elennalore

Part 2

The Bound God: Loki’s similarities with Melkor

 

This post includes personal and fannish interpretations on the characters. CW for mentions of violence and torture (as described in their canon/myth – their fates are not nice).

In the Silmarillion, Melkor is said to be the mightiest of the Ainur, but his spiritual brother Manwë Súlimo is the one who becomes the High King of Arda. Loki, too, has an influential blood-brother in Odin Allfather, King of the Æsir. Like Manwë Súlimo, Odin is pictured as a ruling figure, sitting on a high seat where he can watch the entire world. Odin’s companions are his two ravens and wolves; while ravens work for Odin, Manwë has his eagles. Interestingly, Odin’s hall is called Valaskjálf. In Tolkien’s legendarium, a Vala mean a being similar to the Æsir in Norse mythology. (On the contrary, Odin’s famous byname Allfather has been given to the creator god Eru Ilúvatar in Tolkien’s legendarium; Ilúvatar means Allfather.) Relationship between Loki and Odin is rather complicated, just like the relationship between Melkor and Manwë. It’s clear that both Manwë and Odin care about their brother, but in the end, both of them end up using their power over their renegade brother, imprisoning them.

Already in the beginning, Melkor’s behaviour is very individualistic. Before the creation of the universe, he often wanders alone in void places, seeking the Imperishable Flame. It is said that he had a desire to create things of his own, and he was impatient. During the creation process, which is made by music, he makes music that is not harmonious with others, creating discord.

Loki can be seen as a Trickster god who is a boundary-crosser and breaks both physical and societal rules. Also, Melkor, going where no one else goes and disobeying the rules during the Music of Ainur, can be seen as a Trickster figure. Tricksters, like Loki, are often known to create disruptions that cause change. Melkor’s discord is a disruption to Eru’s plans, causing changes in the great plan. Still, it can be said that both Loki and Melkor’s influence is needed to prevent stagnation.

Odin gives Loki a place in Asgard, and Manwë allows Melkor to enter Eä. Neither of them is fully trusted, however. In Melkor’s case, he becomes openly antagonistic earlier; Loki stays with the Æsir and helps them (also plays tricks on them) longer before the eventual rift. Melkor continues to cause disruptions in the advanced creation of the world: he meddles in all that is done, and he is said to kindle great fires. In Asgard, Loki’s help is essential in creating protective walls around the place and giving the Æsir their most important weapons. Because of their actions, both Melkor and Loki are sometimes viewed as linked to chaos, although I personally see them rather linked to disruptions and change. But I agree there’s a certain Surtr-like chaos element in Melkor (Surtr is a jötunn connected to flames and chaos).

Soon after, Melkor builds his first underground fortress Utumno, and later, Angband. These places are connected with fire and volcanos, and also earthquakes. Many people connect Loki with fire even though there’s actually no mention of this in the Eddic sources. I’m going to return to this connection to transformative fire in the next part where I’ll discuss Mairon and Loki. In the end, when Loki is imprisoned underground, he is causing earthquakes with his movements. Melkor’s presence in a place creates volcanic eruptions.

Melkor causes universal destruction by destroying first the Two Lamps (the main source of light in the world), and later, the Two Trees. The destruction Loki causes is more mischievous or opportunistic, but he is also capable of causing a universal crisis, for example with his involvement in the capture of Idunn, the goddess of youth.

Like Loki, Melkor appears also as a thief. The theft of the Silmarils is a major event in the Silmarillion. At this time, Melkor is allied with Ungoliant, a monster in spider form. Loki is associated with spiders in shared personal gnosis, and eight-legged creatures in general.

One of Loki’s bynames is “Father of Monsters”. Loki is indeed a father of a couple of monstruous beings, and in one Eddic poem it’s said that Loki gave birth to the monsters. Melkor is also surrounded by monstruous beings. He creates Orcs and dragons. Balrogs that serve him might have been different kind of Ainur before Melkor’s influence changed them.

One of the famous myths about Loki is Loki’s quarrel where he goes to a feast where all the gods and some elves are celebrating and starts a quarrel by telling uncomfortable truths and basically irritating everyone present. Melkor, while in Valinor, causes unrest by telling lies or half-truths and makes Fëanor quarrel with his brother, causing a family feud.

But it’s in the eventual fate of both Melkor and Loki where their similarities are shown in an especially powerful way. In the end, The Æsir capture Loki and take him to an underground cave, bind him on a rock with the entrails of his own son and put a poison-dripping snake over him. There Loki writhes in torment until the end of the world, Ragnarök, when he becomes free and leads a monstruous army in the last battle against the Æsir. Melkor is similarly captured and imprisoned by the Valar and bound with the chain Angainor. His very own crown is made into a collar to bind him, keeping him in a painful position. Loki is cast underground, and Melkor is cast in the Void. But there’s a prophecy that Melkor will return one day and attack Arda, and that will be the last battle of the world.

-       Next part: The Cunning God: Loki’s similarities with Mairon