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| A Case of Mistaken Identity by Conquistadora | 67 Review(s) |
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| fadagaski | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 2/23/2004 |
| Thank you so much for that essay. I personally find Elves difficult to even comprehend, much less write, which is why I prefer the Mirkwood Elves - they're more human than those of Imladris and Lothlorien, simply because of their attitude to life (ie. laugh now, because you'll die later). Your essay on Thranduil not only explained his character in a way I can understand (leaving out the archaic language that so distinguishes Tolkien), but also shared insight into the minds of Elves in general, particularly the Mirkwood variety. Any author - Elf-styled or otherwise - would be wise to read this for the clever, canon-backed arguments on Elven disposition. Already I have recommended it to another author, who happens to find the character of Legolas annoyingly difficult to work with. Again, many thanks! Author Reply: Elves, I guess, need to come naturally to an author. I've never had any considerable trouble with them, though I have to make an effort to be more "elvish" than I otherwise would be; for example, I'm not a huge nature lover (nothing personal, but mosquitoes and I just don't get along). ^_^ As always, I'm thrilled to be of any help. :) It makes it all worthwhile. | |
| fan81981 | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 2/14/2004 |
| I have always viewed the Hobbit with suspicion when it comes to the interpretation of the elves. Having read history I completely agree with your point that the account was probably coloured. In fact, if you think about the fact that elves are immortal and possibly Thranduil was alive when Doriath fell then you have a added reason for his "animosity". He/the elves saw the dwarven treachery. The dwarves might forget but the elves went through it all. It must have been harder for them to be as understanding. For me, the dwarves had about 6000 years to get over non-payment. It happened in their history, unlike for the elves. Cosnidering that they didn't, makes me wonder, how rigid are they? Author Reply: Dwarves can be incredibly prideful, recalling Mim's reaction to being tied up by Turin. I also think they probably have long "memories", at least on a cultural level. The story of Thingol's demise as told by the Nogrodrim has probably become the stuff of traditional dwarvish legend, and since they know the Elves are immortal, they would consider them still the antagonists of antiquity in-the-flesh. But then, I generally do not attempt to fathom the depths of the enigma that is the dwarvish mind. ;) | |
| fan81981 | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 2/14/2004 |
| This is the second time I am reading this and was going to review at the end but I just wanted to pick up on something. "As financially possessive as he is rumored to be, Thranduil is NOT the greedy grasping miser some portray. " Now I don't remember the Hobbit TOO well, but I thought Thranduil was "fond" of jewels? When has that become finaccially possesive? I like jewellery, a lot - but I will bop someone on the head if they call me stingy/miserly. I think Thranduil would too. :) Author Reply: I'm sure he has a soft spot for gems and things, but he is no stranger to charity. And I would not blame him for being something of a tightwad, but that certainly doesn't make him a Scrooge, as some seem to conclude. I agree; being fond of jewels doesn't make one a dog-in-the-manger. :) | |
| Morrigan | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 2/13/2004 |
| Wonderful essay! I congratulate you for that. I too hate the way many fanfics characterize Thranduil. I don’t think Tolkien ever thought of him like the monster these people write. I have no idea how people could think so low of this character. I loved Thranduil in ‘The Hobbit’ and I never saw him as the greedy and unfair king everyone portrays. I agree with you 99% in everything. The other 1% is for something that I somewhat disagree with you. In ‘The Hobbit’ I don’t think he ever did want anything with that treasure, except give it to the humans, who had a right to it. Or did he? I could be mistaken, my memory might trick me or it can be some misunderstanding in translation (I read it translated into Portuguese). Now now… you certainly made me want to read it again! I totally agree with you that the book was made in a dwarven point of view and that Thranduil made nothing wrong, that everything he did was not only his right but also his duty to protect his people. Actually, The Hobbit made me hate the dwarves. THEY were the greedy bastards that had nothing more on their heads than thoughts of jewels and gold. Actually, they did almost nothing. Bilbo did everything, and it was he and Bard who killed the dragon while the dwarves were hiding in a hole on the ground. So they weren’t only greedy but also cowards!! Thranduil, having no part on the destruction of the city of the humans, helped them without thinking twice or demanding anything. The dwarves, whose expedition woke the dragons wrath and made it ruin the human city, refused to give what the dragon stole from the humans. Their behavior after the dragon was killed was disgusting. If not for Bilbo, they wouldn’t even be alive and they acted like they killed the dragon. I really cant understand why people always make Thranduil look like a villain and make the dwarves look like courageous and rightful, like victims or (even worse) heroes in the story! In relation to Tolkien… I’ve read many times that he loved nature and despised the so called progress. The One Ring is, including, an analogy to that. To the destruction of nature by technology. I think Peter Jackson passed this message pretty well on his movies, specially on The Two Towers. Just remember Treebeard talking about Sarumans change of behavior towards nature, Saruman saying that a new age of technology was coming, Saruman destroying the forest, his “orc factory” J, the march of the ents, etc… I didnt read all of Tolkiens books (yet) and I might be mistaken but I thought that, because of that way of thinking, that he should like the sindar and