Manwë Character Analysis in The Silmarillion

The husband of Varda and the King of the Valar, Manwë has power over wind and air. The giant eagles are his messengers and servants. Righteous and compassionate, he is the Vala who best understands Ilúvatar’s mind and directly asks for his counsel several times during important moments in the history of the world. Manwë’s strict moral compass is occasionally a disadvantage to him. After Melkor’s first imprisonment by the Valar, Manwë, unable to comprehend evil and believing Melkor must be repentant, allows him to go free, with disastrous results. Manwë is a strict but merciful ruler; when the Noldor elves choose to ignore his warnings and disobey Arda’s laws, he abandons Middle-earth to fight Melkor alone until Eärendil, a representative of both elves and men, petitions him for aid.

Manwë Quotes in The Silmarillion

The The Silmarillion quotes below are all either spoken by Manwë or refer to Manwë. 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 at that last word of Fëanor: that at the least the Noldor should do deeds to live in song for ever, he raised his head, as one that hears a voice far off, and he said: ‘So shall it be! Dear-bought those songs shall be accounted, and yet shall be well-bought. For the price could be no other. Thus even as Eru spoke to us shall beauty not before conceived be brought into Eä, and evil yet be good to have been.’

But Mandos said: ‘And yet remain evil. To me shall Fëanor come soon.’

Related Characters: Manwë (speaker), Námo/Mandos (speaker), Fëanor, Ilúvatar

Related Symbols: The Silmarils

Page Number and Citation: 98

Explanation and Analysis:

This passage occurs as Mandos brings word of Fëanor’s response to the Valar’s warning and offer to the Noldor to return to Valinor and repent. Fëanor maintains his oath to pursue the Silmarils and declares that his deeds will be remembered in song until the end of the world. Manwë agrees—Fëanor will be remembered. The fact that the elven narrator of The Silmarillion has recorded the story here is proof of that, and the inclusion of the discussion about the song and memory of the elves emphasizes again the importance of history and myth to elven tradition and identity. The Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero

Here ends the SILMARILLION. If it has passed from the high and the beautiful to darkness and ruin, that was of old the fate of Arda Marred; and if any change shall come and the Marring be amended, Manwë and Varda may know; but they have not revealed it, and it is not declared in the dooms of Mandos.

Related Characters: Varda, Námo/Mandos, Manwë, Ilúvatar

Related Symbols: Darkness , The Silmarils

Page Number and Citation: 255

Explanation and Analysis:

This passage concludes the large middle section of The Silmarillion that tells the story of the Silmarils. It reveals the elves’ consciousness of the loss that pervades their declining world. Their lives and memories are long, and they witness and remember the ways the world has changed, even if only through the stories of myth and history before their awakening. The preservation of this myth is important because it holds the memory of “the high and the beautiful”; the way the world began and has now fallen away from. The narrator has a sense of resignation about the fate of Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earum. Ad tenet

Manwë Character Timeline in The Silmarillion

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

...Arda as they observe it. Ulmo, a great musician, thinks of water. The noblest Ainur, Manwë, thinks of wind and air. Aulë thinks of earth. Ilúvatar explains how Melkor’s meddling hasn’t... (full context)

...in the Great Music. They spend “uncounted” ages constructing Arda, and Melkor meddles with everything Manwë, Aulë, and Ulmo create. Melkor attempts to declare himself the king of Arda, but Manwë... (full context)

...them, not including Melkor. Melkor is the mightiest Ainu who descended to the World, but Manwë best understands Ilúvatar’s purposes and is appointed King of Arda. His wife is Varda, the... (full context)

...for the growing things of Arda. Námo (also called Mandos), the brother of Irmo, obeys Manwë and rules the Houses of the Dead. His wife is Vairë the Weaver, who makes... (full context)

...of the best known Maiar are Ilmarë, the handmaid of Varda, Eönwë, the herald of Manwë, and Ossë and Uinen, the vassals of Ulmo. Melkor almost succeeds in convincing Ossë to... (full context)

...construction of the world. To provide light, Aulë makes two lamps, which Varda fills and Manwë blesses before they’re placed on pillars in the north and south. Yavanna’s plants begin to... (full context)

...to the sea that encircles Arda. They raise up mountains as a defense against Melkor; Manwë puts his throne on the peak and the rest of the Valar build their houses... (full context)

