Can I argue that once Finwe’s three sons split up post-Alqualonde, that Fingolfin’s actions are actually the least responsible?
Like, Finarfin, pretty clear cut. He certainly made the morally courageous choice, and by the morality established in the Legendarium he made the religiously correct choice. He took responsibility for the Noldor in a big way. Very respectable.
Feanor… Look, the thing about Feanor’s decision to take the ships and then burn them is: 1) The people he left behind were the ones who opposed his kingship, and therefore arguably he had less responsibility for them (or by burning the ships divested himself of any responsibility for them). And 2) everyone he ditched? Was still in paradise. Every one of them had the option to take Finarfin’s choice. Would it have sucked? Yes! Was it a supreme dick move? Sure was! But crossing the Helcaraxe was by no means an inevitability, and in fact Feanor thought it was impossible. Feanor had no particular reason to think he was *endangering* anyone he ditched.
Which leads to… Fingolfin. Who chose to actively lead the bulk of the Noldor across the Helcaraxe. And the thing I keep running up against here is…
Like, we all agree that post-Darkening Feanor is at his worst judgment, right? He is mad, bad, and dangerous to know. He’s laughing in the face of gods and defying their prophecies. His confidence is outright manic. AND HE STILL LOOKS AT THE HELCARAXE AND SAYS NAH.
Just. I mean. If Fingolfin had gotten all his kids and nephews and niece and also every single Noldo who went with him killed, it would be entirely unsurprising. It worked out, because that’s The Narrative, but. Damn. He’s every bit as bad as Feanor, in his own special way.
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