silvan elves more than the noldor. He always portrays the noldor as avid for knowledge and technology, something that he condemned in real life. And it seems that all the elves that turned to darkness (or at least the worse of them) were noldor. So saying I think that he would prefer the sindar and silvan and would never write Thranduil like a villain. Unfortunately Tolkien wrote so few about them…that is contradictory to what I said here, except if he really preferred to show the flaws and sins. Well… you really wrote everything that I also had stuck on my throat (so to speak) and couldn’t get out. Wonderfully done!!! I also would like to express my repulsion not only to evil Thranduil fics but also to all that garbage that people write. It seems that 90% of fanfictions out there fall on one of 3 categories: (1) the so called mary-sues where immature girls see themselves marrying Legolas, specially the girls-falling-on-middle-earth category (giving up immortality is a must); (2) the work of some people with real psychopath and/or sadists tendencies that love to write/read about grotesque torture of loved characters, specially Legolas (rape is a must) or (3) slash. How I hate all of them!!!!!! And to that I would like to praise this site that filters the great majority of that trash! Congratulations!!!!! Author Reply: I can tell everyone feels strongly about this subject just by looking at all these giant reviews! Hm, I think it might be asking just a bit too much of the general readership to believe Thranduil was completely uninterested in the treasure, but he certainly wasn't fixated by it. I have no doubt that even if he had been able to claim a big chunk of it he would have shared freely with the men of Laketown, unlike Thorin who wanted it ALL. Sheesh. Thranduil is such a great character! Certainly an Elvenking to be reckoned with. And I agree completely with all points above: (1), (2), and (3). >_< Even though Tolkien left the doors wide open, I have to think he would have been leery of fanfiction for just these reasons. It is impossible to supervise, and every Elf-stricken idiot out there is going to try their hand at it, regardless of know-how or intent. Ugh. Anyhow, glad you liked it, and welcome to the True-to-Tolkien crusade! | |
| Nikara | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 2/13/2004 |
| Wow! That was an awesome argument. I completely agree. Wonderful job with this. I'm very glad that it has been written. I wish that new authors had this as required reading(along with actually reading the books in the first place!) Author Reply: You aren't the only one who wants to make it required reading! And yes, if you want to write fanfiction, it is generally customary to have read the orginals so you have some idea of just what you're talking about! Feel free to spread this around, if you like. Just in case you know of any Evil!Thranduilites that need some correction . . . :) | |
| lembas7 | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/13/2004 |
| Thank you, thank you, thank you. YES. Finally, a site i can log as having true Tolkien basis to offset all those who claim that there is slash, smut, and other disgustingly distasteful junk rampant in LOTR and associated works. There are many crass, vulgar and simply bigoted people in the world who enjoy the perversion of such a wonderful story. Fanfiction is repusively rampant (please excuse the "matching phrases" as it were) with such trash. Thank you so much for creating this story - the support for your argument in undeniable, and I support you 100% in this view. Thank you so much for writing this. Author Reply: Glad to lay it out straight for you! For myself, I have quite had it with all the slash clogging the web out there (just trying to avoid it!), and yes, you have described it very aptly. >_< SoA is better than most, and I must confess that HASA fell several levels in my estimation for the slash it hosts. I've sent this bit to them, so we'll see if they let it in. | |
| Yivanethe | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 2/13/2004 |
| I'd like to make a short comment in support of your oppinion here: Atleast 2 warnings (involving elven arrows ; ) were given by Haldir and his brothers to the Fellowship when the entered Lorien. To some, they were more like jokes, but they did scare Sam and convince Gimli to comply, so its really a matter of interpretation. Eomer and his Eorlingas nearly speared Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli for being in Rohan with out permission. Tree-beard considered crushing Merry and Pippin in two, thinking they were orc spies, when they come to Fangorn. Denethor is....well, Denethor in Gondor. Kings, stewards, marchwardens, and various relations will be like that. Author Reply: YES. When one enters another's domain, he is subject to new laws. A very good point. :) | |
| Lera | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 2/13/2004 |
| That was a really well written and enjoyable read. I had actually always agreed that Thranduil was not Evil. There was never any evidence for it, and your essay just laid it all out. Author Reply: I had hoped it would. :) In any event, maybe this helped avert some Evil!Thranduils sprung of the ignorance catagory. | |
| Karri | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 2/13/2004 |
| Nicely argued! :-) (Pale in comparison to the other reviews. Sorry 'bout that. :-/) Author Reply: Makes it easier to answer! ;) | |
| LOTR lover | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 2/13/2004 |
| Brava! A most well-written and well-researched piece. When I saw the essay had 11 chapters I was a bit hesitant on starting to read, but I was greatly rewarded. Thranduil is one of my favorite Tolkien characters, and I certainly have no idea where in the Professor's writings the Evil!Thranduil concept could have arisen. Talk about slander! Author Reply: The cold hard truth is that THERE IS NO EVIL!THRANDUIL! Dang, I wish the other half of the overall fandom would have that beaten into them! I realized the 11 chapters might put some off, so I was sure to label it "short". I suppose I could have lumped it all together in one chapter, but somehow I find that longer scroll-bars encourage further reading! | |