Elwë/Thingol Character Analysis in The Silmarillion

Elwë is one of the elf ambassadors to Valinor and one of the kings of the Teleri elves. After marrying the Maia Melian, he becomes known as Thingol, and the two of them rule the elves of Beleriand. Thingol is willing to share land with the Noldor elves who later arrive from Valinor, though he refuses to forgive them for killing Teleri elves as they departed. Though he’s selective about who is permitted into the protected kingdom of Doriath and initially mistrusts men, he later fosters a young man named Túrin and shelters his family. Thingol’s possessiveness leads to his downfall when he refuses to permit a man, Beren, to marry his daughter Lúthien and instead sends him on an impossible quest to steal a Silmaril from Melkor’s crown. Once he has the Silmaril, Thingol becomes obsessed with it and is murdered by a group of dwarves who steal it from him.

Elwë/Thingol Quotes in The Silmarillion

The The Silmarillion quotes below are all either spoken by Elwë/Thingol or refer to Elwë/Thingol. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

But Thingol perceived their hearts, and saw well that desiring the Silmaril they sought but a pretext and fair cloak of their true intent; and in his wrath and pride he gave no heed to his peril but spoke to them in scorn, saying: ‘How do ye of uncouth race dare to demand aught of me, Elu Thingol, Lord of Beleriand, whole life began by the waters of Cuiviénen years uncounted ere the fathers of the stunted people awoke?’

Then the lust of the Dwarves was kindled to rage by the words of the King; and they rose up about him, and laid hands on him, and slew him as he stood.

Related Characters: Elwë/Thingol (speaker), Melkor/Morgoth, Beren, Lúthien

Related Symbols: The Silmarils

Page Number and Citation: 233

Explanation and Analysis:

Elwë/Thingol Character Timeline in The Silmarillion

The timeline below shows where the character Elwë/Thingol appears in The Silmarillion. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...hesitant to come, so Oromë selects ambassadors to travel to Valinor first. Ingwë, Finwë, and Elwë meet the Valar, then return to advise the rest of the Quendi to come to... (full context)

...or the Deep Elves, and is loved by Aulë. The biggest group is led by Elwë and his brother Olwë and is called the Teleri, or the Sea-elves. The elves that... (full context)

...followed by nightingales, travels from Lórien to Middle-earth to sing. The elves reach Beleriand, and Elwë often walks through the forest to search for his friend Finwë. When he passes through... (full context)

The Teleri search for Elwë after his disappearance but can’t find him, so Olwë leads them on towards Valinor. Elwë... (full context)

The friends of Elwë, unwilling to leave for Valinor without him, are called the Eglath, or the Forsaken People,... (full context)

...are upset to learn that the Teleri won’t come to Valinor, and Finwë grieves that Elwë was left behind in Beleriand. The Valar create a gap in the mountains so the... (full context)

Melian and Thingol rule over all the elves of Beleriand, called the Sindar, and have a daughter named... (full context)

...and sharing knowledge. Melian guesses that there won’t be peace in the world forever, so Thingol commissions the dwarves to build him an underground fortress that he calls Menegroth. The elves... (full context)

Near the end of Morgoth’s captivity, the dwarves report to Thingol that the evil beasts of the north have multiplied. The dwarves forge weapons for the... (full context)

...to the mountains in the north. Morgoth’s orc armies march into Beleriand and begin plundering Thingol’s scattered people. Cut off from Círdan, Thingol joins with Denethor to kill the orcs in... (full context)

...called the Laiquendi, or Green-elves, become secretive and refuse to participate in the war. When Thingol returns from battle, he learns that the orcs have trapped Círdan’s forces near the sea.... (full context)

Greed, Jealousy, and Obsession Theme Icon

Thingol doesn’t welcome all of the Noldor into Doriath, and only allows Finarfin’s sons through the... (full context)

...a vision from Ulmo urging them to prepare for Morgoth’s attack. While a guest of Thingol, Finrod has the idea to build a similar underground fortress, which he constructs in the... (full context)

In East Beleriand, Thingol and Melian rule over Doriath, and the offspring of Ungoliant lurk in the Mountains of... (full context)

