Mîm

From Tolkien Gateway
Mîm
Dwarf
Alarie - Mim.jpg
"Mim" by Alarie
Biographical Information
PositionChieftain of the Petty-dwarves
LocationHouse of Ransom
LanguageKhuzdul
BirthBefore F.A. 302[1]
DeathF.A. 502
Nargothrond
Family
HousePetty-dwarves
ChildrenIbun and Khîm
Physical Description
GenderMale
GalleryImages of Mîm
"For Mîm came of Dwarves that were banished in ancient days from the great Dwarf-cities of the east, and long before the return of Morgoth they wandered westward into Beleriand."
Quenta Silmarillion, "Of Túrin Turambar"

Mîm was one of the last Petty-dwarves. He took Túrin and the Gaurwaith into his house in Amon Rûdh in exchange for his life.

History[edit | edit source]

Mîm was the chieftain of the Petty-dwarves who first aided Finrod Felagund in his building of Nargothrond. However, they were expelled after Mîm attempted to murder Felagund in his sleep.[2]

Mîm Pleads For His Life by Ted Nasmith

Later in life, Mîm lived with his two sons at Amon Rûdh in middle Beleriand, where he kept a secret treasury.

During Túrin's time with the Outlaws, Mîm and sons were seen as they snuck past the outlaws carrying heavy sacks. Mîm was captured, and arrows were shot at his sons Ibun and Khîm. In exchange for his life, Mîm was forced to lead the outlaws to his secret halls in Amon Rûdh. There, it turned out Khîm had been killed by an arrow, and Túrin repenting offered his service to Mîm. For this reason Mîm tolerated the outlaws, and eventually even took a liking to Túrin.[3]

When Beleg Cúthalion arrived at Amon Rûdh, Mîm was angry: he hated Elves, especially the Sindar. Nevertheless he had to tolerate the Elf in his halls.[3] After he betrayed Amon Rûdh to Morgoth under the promise that Túrin would not be harmed, Mîm somehow escaped, but it seems Ibun was killed by Orcs.[4] In F.A. 499, Mîm made his way to Nargothrond after Túrin had killed Glaurung, and he took the treasure for his own.[5]

In 502,[5] Húrin Thalion, who had seen all that had happened to Túrin with Morgoth's eyes, came across Mîm in Nargothrond, and killed him, deeming him partially responsible for Túrin's fate. With his dying words Mîm cursed the treasure. After this, Húrin brought the Nauglamír to Doriath, which directly led to the Second Kinslaying and the death of Thingol.[6]

Genealogy[edit | edit source]

 
 
MÎM
d. F.A. 502
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ibun
b. F.A.
 
Khîm
d. F.A. 486


Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]

In earlier versions of the legendarium, Mîm was a much more evil character, who actively betrayed Túrin.[7] But as Dwarves gradually changed in Tolkien's writings from evil Orc-like beings to the Dwarves they later became, Mîm's character was changed, and in the final texts he is no longer a true villain, but almost a tragic character in his own right.

Tolkien wrote a poem and short narrative titled The Complaint of Mîm the Dwarf, but it was not dated, so it is unknown where it should be placed in the legendarium. There it is said that Mîm used to live near Tarn Aeluin in Dorthonion, where he had made his first work of art there during his youth: a flower with dew on it. In the same text, it is also said that a group of people stole all his belongings.[8] As such, the aging and bitter Mîm (said to be at least 200 years old) resides in a cave in a mountain, far from any civilization. He was still able to create works of decent craftmanship, but he had lost his former skill. He struggled with not being able to forgive; the act of forgiving seemed impossible to him, although this would have perhaps enabled him to restore some of his former skill.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Christina Scull, Wayne G. Hammond, The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide Revised and Enlarged Edition (2017), entry "The Complaint of Mîm the Dwarf"
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, Carl F. Hostetter (ed.), The Nature of Middle-earth, "Part Three. The World, its Lands, and its Inhabitants", p. 305
  3. 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Children of Húrin, "Of Mîm the Dwarf"
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Children of Húrin, "The Land of Bow and Helm"
  5. 5.0 5.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Three. The Wanderings of Húrin and Other Writings not forming part of the Quenta Silmarillion: I. The Wanderings of Húrin", pp. 257-258
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Ruin of Doriath"
  7. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Children of Húrin, "The Land of Bow and Helm", footnote, p. 148
  8. Klett- Cotta: Das erste Jahrzehnt 1977-1987: Ein Almanach, "Mîms Klage", pp. 302 - 5