This is an article about Morwen, wife of Húrin. For the wife of Thengel, see: Morwen Steelsheen.

Morwen (F.A. c.470–501) is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. Morwen is referred to as incredibly beautiful, only surpassed by the Elf Lúthien Tinúviel. Her name is Sindarin for Dark Maiden, but because of her beauty she was often called Eledhwen (Elfsheen).A more literal translation would be "Elf Maiden". Morwen was darkhaired and spoke little, traits she passed on to her children.

She was a daughter of Baragund of the House of Bëor, and she married Húrin of the House of Marach in F.A. 462. They had three children: Túrin (F.A. 464), Urwen (often called Lalaith (laughter), F.A. 466) and later Nienor (F.A. 473). Urwen died in F.A. 469, much to the grief of her brother.

After the Nirnaeth Arnoediad broke out in 473 Húrin was captured by Morgoth, and Hithlum was invaded by Easterlings. Morwen, pregnant with Nienor, resisted the new Easterling lords that took over Húrin's land, and she sent Túrin away to Doriath and the court of King Thingol to safe him from a life of servitude. None of the Easterlings dared take Morwen's home for they believed she was a witch and in league with Elves, although in fact she had no such power. In 494, when Nienor was eleven, Morwen went to Doriath looking for Túrin, followed in secret by her daughter. This journey was made possible because of the Mormegil, who had cleared the roads. At the time Morwen was not aware this was really Túrin, who had fled Doriath. After finding out Túrin was no longer in Doriath and might have died in the fall of Nargothrond. mother and daughter went out to look for Túrin. They were trapped by Glaurung, who put a spell of amnesia on Nienor, and Morwen disappeared into the wilderness for many years.

After the tragic deaths of Túrin and Nienor in F.A. 501, and the slaying of Glaurung, Morwen reappeared in Brethil at Túrin and Nienor's grave. There she was found by a recently released and broken Húrin. Morwen died shortly after. It was her apparent death through neglect that set Húrin against the people of Brethil, and which led to their destruction.As recounted in the Wanderings of Húrin, a group of texts which form the continuation of the Narn.

Quotations

Morwen to Túrin:

Notes and references

Another Morwen can be found in the Lord of the Rings movies directed by Peter Jackson; see this article for details.

Middle-earth Edain | Characters in The Silmarillion