The elves and the dwarves of Middle-earth infamous do not get along, and their The Lord of the Rings Feud goes all the way back to the beginning. Are the hubs’ reservations over”Great nation“Or the mutual distrust between elves and men, it is indeed rare for the races of Middle-earth to enjoy friendly and regular cooperation. Tolerant acceptance is usually the best that can be hoped for in Tolkien’s world, and as long as two races are Not chasing each other with pointed objects, diplomatic relations are generally considered good.
Nevertheless, the elves and dwarves share a storied and personal rivalry The Lord of the Rings‘ Timeline. The language between Legolas and Gimli when they first meet in Rivendell in The Fellowship of the Ring is poisonous in tone, while Celebrimbor in The rings of power Season 2, Episode 5 proclaims while unveiling the doors of Durin, “Dwarves and elves work together. It was thought that it was impossible.” No adaptation digs into the specifics of why elves and dwarves don’t like each other, but Tolkien’s extensive writings in The Silmarillion And further chronicle the whole sorry situation.
The elves and dwarves fell out over Jewels during the First Age
It all started because of a necklace…
The biggest flashpoint between elves and dwarves occurred during Middle-earth’s First Age and the time of the Silmarils in The Lord of the Rings Study. Initially, dwarves and elves got along wellMore or less, sharing in their mutual appreciation of craftsmanship and shiny things. Both sides prospered from the trade of resources and collaboration of ideas, but it was the spirit of collaboration that prompted Thingol, an elf-king ruling over Doriath in Beleriand, to call on the dwarves’ expertise for a very special project.
The tension that can be felt between Legolas and Gimli in The Lord of the Rings Largely derives from lingering upset over the Nauglamir.
Thingol asked the dwarves craft a special piece of treasure reclaimed after the defeat of the dragon Glaurung, and the dwarves happily agreed. This piece was a necklace known as the Nauglamír, and Thingol was so impressed that he insisted on placing a Silmaril in the center. Unfortunately for Thingol, the Dwarves were quite impressed with their own work as well, and overcome with a desire to possess the glorious Silmaril-bearing Nauglamir they had created, decided to keep it for themselves. The enraged Tingol resorted to insults, calling the dwarves a “Uncooked race“, and bloodshed quickly followed.
Neither the Dwarves nor the Elves covered themselves in glory during the ensuing battles. The dwarves kill Thingolthen fanned the flames of war by lying to their comrades about the circumstances surrounding Tingal’s death, casting the rumor in a harsh light, as It is sometimes deserved. For their part, the elves reacted brutally to losing a Silmaril, and many dwarves died in the battle of Sarn Atrod and elsewhere.
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While the violence simmered down, the relationship between elves and dwarves never recovered, and the tension that can be felt between Legolas and Gimli in The Lord of the Ringsor between Elrond and King Durin III in The rings of powerLargely derived from lingering upset over the Nauglamir incident. Relations have improved in patches, however. as closed The rings of powerThe dwarves of Khazad-dûm worked alongside the elves of Eregion on projects like the Doors of Durin, and the two sides maintained a united front against Sauron’s forces, but the broad stance of both Middle-earth races remained unchanged.
The Elves and Dwarves’ feud continues Tolkien’s main themes of The Lord of the Rings
The Silmarils and the One Ring are both cautionary tales
The concepts of acquiring material wealth and seeking power, and greed becoming a morally corrupting force, are both themes that sit at the heart of The Lord of the Rings. In Tolkien’s best-known piece of Middle-earth fiction, it is Sauron’s One Ring that threatens to corrupt the races of Middle-earth, tempting the weak-minded with its simplistic beauty and promise of magical potency.
Both races benefited from working together in the beginning, but Thingol’s bling obsession and the Dwarves’ pride overcame them.
The story of the Ring is echoed throughout Arda’s history, as the Silmarils played a very similar role during the First Age. Fëanor’s creations pushed the elves to turn against each otherdrew the gaze of Morgoth, and caused untold suffering to all who beheld them. Although not as innately powerful as the One Ring, both stories broadly carry the message that the desire for a jewel can cause an honest heart.
The elves and dwarves hating each other is an extension of that. Both races benefited from working together in the beginning, but Thingol’s bling obsession and the Dwarves’ pride took over, ruining a good thing. Dwarf history is littered with such examples, as Mining Khazad-dûm too deep for mithril awakened the Balrog What caused all the destruction. Elves are little better, having squabbled and fought for centuries over the Silmarils. In Middle-earth, no one is more powerful or influential than a researcher with an eye for beauty.
The real reason why elves and dwarves don’t get along goes back even further
Elves and dwarves are destined to strengthen each other
The Nauglamir chapter in Middle-earth history may have provided the spark, however The Silmarillion suggests Elves and dwarves are predetermined to be his natural enemies At the beginning of creation. The elves, along with humans, were the design of Middle-earth’s god, Eru Iluvatar, but the dwarves were brought into being by Aulë of the Valar without Eru’s permission. While Eru relented and allowed the dwarves to exist, he insisted that their awakening be delayed until after that of the elves.
From the dwarves’ point of view, Thingol’s jibes confirmed existing suspicions that the elves looked down on them not only literally, but figuratively as well.
This arrangement created a very clear hierarchy between elves and dwarves, with the latter placed firmly below their taller, less hairy counterparts. The precedent set by Eru bled into the respective attitudes of both races. Some elves are guilty of looking down on the other peoples in Middle-earthAs proved by Tingol’s “Uncooked race” Commentary. The proud dwarves, meanwhile, were acutely aware of their place in the natural order of Middle-earth, which only made them more determined to stand their ground.
When Thingale demanded that the dwarves hand over the Nauglamira amidst throwing various insults, the stage was already set for a long-lasting grudge between the races. From the elf perspective, the dwarves attempting to steal a Silmaril could be viewed as proof that they are an inferior race not to be trusted. Celebrimbor refers to this in The rings of power Season 2 when he makes a joke about checking Narvi’s pockets for swiped gems. From the dwarves’ point of view, Thingol’s jibes, along with his demand to hand over a necklace crafted by dwarven hands, confirmed existing suspicions that the elves looked down on them not only literally, but figuratively as well.
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Neither side can truly claim to hold the moral high ground, and as is so often the way in Middle-earth history, the only winners are those who seek to do evil. Sauron would have found conquering Middle-earth much more difficult The Lord of the Rings‘ Second Age timeline if the elves and dwarves are firmly allied all the way through.