...by Varda’s stars, and the Valar rarely visit it. In their absence, Melkor wanders unchecked. Manwë rules Valinor peacefully, Aulë works as a craftsman, and Ulmo resides in the ocean, ensuring... (full context)

Anxious, Yavanna goes to Manwë and wishes that the trees could speak on behalf of the natural world. Ilúvatar reveals... (full context)

Tulkas urges them to begin another war with Melkor, but Manwë reminds the Valar that the elves are fated to wake up in darkness, under only... (full context)

...Valar the news, then returns immediately to Middle-earth to stay with the elves. Ilúvatar counsels Manwë to lead the Valar to defend the elves from Melkor. The Valar fight Melkor in... (full context)

...Valar bring Melkor back to Valinor to face the council of the Valar, Melkor begs Manwë for pardon and is denied. They imprison him in the Houses of the Dead, where... (full context)

...Míriel tells Finwë that she’ll never have other children—she’s given all her strength to Fëanor. Manwë sends her to Lórien to heal, but when she falls asleep there, her spirit goes... (full context)

...to the council of the Valar and begs for pardon, hiding his jealousy and hate. Manwë, who can’t comprehend evil, believes that Melkor is cured of it and grants his pardon.... (full context)

...them for himself. Fëanor curses Melkor and sends him away. Finwë sends a messenger to Manwë about Melkor’s appearance, but Melkor has already fled Valinor to the north. Valinor is safe... (full context)

On Manwë’s mountain there is a festival to praise Ilúvatar and celebrate the gathering of Yavanna’s fruit... (full context)

Varda is the first to notice the shadow, and the music of the festival ceases. Manwë, who can see through the dark, notices an impenetrable darkness (Ungoliant and Melkor) fleeing northward... (full context)

As Manwë accepts Fëanor’s refusal and Nienna stands to mourn the Trees, a messenger arrives to tell... (full context)

Manwë sends a message as they depart, counseling them not to leave and formally banishing Fëanor... (full context)

The Valar mourn both the Trees and Fëanor, who is corrupted by Morgoth’s influence. Manwë weeps to hear Fëanor’s response to his warning but accepts Fëanor’s declaration that he’ll be... (full context)

...of escape, Maedhros asks Fingon to kill him. Fingon strings an arrow and prays to Manwë to take pity on them. Manwë has great eagles stationed in the mountains to watch... (full context)

...never pitied anyone before and never does again. Mandos brings Beren to her and asks Manwë about the will of Ilúvatar. (full context)

...Ulmo visits the other Valar and asks them to save the elves from Morgoth, but Manwë refuses. It’s said that it wasn’t time yet for their interference and that only someone... (full context)

...through the empty city of Tirion and nearly turns back towards the beach before Eönwë, Manwë’s herald, calls him by name and takes him to the council of the Valar. He... (full context)

...whether Eärendil is permitted in the undying lands since he’s part human and part Noldo. Manwë decides that Eärendil and Elwing won’t be allowed to return to Middle-earth, but they and... (full context)

...in the Music of the Ainur, and if it will ever be restored, Varda and Manwë haven’t revealed it. (full context)

...begin to want to go west and be immortal like the elves and the Valar. Manwë sends messengers to the Dúnedain to explain that Ilúvatar decided the fate of men and... (full context)

...Ar-Pharazôn’s plan and tells Elendil that he’ll try to sail secretly to Valinor to ask Manwë for mercy and aid. Elendil worries what will happen to the house of Andúnië if... (full context)

...of the White Tree. The climate of Númenor has changed, growing dark and stormy. Sometimes Manwë’s giant eagles approach from the west, carrying lightning that strikes Melkor’s temple, and Sauron spreads... (full context)

Meanwhile, Manwë calls on Ilúvatar, who uses his power to change the shape of the world. A... (full context)

...as she tries to climb Ilúvatar’s sacred mountain. Whether or not Amandil ever reaches Valinor, Manwë hears his prayer and spares Elendil and his people on their nine ships, sheltering them... (full context)

...only because he feared the Valar. Eönwë tells Sauron to go to Valinor and hear Manwë’s judgement, but Sauron refuses to face the humiliation and hides in Middle-earth. (full context)

Manwë Character Analysis

Manwë Quotes in The Silmarillion

Chapter 11 Quotes

Chapter 24 Quotes

Manwë Character Timeline in The Silmarillion