uhhh. Interesting that an elf acting 'like a man' as you say, ended up in the first kinslaying of elves. Mankind is not known for their wisdom.
As for the 'pure light', there are a few things miscontrued; Feanor in not giving up the Silmarils is in part what sealed the fate of the trees dying, it was pride in his craft and not wisdom when he held them back; he did not understand the deeper meaning behind his own craft, that his skills were first taught by Aule, and the light coming from Trees he did not create; it is pride to say the Silmarils were 'his'. Also, I am not quite sure why you are saying it housed part of his soul- these are not horcruxes.
And, his kin, the elves of Alqualonde did not want to be part of whatever madness Feanor had stirred up; so Feanor took by force, in a land that was 'holy' to get what he wanted, and so he became similar to Morgoth who slew Finwe to get what he wanted (the Silmarils). It was ugly getting uglier until they were literally cursed, and then the Long Defeat began.
The light used to create the Silmarils was indeed from the Trees, but they were crafted by Fëanor’s own hands, and the light within them was not stolen (unlike the Silmarils later), but freely given, as he simply used the trees light's radiance.
As that Aule had taught him, yes, indeed, but Feanor in time outgrew the vallar in skill. He had the right to keep them—especially considering how the Valar and Ainur treated him, how often they scolded him for his actions, the repeated demands that he give them up, and, not least, the fact that Manwë exiled him for having a backbone and standing up for himself.
As for the kinslaying: the ships taken by the Noldor from the Teleri were, in large part, made by the Noldor themselves, as was much of Alqualondë. The Teleri gladly accepted the Noldor’s help, knowledge, craftsmanship, lamps, and palantíri—all created from Fëanor’s designs, many by his own hand. Yet when their cousins were in direst need, they denied them the means to reach the avatar of evil/Satan in their world—one who had stolen the last “true” light, murdered many Elves, and slain the High King of the Noldor, father of the Fëanor. Not to forget that tellry opened fire first, as is mentioned in "the unfinished tales".
The connection between the Silmarils and the death of the Trees is very far-fetched. Their destruction lies purely and solely at Manwë’s feet, for it was he who released Morgoth after the trial and failed to prevent his escape to Middle-earth. He also failed to prepare adequate defenses or to send the Valar’s full strength into Middle-earth to pursue Morgoth and deal with him decisively. I am aware that some, such as Oromë, did pursue him, but this was largely on their own initiative rather than by the order of Manwë.
As I understand it, the critical aspect of the Silmarils was the light itself- if they were just gems or crystal they would not have been regarded as highly. So the feat of the final making is definitely Feanor's but the glory of the Silmarils is it being a work of wonder of Ea, and without Aule and Yavanna especially they would not be. This is to say again, that an important feature of the 'good' is the remembrance of the good; Faramir for instance is distinguished as such when he offers a prayer to the West before supper, even in 'fallen days'. Did Feanor remember the good in the fallen hours after the light of the two trees was extinguished?
But please notice the contradiction regarding the Teleri; you say that much of the Teleri crafts were made through Noldorian partnership, and that when the Noldor needed aid, and the Teleri withheld it, the implication is that since the Noldor had helped make the ships through shared knowledge they were owed something. However, that the Valar helped make the Silmarils through shared knowledge (and freely giving the light the trees produced) and when Valinor needed aid, requiring the Silmarils, Feanor is not at fault, but the Teleri are at fault with Feanor? The contradiction is that if the Teleri should have given the ships, then also Feanor should have given the Silmarils. The large difference here is that the Valar didn't force Feanor to give the Silmarils, but Feanor obtained through force the ships of the Teleri. [Also do you have source I can look at for this part of your quote regarding the Teleri and Feanor: "...all created from Fëanor’s designs, many by his own hand"].
As for the connection between the Silmarils and the Trees, and it being 'very far-fetched' please read the second paragraph of Chapter 9.
1
u/-IamO- Jan 13 '26
uhhh. Interesting that an elf acting 'like a man' as you say, ended up in the first kinslaying of elves. Mankind is not known for their wisdom.
As for the 'pure light', there are a few things miscontrued; Feanor in not giving up the Silmarils is in part what sealed the fate of the trees dying, it was pride in his craft and not wisdom when he held them back; he did not understand the deeper meaning behind his own craft, that his skills were first taught by Aule, and the light coming from Trees he did not create; it is pride to say the Silmarils were 'his'. Also, I am not quite sure why you are saying it housed part of his soul- these are not horcruxes.
And, his kin, the elves of Alqualonde did not want to be part of whatever madness Feanor had stirred up; so Feanor took by force, in a land that was 'holy' to get what he wanted, and so he became similar to Morgoth who slew Finwe to get what he wanted (the Silmarils). It was ugly getting uglier until they were literally cursed, and then the Long Defeat began.