Maedhros Character Analysis in The Silmarillion

The eldest son of Fëanor, Maedhros joins his father and brothers in swearing an oath to fight anyone who withholds one of the Silmarils. He’s the only one of his brothers who refuses to burn the Teleri’s ships after Fëanor refuses to send them back for Fingolfin’s followers. After being captured by Melkor in Middle-earth and freed by his cousin Finrod, Maedhros passes on kingship over the Noldor to Fingolfin and focuses on healing the rift among the Noldor elves. He founds the Union of Maedhros to attack Melkor and reclaim the Silmarils—a battle which ends in a disastrous loss for the elves—and participates in all three of the Kinslayings in his efforts to reclaim the Silmarils. Though Maedhros is reasonable and diplomatic, he refuses to forsake his oath even if it kills him. Maedhros steals the two remaining Silmarils from Eönwë after Melkor’s defeat and, unable to bear the pain when the Silmarils burn him, throws himself into a fiery pit. His fate proves the folly of excessive pride and greed.

Maedhros Quotes in The Silmarillion

The The Silmarillion quotes below are all either spoken by Maedhros or refer to Maedhros. 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:

Then Fingon the valiant, son of Fingolfin, resolved to heal the feud that divided the Noldor […] Long before, in the bliss of Valinor, before Melkor was unchained, or lies came between them, Fingon had been close in friendship with Maedhros; and though he knew not yet that Maedhros had not forgotten him at the burning of the ships, the thought of their ancient friendship stung his heart. Therefore he dared a deed which is justly renowned among the feats of the princes of the Noldor: alone, and without the counsel of any, he set forth in search of Maedhros; and aided by the very darkness that Morgoth had made he came unseen into the fastness of his foes.

Related Characters: Fingon, Maedhros, Melkor/Morgoth, Fingolfin, Fëanor

Related Symbols: Darkness

Page Number and Citation: 109

Explanation and Analysis:

Thus was the treachery of Uldor redressed; and of all the deeds of war that the fathers of Men wrought in behalf of the Eldar, the last stand of the Men of Dor-lómin is most renowned.

[…]

Last of all Húrin stood alone. Then he cast aside his shield, and wielded an axe two-handed; and it is sung that the axe smoked in the black blood of the troll-guard of Gothmog until it withered, and each time that he slew Húrin cried: ‘Aurë entuluva! Day shall come again!’

Related Characters: Húrin (speaker), Gothmog, Turgon, Melkor/Morgoth, Maedhros, Fëanor, Fingon

Related Symbols: Light

Page Number and Citation: 195

Explanation and Analysis:

‘If it be truly the Silmaril which we saw cast into the sea that rises again by the power of the Valar, then let us be glad; for its glory is seen now by many, and is yet secure from all evil.’ Then the Elves looked up, and despaired no longer; but Morgoth was filled with doubt.

Related Characters: Maglor (speaker), Maedhros, Melkor/Morgoth, Fëanor, Eärendil, Elwing

Related Symbols: Light, The Silmarils

Page Number and Citation: 250

Explanation and Analysis:

But the jewel burned the hand of Maedhros in pain unbearable; and he perceived that it was as Eönwë had said, and that his right thereto had become void, and that the oath was vain. And being in anguish and despair he cast himself into a gaping chasm filled with fire, and so ended; and the Silmaril that he bore was taken into the bosom of the Earth.

Related Characters: Maedhros, Eönwë, Maglor

Related Symbols: The Silmarils

Page Number and Citation: 254

Explanation and Analysis:

Maedhros Character Timeline in The Silmarillion

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

...are Fëanor, high-spirited, Fingolfin, valiant and steadfast, and Finarfin, wise and fair. Fëanor’s sons are Maedhros, Maglor, Celegorm, Caranthir, Curufin, Amrod, and Amras. Fingolfin’s children are Fingon, the future king of... (full context)

When they land, Maedhros asks his father who will return to ferry the rest of the Noldor across the... (full context)

...to Fëanor’s sons, announcing his surrender and offering to give up a Silmaril for peace. Maedhros suggests that they pretend to make a treaty with Morgoth and then betray him. Both... (full context)

...flee into Angband and Fingolfin leads his Noldor up to the gates of Angband unopposed. Maedhros calls out to them, but they can’t hear him over their own trumpets. Realizing that... (full context)

...son, decides to resolve the feud so they can unite against Morgoth by seeking out Maedhros, who was once his close friend. Camouflaged by the shadows Morgoth created, he climbs the... (full context)

Fingon climbs up as far as he can go, but cries when he can’t reach Maedhros. With no hope of escape, Maedhros asks Fingon to kill him. Fingon strings an arrow... (full context)

Maedhros heals and Fingon is praised for his heroism—through their friendship, the Noldor are reunited. Maedhros... (full context)

...Caranthir starts a violent argument. The Noldor fear the quick anger of Fëanor’s sons, so Maedhros leads his brothers away to live apart from the rest of the Noldor. There, Caranthir’s... (full context)

Morgoth attacks suddenly, believing that the elves aren’t prepared, but Maedhros and Fingolfin drive them back. Still, the elves can’t breach Angband or take back the... (full context)

...of Fëanor live. The area is open to attack, with few hills to guard it. Maedhros’s citadel is on the Hill of Himring, and Celegorm and Curufin fortify the Pass of... (full context)

...though Amlach swears he wasn’t at the council—implying that Morgoth’s servant impersonated him there—and joins Maedhros’s service. (full context)

The elves rally to Finrod and Maedhros, but the orcs take Maglor’s Gap and Glaurung burns the land. They manage to keep... (full context)

...because of their curse. At this time, the Swarthy men enter Beleriand and ally with Maedhros—some of them remain faithful to the elves and some betray them, as Morgoth intends. (full context)

Maedhros, hearing about the deeds of Beren and Lúthien, realizes that Morgoth isn’t invulnerable. Maedhros begins... (full context)

Maedhros plans for them to attack Angband with his armies advancing from the east and Fingon’s... (full context)

...Brethil are killed, and the armies of Hithlum are surrounded until Turgon arrives with reinforcements. Maedhros and his army finally arrive to attack the enemy from the rear. At the same... (full context)

Morgoth has successfully corrupted some groups of men and destroyed Fingon’s kingdom. The forces of Maedhros’s union are scattered or dead. Morgoth sends more men and orcs to harass the remaining... (full context)

...two sons are taken by Celegorm’s servants and left to die in the forest. Afterwards, Maedhros tries to save Eluréd and Elurín, but he can’t find them. Doriath is destroyed, though... (full context)

When Maedhros learns where Elwing was living, he initially leaves her alone, regretful of his actions in... (full context)

...of Middle-earth first see Eärendil’s light, they call it Gil-Estel, the Star of High Hope. Maedhros recognizes it as a Silmaril, and Maglor tells him to be grateful if it is—now... (full context)

Eönwë summons the elves of Beleriand to leave Middle-earth. Maedhros and Maglor refuse and, though they don’t want to, prepare to fulfill their oath, asking... (full context)

...When the camp wakes up and prepares to fight, Eönwë doesn’t allow anyone to kill Maedhros and Maglor. They escape, but the Silmaril burns Maedhros’s hand, and he realizes that Eönwë... (full context)

The Silmarillion

Maedhros Character Analysis

Maedhros Quotes in The Silmarillion

Chapter 13 Quotes

Chapter 20 Quotes

Chapter 24 Quotes

Maedhros Character Timeline in The Silmarillion