...came for vengeance on Morgoth and tells Melian about the kin-slaying at Alqualondë. Melian warns Thingol about the Silmarils and foretells that the world will be “broken in battles” before they’re... (full context)

...of the Noldor’s departure from Valinor spread among the Sindar, probably due to Morgoth’s influence. Thingol confronts Finrod about the Noldor’s lies, and Angrod blames the kin-slaying on Fëanor and his... (full context)

...becomes restless and departs again. She wanders into Nan Elmoth (the forest where Melian and Thingol met) where a Dark elf, Eöl, lives. (full context)

Thingol is displeased with the presence of the men and only allows them to have lands... (full context)

...ruled and leads her people west to the Forest of Brethil. Though Brethil is in Thingol’s land, Finrod obtains permission for her to settle there as long as her people guard... (full context)

When the orcs finally invade the people of Haleth, Halmir their lord requests aid from Thingol, who sends Beleg Strongbow and his wardens to destroy the orcs. With Brethil’s protection, Nargothrond... (full context)

...Girdle, “grey and bowed” from his difficult road. In the summer woods he sees Lúthien (Thingol and Melian’s daughter) dancing and falls in love. With dark hair and grey eyes, Lúthien... (full context)

...and summer. Daeron, a minstrel, also loves Lúthien and betrays her meetings with Beren to Thingol. Thingol, who loves Lúthien and hates men, confronts her, but she refuses to say anything... (full context)

Beren presents Finrod’s ring as proof of his nobility, but Thingol demands that Beren retrieve a treasure to win Lúthien—he must bring Thingol a Silmaril in... (full context)

...Lúthien plans to go and rescue him herself, but Daeron again reveals her plans to Thingol, who restrains her in a house in a tree. Lúthien uses her magic to grow... (full context)

...and imprisons her in Nargothrond. He plans to allow Finrod to be killed, then force Thingol to let him marry Lúthien. However, Huan, who also loves Lúthien, returns her cloak to... (full context)

...despair. Beren and Lúthien stay together in the woods for a time, then return to Thingol. At the same time, Carcharoth rages through the Girdle of Melian into Doriath, and Thingol’s... (full context)

Beren tells Thingol that his quest is fulfilled—a Silmaril is in his hand—and shows him his empty left... (full context)

...gravely wounded, and speaks for the third and final time, saying goodbye before he dies. Thingol’s guards cut the Silmaril from Carcharoth’s stomach and place it in Beren’s living left hand.... (full context)

...then travel alone to Ossiriand, where history loses track of them. Dior, their son and Thingol’s heir, is born there. (full context)

...won’t send help. Only a small company from Nargothrond, led by Gwindor, joins the union. Thingol also refuses to join, since the sons of Fëanor want his Silmaril. The dwarves aid... (full context)

Morwen gives birth to a daughter, Nienor, and that same year Thingol takes Túrin in and fosters him. Thingol invites Morwen to come to Doriath, but she... (full context)

...Túrin returns to Doriath three years later, an elf named Saeros (jealous of the honor Thingol gives him) mocks his appearance. The next day, Túrin forces Saeros to run naked through... (full context)

...pardon, Túrin refuses to return to Doriath even to help defend it. Beleg returns to Thingol to relay the message and receives permission to stay with Túrin as his guard. Thingol... (full context)

...captive of Glaurung. Morwen leaves Doriath to find Túrin and Nienor secretly follows her. Though Thingol sends guards after them, they both refuse to return. Thingol’s guards, led by Mablung, follow... (full context)

...and Nienor flees from both the orcs and her elf guards. Mablung returns to tell Thingol and Melian what happened, then leaves Doriath again to search for Morwen and Nienor. (full context)

Finally, Húrin goes to Doriath and throws the Nauglamír at Thingol’s feet, calling it his “fee” for caring for his wife and children. Thingol forgives Húrin... (full context)

Thingol decides that the Nauglamír should be remade and set with the Silmaril, which he thinks... (full context)

Melian knows that Thingol’s death will be followed by the doom of Doriath. Though she’s a Maia, she took... (full context)

Elwë/Thingol Character Analysis

Elwë/Thingol Quotes in The Silmarillion

Chapter 22 Quotes

Elwë/Thingol Character Timeline in The Silmarillion