at war, and you can never be too suspicious at times like these. And if I remember correctly (I hope I do!), there were also dwarves fighting on Sauron's side during the Last Alliance at the end of the Second Age. It is truly not to be wondered at that he what a group of dwarves who are unwilling to state their business is doing in his realm. Apart from that, I would have been a bit miffed, too, if some uninvited guests had disturbed my festivities three times... ;) I had never thought about Thranduil having had to move so often, always losing his home, and how that likely affected him. Thanks for bringing that to my attention. I've always liked him, but as you've said, there has been such an increase in these Evil!Thranduil stories that I haven't dared to read any fanfictions about him in the recent time. I really don't understand where these people get their evidence from. I think Tolkien made it very clear that elves are inherently good. Doesn't it say in the Hobbit, "but they were elves, and that meant good people"? Or something similarily. Sorry, I've been rambling on for way to long. My compliments on a well researched essay with wonderfully supported arguments that should convince everyone of Thranduil's greatness. I'm now going to read your other stories, they promise to be great if this is any indication. :D Many greetings! Author Reply: I'm very glad you enjoyed it. :) Thanks for a great review! | |
| Adrianne | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/13/2007 |
| Very glad to see you quoting from 'Morgoth's Ring' one of my favorite resourses when it comes to researching the Nature of Elves. Anyone who writes fanfic needs to read 'Laws and Customs Among the Eldar' and though these pertain mostly to the Noldor, I do not doubt that they were true to some extent amongst the other race of the Elves as well. By the way, my very favorite section of this book is "Part Four, Athrabeth Finrod Ah Andreth" or The Debate of Finrod and Andreth. Excellent, excellent piece of work and very, very poignant. Author Reply: Definitely. I wish I could assign "Laws and Customs" as penitential reading for those who have offended them. :P Ah, yes, the Finrod and Andreth dialogue . . . :) | |