Evil King?

[galadriel]

Thranduil.

-sigh-

Oh, Thranduil.

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Now, I, personally, have a major weakness for the Mirkwood King and I know I'm not alone, as is evidenced by the Thranduil.net website ), but in a lot of other fanfictions I read or online discussions I enter, people seem to think Thranduil is...well, evil. I'm not entirely sure why this is, though I imagine the largest contributing factor would be shutting the dwarves up in his prison in The Hobbit, but I still don't see a reason for why many people like to portray King Thranduil as a bad, or even abusive, father.

What do all of you think about dear ol' Legolas' pappy? Do you see him in a positive or negative light? Why?

[Aizreal]

Okay I'm going to add my two cents in.. I would see him in the negative light like it seems so many would as you know some of us girls have a hankering for the bad boys..
-shrugs-
I realize how idoitic it makes me sound but it is just honesty. To be honest you could have an Evil Ent and there would be someone out there going.. Hmmmmm break me off a piece of that, let me go join his topic.."

[Lady Arwen]

Click here.

If you read that, you get this idea that he likes shiney things, but not that he was evil.

;D Not evil, I say.

[Thranduil]

The woodland king and his people rebuilt esgaroth after the desolation brought by Smaug the dragon; an example of his not evilness.

His actions in The Hobbit must be put into context context.
Thranduil is a throw back from long ago; his people had fought Dwarves more than once, resulting in the destruction of Menegroth, the most beautiful elvin halls ever known in Middle Earth. The guilty Dwarves of Nogrod were largely destroyed at the end of the first age; Thranduil is only guilty of being misguided in his condemnation by association of all their kin, even those who had no hand in the attack.

He has weaknesses but he's not Evil.

Celeborn (even older in years) was not a friend of Dwarves either, until he met Gimli. Was / is he evil?

I'd be interested to see where the bad parenting idea comes from. I havn't read anything of Legolas' childhood.

"'Long will I tarry, ere I begin this war for gold...Let us hope still for something that will bring reconciliation'"
-- Thranduil -- The Hobbit Chapter XVII, "The Clouds Burst"

"Upon his tomb the Elvenking then laid Orcrist, the elvish sword that had been taken from Thorin in captivity."
-- Chapter XVIII, "The Return Journey"

it was largely a misunderstanding. It was the Dwarf having posession of an elf sword as much as anything that set the King off.

Thranduil is a goody

[lasslaer]

Yes I love Thranduil. I really don't understand why people think he is so bad. I mean who doesn't like shiny things? Tolkien plainly states that Thranduil is compassionate in the Hobbit when he ditched the treasure to help out Esgaroth. As for the dwarves, Elves don't like dwarves and Thranduil was trying to protect his people from those who he thought were trying to do them harm. I don't see why that is evil. Yes Thranduil is a just and kind king who just happens to like shiny jewels, but once again doesn't everyone like shiny things?

[curandir]

Gandalf always said the Woodland Realm was a place of good and friendly folk! I trust his words!

He condemned Thranduils treatment of the Dwarves but then they broke his law, held Elvish artifacts thought long lost(!); what would any King do, especuially one with a history of mistrusting little Beardy guys!

A simple misunderstanding that was all put right in the end and all prospered...

Thranduil was a friend of Gandalfs - who by and large, although friendly to Gollum; could not abide truly evil beings!

Thrandy = Goody QED


(I am obviously bias 'cos he pays my wages)

[Lady Arwen]

I actually think this would be something interesting to explore. Thrandy, what do you think?