Morwen Character Analysis in The Silmarillion

Morwen, originally from the house of Bëor, falls victim to Melkor’s curse of misfortune on her husband Húrin and their children Túrin and Nienor. She stubbornly refuses to leave Dor-lómin even when it’s invaded, and only leaves when Nienor is an adult. Shortly after, while searching for Túrin, she gets lost in a fog created by Glaurung and isn’t seen again until she meets Húrin at the grave of their children in Brethil. She dies there and Húrin buries her on the other side of Túrin and Nienor’s tombstone.

Morwen Character Timeline in The Silmarillion

The timeline below shows where the character Morwen appears in The Silmarillion. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Morwen, Húrin’s wife, has a son, Túrin, the year that Beren and Lúthien meet. At the... (full context)

Morwen gives birth to a daughter, Nienor, and that same year Thingol takes Túrin in and... (full context)

...advises that they stay in their fortress to wait it out. At the same time, Morwen and Nienor flee to Doriath. (full context)

Túrin attacks Glaurung, who jumps back and offers Túrin his freedom to go and find Morwen and Nienor, telling him there won’t be time to save them if he stops to... (full context)

When Túrin arrives at Dor-lómin, he learns from Morwen’s servant that she and Nienor went to Doriath. Realizing Glaurung tricked him, Túrin becomes enraged... (full context)

...Túrin. Rumor says that he was either killed or is still a captive of Glaurung. Morwen leaves Doriath to find Túrin and Nienor secretly follows her. Though Thingol sends guards after... (full context)

...returns to tell Thingol and Melian what happened, then leaves Doriath again to search for Morwen and Nienor. (full context)

...help kill Glaurung. Túrin begs for news of his family in Doriath. Mablung explains that Morwen was lost and Nienor lost her memory before running away, and Túrin realizes that Glaurung... (full context)

Húrin, believing he hears Morwen’s voice, travels to Brethil and visits the gravestone of his children. Morwen, now old and... (full context)