In a letter to Peter Hastings (which was actually never sent), J.R.R. Tolkien writes that
"Free Will is derivative... in order that it may exist, it is necessary that the Author should
guarantee it" (Carpenter 195). By this, Tolkien means that free will is a gift derived from and
given by the Author or Creator of beings. While Tolkien often changed his mind about concepts
and sometimes contradicted something he had written earlier in a later writing, this idea of his
regarding free will is fairly consistent with his writings. Despite instances in Tolkien's writings
that seems to be caused by "doom," "fate," or a "curse," Tolkien consistently portrays his
characters as having free will; moreover, it is the characters' choices, made with that free will,
that lead to their fates or dooms, and often to the fates or dooms of others.
With regards to the "Author" mentioned in the quote above, Tolkien presents his
character Ilúvatar as the Author and Creator of the world and writes that Ilúvatar willed that Men
"should have a virtue to shape their life, amid the powers and chances of the world" (Silmarillion
35). Here, Tolkien clearly shows that Ilúvatar has created Men with free will so that their own
actions can govern their lives. By taking a detailed look at two of Tolkien's characters from his
writings, the Man Túrin and the Hobbit Frodo, a greater understanding can be gained of the ways
in which these individuals exert free will in situations in their lives and how their choices then
affect the events that shape their lives, for good or for ill.
The Tale of Túrin Turambar
An exploration of the story of Túrin Turambar will shed much light on this topic. Túrin's
father Húrin is taken captive during a battle and brought to Morgoth, who supposedly places a
curse upon him and his family. Morgoth tells Húrin:
, "The shadow of my thought shall lie upon them wherever they go, and my hate shall
pursue them to the ends of the world... upon all whom you love my thought shall weigh
as a cloud of Doom, and it shall bring them down into darkness and despair. Wherever
they go, evil shall arise. Whenever they speak, their words shall bring ill counsel.
Whatsoever they do shall turn against them. They shall die without hope, cursing both
life and death.. within [the Circles of the World] they shall not escape me, until they enter
into Nothing" (Children of Húrin 63–65).
Here, Morgoth certainly expresses his hatred for Húrin and his family and his desire to see them
come to harm, but Tolkien does not make clear whether this is an actual curse that Morgoth has
the authority and ability to case or whether he merely has malicious intent. When Húrin accuses
Morgoth of lying, Morgoth replies that Húrin will soon see and confess that he is not lying
(Children of Húrin 65); however, in this same conversation, Morgoth also refers to himself as the
"Master of the fates of Arda" and says that he made the world. Both of these statements are
untrue, for Ilúvatar is the one who made Arda and is master of its fate; therefore, even if Morgoth
did explicitly claim to be cursing Húrin and his kin, his word could not be trusted.
Throughout the tale, Morgoth proactively causes evil to befall Húrin's family: his wife
Morwen, son Túrin, and (though she was not born at the time of his conversation with Morgoth)
daughter Niënor. Morgoth's corrupted Men, the Easterlings, begin raiding Túrin's homeland,
destroying home, making slaves out of the men, and even forcing some of the women (including
Túrin's kinswoman, Aerin) to marry them (Children of Húrin 66–69). As a result of these attacks,
Morwen makes the decision to send Túrin to Doriath and ask King Thingol of the Elves to care
for him, although she and her unborn daughter remain behind (Children of Húrin 70). Several
years later, once Túrin has left Doriath, spent time living in the wild, and come to dwell in
"Free Will is derivative... in order that it may exist, it is necessary that the Author should
guarantee it" (Carpenter 195). By this, Tolkien means that free will is a gift derived from and
given by the Author or Creator of beings. While Tolkien often changed his mind about concepts
and sometimes contradicted something he had written earlier in a later writing, this idea of his
regarding free will is fairly consistent with his writings. Despite instances in Tolkien's writings
that seems to be caused by "doom," "fate," or a "curse," Tolkien consistently portrays his
characters as having free will; moreover, it is the characters' choices, made with that free will,
that lead to their fates or dooms, and often to the fates or dooms of others.
With regards to the "Author" mentioned in the quote above, Tolkien presents his
character Ilúvatar as the Author and Creator of the world and writes that Ilúvatar willed that Men
"should have a virtue to shape their life, amid the powers and chances of the world" (Silmarillion
35). Here, Tolkien clearly shows that Ilúvatar has created Men with free will so that their own
actions can govern their lives. By taking a detailed look at two of Tolkien's characters from his
writings, the Man Túrin and the Hobbit Frodo, a greater understanding can be gained of the ways
in which these individuals exert free will in situations in their lives and how their choices then
affect the events that shape their lives, for good or for ill.
The Tale of Túrin Turambar
An exploration of the story of Túrin Turambar will shed much light on this topic. Túrin's
father Húrin is taken captive during a battle and brought to Morgoth, who supposedly places a
curse upon him and his family. Morgoth tells Húrin:
, "The shadow of my thought shall lie upon them wherever they go, and my hate shall
pursue them to the ends of the world... upon all whom you love my thought shall weigh
as a cloud of Doom, and it shall bring them down into darkness and despair. Wherever
they go, evil shall arise. Whenever they speak, their words shall bring ill counsel.
Whatsoever they do shall turn against them. They shall die without hope, cursing both
life and death.. within [the Circles of the World] they shall not escape me, until they enter
into Nothing" (Children of Húrin 63–65).
Here, Morgoth certainly expresses his hatred for Húrin and his family and his desire to see them
come to harm, but Tolkien does not make clear whether this is an actual curse that Morgoth has
the authority and ability to case or whether he merely has malicious intent. When Húrin accuses
Morgoth of lying, Morgoth replies that Húrin will soon see and confess that he is not lying
(Children of Húrin 65); however, in this same conversation, Morgoth also refers to himself as the
"Master of the fates of Arda" and says that he made the world. Both of these statements are
untrue, for Ilúvatar is the one who made Arda and is master of its fate; therefore, even if Morgoth
did explicitly claim to be cursing Húrin and his kin, his word could not be trusted.
Throughout the tale, Morgoth proactively causes evil to befall Húrin's family: his wife
Morwen, son Túrin, and (though she was not born at the time of his conversation with Morgoth)
daughter Niënor. Morgoth's corrupted Men, the Easterlings, begin raiding Túrin's homeland,
destroying home, making slaves out of the men, and even forcing some of the women (including
Túrin's kinswoman, Aerin) to marry them (Children of Húrin 66–69). As a result of these attacks,
Morwen makes the decision to send Túrin to Doriath and ask King Thingol of the Elves to care
for him, although she and her unborn daughter remain behind (Children of Húrin 70). Several
years later, once Túrin has left Doriath, spent time living in the wild, and come to dwell in
