Tolkien, Disability, and Brandir the Lame
Iâd like to preface this post by saying I donât have much experience writing about disability culture, or in disability studies in general. So if anyone with more knowledge/experience has anything to add, or comment on, by all means please do so.
I canât think of any characters with a mental disability in Middle Earth (at least, none that are described that way - such a thing could be pretty open to fan interpretation, of course.) There are, however, a fair amount of people with physical disabilities in Tolkienâs writing. In fact, I have a whole post dedicated to the many amputees of Middle Earth (it includes Beren, Gwindor, Frodo, Maedhros, Morgoth, Sador, and Sauron.) Beyond this group, the character that stands out most in my mind is Brandir the Lame, Chieftain of the House of Haleth.
As you can probably guess from his title (which I account mainly to the time period and Tolkien being even less versed in disability rights than I am), Brandir had a physical disability. Tolkien says that he was âlamed by a leg broken in a misadventure in childhood.â Because of this and his âgentle moodâ, Brandir focused more on plant and herb-lore than war. After Handir, his fatherâs, death he became Chieftain of the House of Haleth, and kept his people safe in an increasingly dangerous Beleriand through secrecy. His story became tragically entangled with Turinâs, when Brandir healed him and offered him a place with his people. Over time, Turin gained more and more influence with the House of Haleth, until (by the time Glaurung arrives), âhe now ordered things as he would, as if he were lord of Brethil, and no man heeded Brandir.â
When Turin plans to attack the dragon, there is an assembly of the men of Brethil, during which this conversation takes place:
Then Dorlas cried out: âHearken, Men of Brethil, it is now well seen that for the evil of our times the counsels of Brandir were vain. There is no escape by hiding. Will none of you take the place of the son of Handir, that the House of Haleth be not put to shame?â Thus Brandir, who sat indeed in the high-seat of the lord of the assembly, but unheeded, was scorned, and he was bitter to his heart; for Turambar did not rebuke Dorlas. But one Hunthor, Brandirâs kinsman, arose and said: âYou do evilly, Dorlas, to speak thus to the shame of your lord, whose limbs by ill hazard cannot do as his heart would. Beware lest the contrary be seen in you at some turn! And how can it be said that his counsels were vain, when they were never taken? You, his liege, have ever set them at naught. I say to you that Glaurung comes now to us, as to Nargothrond before, because our deeds have betrayed us, as he feared. But since this woe is now come, with your leave, son of Handir, I will go on behalf of Halethâs house.â
Then Turambar said: âThree is enough! You twain will I take. But, lord, I do not scorn you. See! We must go in great haste, and our task will need strong limbs. I deem that your place is with your people. For you are wise, and are a healer; and it may be that there will be great need to wisdom and healing ere long.â But these words, though fair spoken, did but embitter Brandir the more, and he said to Hunthor: âGo then but not with my leave. For a shadow lies on this man, and it will lead you to evil."Â
Brandir happened to witness Nienorâs death and Glaurungâs explanation of the curse heâd placed on her. So it fell to Brandir to tell Turin that his wife/sister was dead. Turin, of course, didnât respond well to the news, calling Brandir âlimping evilâ and âClub-footâ before killing him, and then going on to kill himself.
SOURCES: The Silmarillion, The Unfinished Tales ("Narn I Hin Hurinâ)
