Fëanor's Death, Convenient?

[Maedhros]

Then he died; but he had neither burial nor tomb, for so fiery was his spirit that as it sped his body fell to ash, and was borne away like smoke; and his likeness has never again appeared in Arda, neither has his spirit left the halls of Mandos. Thus ended the mightiest of the Noldor, of whose deeds came both their greatest renown and their most grievous woe.
Do you think that his death was better for the Noldor in general because it allowed for the healing of the houses of Fëanor and Fingolfin by the actions of Fingon and Maedhros?
Or the might of Fëanor would have helped the Noldor further against their war with Morgoth? Remember, Fëanor would have not accepted well the position of Thingol as the Ruler of Beleriand as Fingolfin did.
From the War of the Jewels: The Gray Annals
Thirdly: because after the death of Fëanor the overlordship of the Exiles (as shall be recounted) passed to Fingolfin, and he being of other mood than Fëanor acknowledged the high-kingship of Thingol and Menegroth, being indeed greatly in awe of that king, mightiest of the Eldar save Fëanor only, and of Melian no less.
Che pensi tu?

[Finrod Felagund]

This could be fun...
Convenient? Probably tidied things up a bit but since we are playing the "What if Game",

Thingol was Finwe's equal so technically, he had seniority over Feanor... Would Feanor have seen Thingol as ruler, maybe not, would Fingolfin and Co. seen Feanor as King of the Noldor, he had seniority but I doubt they would have willingly followed him.

Feanor was more powerful than anyone in Middle Earth except Melian, and that is debateable.
He would have beaten Sauron and maybe given Morgoth a better run for his money than Fingolfin.
Feanor's knowledge an skill of smithcraft would have helped too.
If he doesn't burn the ships and waits for everbody else, Cirdan Thingol and Feanor could have Crushed Morgoth's forces, but alas that would require rational thinking, foresight, and humility.

Better off with out him... probably b/c he was not rational nor humble and the Elves would have not united under him, but it would have made just as interesting a story if he'd survived

What would have happend to ME if the Noldor don't show up...
Morgoth wins

[Maedhros]

Better off with out him... probably b/c he was not rational nor humble and the Elves would have not united under him, but it would have made just as interesting a story if he'd survived
Remember that the elves didn't unite themselves. The Noldor almost did, but they were always differences between the princes.
If he doesn't burn the ships and waits for everbody else, Cirdan Thingol and Feanor could have Crushed Morgoth's forces, but alas that would require rational thinking, foresight, and humility.
You forget the Kinslaying in Alqualondë. And the fact that Thingol was jealous of the new princes of the west that came to Beleriand.

[Finrod Felagund]

yeah, after I wrote the ship burning part, I realized you would have to back up even further to prevent the bad blood.

Something just occured to me though, this contradicts what I said ealier, but: Feanor convinced the Noldor to leave what would basically be Paradise, He might have had the power and skills to unite all the Elves against Morgoth.

BTW, I like the subjects you come up with, no fluff, stimulating and usually based on pre LOTR stuff. Keep them coming.

[Lady Melody]

Well, his death brought A LOT of trouble, as much as his life. The kinslaying is grieveous indeed, but it could've mended, it could've ended up worst.

Feanor's own hands created the Silmarils, which brought both doom and blessing to the Middle-Earth. He himself, was engulfed by the greed to keep them for himself...

I dunno, we're not God (Thank Goodness!) and I'm no Tolkien... things are best left alone... Even little changes can affect big ones...

[Tar-Palantír]

He himself, was engulfed by the greed to keep them for himself...

I don't really agree with you here, I think that the main reason for the anger of Fëanor would be the murder of his father.
Had only the Silmarils been stolen things would have gone very diffrent indeed! Probably even the Valar would help get the Silmarils back if Fëanor had been able to keep his head cold.

Well, it's all just "what if?" so there's no real bother ;)

[MithrandirTheWhite]

had feanor ruled the elves in beleriand, what would he have done with the coming of men, as thingol saw it as a threat. Feanor probably wouldn't have let them go over ered luin

just saying

[Mirkgirl]

that's an interesting question... feanor is not thingol tho... do we really have any reason to say that Feanor would have forbiden men to go over ered luin (save the eternal - Feanor.. he bad ;))

Personally I think he'd be happy to find any new allies...
Originally posted by Tar-Palantír
Probably even the Valar would help get the Silmarils back if Fëanor had been able to keep his head cold.
Actually the Valar should have helped to get the Silmarils back to Feanor, they were his and they were stolen because they overtrusted Melkor and became unwary....

[Gwaihir]

I do wish that the Valar could have been more involved in Middle Earth, even from the beginning. They might have been able to stop Morgoth before he became too great.

[Tar-Palantír]

Actually the Valar should have helped to get the Silmarils back to Feanor, they were his and they were stolen because they overtrusted Melkor and became unwary....

Thats just about what I meant, and didn't it say in the Silmarillion that whenever the Ainur sought to control the Children of Ilúvatar they would only cause more grief.
Fëanor was perhaps the strongest evidence of this?

[Mirkgirl]

My sentiments exactly, Pal... most people tend to look at Feanor as a nutbag and nothing deeper behind his actions... but they tend to forget that the Valar weren't gods of elves(or men)... but just the embodiments of the powers of Arda...

[David D]

but they tend to forget that the Valar weren't gods of elves(or men)... but just the embodiments of the powers of Arda...

The Valar may not have been Gods of men, but they did have authority over them. Manwe was the king of Arda and therefore all elves, men and maia are ultimately under his rule.

The Valar were afraid to attack Morgoth, because of the damage that it would have caused. When they did decide to eventually wage war they destroyed Beleriand. Thus it wa not something they would decide to do lightly.

If Feanor had survived Iam sure that it would have causd both greater glory and sorrow to the Noldor. With the power he had I am certain that he would have wrecked terrible retribution on Mrgth'' forces. HOwever his feud with Fingolfin could have lead to a war betweem the two fractions.

On a side note I doubt that any elf could have done better against Morgoth since Fingolfin was the strongest and best fight among all the elves though Feanor was the more powerful.

[Gil Galad]

I fall in complete aggreement with David D here.
Manwe was overlord of all Arda so the Elves should have waited to see his plans to regain the Silmarils,instead of (was it pride, was it grief, was it rarshness that made them do it) going to a fruitless and unwinable war.even though great deeds were done by during this war, many fair Elves perished that would have otherwise lived long in bliss and created marvelous works and so for all the fruits it bore it may still be seen as fruitless.

there was near conflict between the two forces of the Noldor even without Feanor there, and it was only by the removal by Meadhros to the otherside of the lake that it was avoided, i doubt Feanor would have done that, he was King after all and he prob wudnt have given way to "useless baggage allong the road" as he refered to Fingolfins host at teh burniong of the ships. but then that was before they crossed the grinding ice, proving them mighty indeed, and before he seen morgoths fotress. so perhaps he would have repented seeing the strenght he forsook and the the power that would need to be overcome(hope that all makes sense i soemtimes rabble)

i think Fingolfin done as well as any might,save the great amongst the Ainur, have done against morgoth, unless of course morgoth feared FEanor more and would not face him, as this would have thrown his generals into doubt and his forces would have seen that he would not fac ethis Elf and yet he would send his lowly servants to fight him,they would be none to pleased. but if he had faced him Feanor would have fared worse then Fingolfin i think