J. R. R. Tolkien rarely indulged the anti-hero. The now everpresent literary concept became ubiquitous in the US and England as Tolkien published the Lord of the Rings books. Most of Tolkien’s heroes are straightforward, noble paragons of justice, but he has broken that rule before. His darkest story is The Children of Húrin, and its doomed hero, Túrin Turambar, is a fascinating challenge to everything high fantasy tends to be.
The Children of Húrin is the first of Tolkien’s Great Tales. The three stories were published in the 2000s, after Tolkien’s son Christopher organized, edited, and prepared decades-worth of notes. The novel was well-received and immensely financially successful, with many critics citing its impressively different tone. Tolkien drew from ancient myth and tragedy to construct a new corner of his Middle-earth, and though it took many years to come to fans, it changed the franchise’s cultural cache when it arrived.
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Who was Túrin Turambar?
Túrin Turambar’s story is told across several works before the collected novel-length iteration in 2007. 1977’s The Silmarillion featured a slightly shortened version of the tale. The Book of Lost Tales Part II in 1984 published the first version, originally written around 1910. Tolkien took inspiration from Kullervo, a tragic hero from the Finnish national epic, Kalevala. He shares traits with Arthurian myth, Oedipus, the Germanic hero Sigmund, and the occasional biblical figure. He’s a tragic anti-hero of the First Age who carried ill omens and death everywhere he went. His story is seen as a far cry from the noble path of most High Fantasy icons. Conversely, many note Túrin’s struggle for good in a world that consistently seeks to destroy him as the ultimate exploration of optimism. He’s Tolkien’s noble outlaw, a self-perceived outsider who must brave the isolation of the wilderness to save others from his fate.
What happened to Túrin Turambar?
Túrin’s story starts with his father, Húrin. Húrin opposed the Dark Lord Morgoth in the Battle of Unnumbered Tears. He was the mightiest mortal warrior on the battlefield. Despite his skill, Morgoth’s Orcs captured and tortured him for information. When he refused to yield, Morgoth laid a curse upon him and his family. Túrin hid with his mother and newborn sister, Urwen. Túrin’s mom sent him to live in the Elven realm of Doriath, where its king, Thingol, would adopt him. While his second sister, Niënor, was born, Túrin joined the warrior chief Beleg in marches against the Orcs. Thingol gifted Túrin the Dragon-helm of Dor-lómin, a magic helmet that protected him from all harm. With it, he became a feared and capable warrior. Unfortunately, one of Thingol’s retainers provoked and attacked Túrin, causing him to kill him accidentally. Túrin fled to avoid prosecution, finding a band of outlaws to travel with.
Túrin became the outlaws’ leader after killing their first chief for harassing a woman. He forced the brigands to use their martial skills for good, turning their violence away from innocent people and toward Morgoth’s Orcs. Beleg sought out Túrin twice, eventually giving him the Dragon-helm and a meteorite-forged sword called Anglachel. Túrin’s legend grew, summoning many warriors to his mighty helm and assembling a traveling band that would purge much of Beleriand of evil. Tragically, the brigands captured a Dwarf named Mîm, who grew jealous of Túrin’s friendship with Beleg. Mîm arranged an Orc ambush that killed most of Túrin’s men. When Beleg freed Túrin from Orcish capture, Anglachel slipped and stabbed Túrin’s foot. Túrin reacted quickly in the dark, accidentally slaying his closest friend. He ran again, taking new names wherever he went. His life would follow this cycle, killing his loved ones and escaping with his life time and time again. Morgoth’s words held true:
Then Morgoth stretching out his long arm towards Dor-lomin cursed Hurin and Morwen and their offspring, saying: ‘Behold! The shadow of my thought shall lie upon them wherever they go, and my hate shall pursue them to the ends of the world.
Túrin found love with an Elvish woman named Níniel, who he discovered crying naked on a grave site. He boldly took the name Turambar, claiming dominion over his deadly fate. Túrin battled a dragon called Glaurung, who destroyed the village he briefly improved in yet another miserable cyclical conclusion. Túrin reforged Anglachel into a black blade called Gurthang. With the hate and bitterness earned over a miserable life, Túrin drove Gurthang into Glaurung’s heart, slaying the mighty dragon. With his last words, he revealed to Níniel that she was secretly Túrin’s sister, Niënor. Glaurung erased her memory before placing her in Túrin’s path. Disgusted and convinced of Túrin’s death, Niënor committed suicide. With nothing left, Túrin used Gurthang to take his own life.
What was Túrin Turambar’s legacy?
Túrin’s tale, as miserable as it is, established him as one of the mightiest mortals who ever lived. After his tragic death, many view Túrin as a King in the Mountain. He’s a folk anti-hero, prophesied to return in the final battle against Morgoth. Mandos, the Valar tasked with judging the spirits of the dead, believed a reincarnation of Túrin Turambar would join the other Ainur in the mythical Final Battle. He is to drive Gurthang into Morgoth’s eternal heart, claiming vengeance for the curse that ruined his family. Another prophecy laid forth by a human seer stated that Túrin would slay another dragon in the War of Wrath. Túrin became a legendary figure, and scholars still debate whether his arrogance caused his fate.
Túrin Turambar might be the most tragic figure in Tolkien’s Legendarium. The vicious cycle of supporting a lost cause, achieving heroic feats, accidentally killing an innocent person, and leaving his previous good works behind is more miserable than any tragic death. His curse was to survive constant failures and humiliations, to strive for good in a world turned against him. Túrin Turambar did what he could to inspire and foster heroism, and even under the power of Morgoth, nothing could stamp out his drive for what was right.