The Silmarillion

by

J.R.R. Tolkien

Lúthien Character Analysis

Lúthien is the daughter of Thingol and Melian who falls in love with the mortal man Beren. Despite her father’s disapproval, she escapes captivity enforced by both Thingol and Celegorm, insistent on helping Beren. Resourceful and powerful, she rescues Beren from Sauron with the help of the hound Huan and refuses to be left behind for her own protection. Lúthien is a famous beauty and an excellent singer; her voice puts Melkor to sleep, allowing Beren to steal a Silmaril and complete the quest Thingol assigned him. When Beren is killed soon after, Lúthien’s spirit travels to the Houses of the Dead where she sings a tragic song and petitions the Vala Mandos for Beren’s return. By loving Beren, Lúthien becomes entangled in his doom—both his fate to complete the quest for the Silmaril and his fate, as a mortal, to die. Still, through the Valar, Ilúvatar allows her to freely choose to return with Beren to Middle-earth and become mortal. When the Silmaril returns to her possession after Thingol’s death, the sons of Fëanor don’t dare to attack her for it. She doesn’t become caught in the Noldor’s conflict over it or become overwhelmed by greed as her father does, but it’s possible that carrying the Silmaril hastens her natural death.

Lúthien Quotes in The Silmarillion

The The Silmarillion quotes below are all either spoken by Lúthien or refer to Lúthien. 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:
Unity vs. Division Theme Icon
).
Chapter 19 Quotes

Farewell sweet earth and northern sky
for ever blest, since here did lie
and here with lissome limbs did run
beneath the Moon, beneath the Sun,
Lúthien Tinúviel
more fair than mortal tongue can tell.
Though all to ruin fell the world
and were dissolved and backward hurled
unmade into the old abyss,
yet were its making good, for this—
the dusk, the dawn, the earth, the sea—
that Lúthien for a time should be.

Related Characters: Beren (speaker), Ilúvatar, Melkor/Morgoth, Lúthien
Related Symbols: Light, The Silmarils
Page Number: 178
Explanation and Analysis:

Then Morgoth looking upon her beauty conceived in his thought an evil lust, and a design more dark than any that had yet come into his heart since he fled from Valinor. Thus he was beguiled by his own malice, for he watched her, leaving her free for a while, and taking secret pleasure in his thought. Then suddenly she eluded his sight, and out of the shadows began a song of such surpassing loveliness, and of such blinding power, that he listened perforce; and a blindness came upon him, as his eyes roamed to and fro, seeking her.

Related Characters: Melkor/Morgoth, Sauron, Lúthien, Beren, Finrod Felagund, Melian
Related Symbols: Darkness , The Silmarils
Page Number: 180
Explanation and Analysis:

This doom she chose, forsaking the Blessed Realm, and putting aside all claim to kinship with those that dwell there; that thus whatever grief might lie in wait, the fates of Beren and Lúthien might be joined, and their paths lead together beyond the confines of the world. So it was that alone of the Eldalië she has died indeed, and left the world long ago. Yet in her choice the Two Kindreds have been joined; and she is the forerunner of many in whom the Eldar see yet, though all the world is changed, the likeness of Lúthien the beloved, whom they have lost.

Related Characters: Ilúvatar, Lúthien, Beren, Námo/Mandos
Page Number: 187
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 22 Quotes

But Thingol perceived their hearts, and saw well that desiring the Silmaril they sought but a pretext and fair cloak of their true intent; and in his wrath and pride he gave no heed to his peril but spoke to them in scorn, saying: ‘How do ye of uncouth race dare to demand aught of me, Elu Thingol, Lord of Beleriand, whole life began by the waters of Cuiviénen years uncounted ere the fathers of the stunted people awoke?’

Then the lust of the Dwarves was kindled to rage by the words of the King; and they rose up about him, and laid hands on him, and slew him as he stood.

Related Characters: Elwë/Thingol (speaker), Melkor/Morgoth, Lúthien, Beren
Related Symbols: The Silmarils
Page Number: 233
Explanation and Analysis:
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Lúthien Quotes in The Silmarillion

The The Silmarillion quotes below are all either spoken by Lúthien or refer to Lúthien. 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:
Unity vs. Division Theme Icon
).
Chapter 19 Quotes

Farewell sweet earth and northern sky
for ever blest, since here did lie
and here with lissome limbs did run
beneath the Moon, beneath the Sun,
Lúthien Tinúviel
more fair than mortal tongue can tell.
Though all to ruin fell the world
and were dissolved and backward hurled
unmade into the old abyss,
yet were its making good, for this—
the dusk, the dawn, the earth, the sea—
that Lúthien for a time should be.

Related Characters: Beren (speaker), Ilúvatar, Melkor/Morgoth, Lúthien
Related Symbols: Light, The Silmarils
Page Number: 178
Explanation and Analysis:

Then Morgoth looking upon her beauty conceived in his thought an evil lust, and a design more dark than any that had yet come into his heart since he fled from Valinor. Thus he was beguiled by his own malice, for he watched her, leaving her free for a while, and taking secret pleasure in his thought. Then suddenly she eluded his sight, and out of the shadows began a song of such surpassing loveliness, and of such blinding power, that he listened perforce; and a blindness came upon him, as his eyes roamed to and fro, seeking her.

Related Characters: Melkor/Morgoth, Sauron, Lúthien, Beren, Finrod Felagund, Melian
Related Symbols: Darkness , The Silmarils
Page Number: 180
Explanation and Analysis:

This doom she chose, forsaking the Blessed Realm, and putting aside all claim to kinship with those that dwell there; that thus whatever grief might lie in wait, the fates of Beren and Lúthien might be joined, and their paths lead together beyond the confines of the world. So it was that alone of the Eldalië she has died indeed, and left the world long ago. Yet in her choice the Two Kindreds have been joined; and she is the forerunner of many in whom the Eldar see yet, though all the world is changed, the likeness of Lúthien the beloved, whom they have lost.

Related Characters: Ilúvatar, Lúthien, Beren, Námo/Mandos
Page Number: 187
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 22 Quotes

But Thingol perceived their hearts, and saw well that desiring the Silmaril they sought but a pretext and fair cloak of their true intent; and in his wrath and pride he gave no heed to his peril but spoke to them in scorn, saying: ‘How do ye of uncouth race dare to demand aught of me, Elu Thingol, Lord of Beleriand, whole life began by the waters of Cuiviénen years uncounted ere the fathers of the stunted people awoke?’

Then the lust of the Dwarves was kindled to rage by the words of the King; and they rose up about him, and laid hands on him, and slew him as he stood.

Related Characters: Elwë/Thingol (speaker), Melkor/Morgoth, Lúthien, Beren
Related Symbols: The Silmarils
Page Number: 233
Explanation and Analysis: