The Elves and the Dwarves of Middle-earth infamously do not get along, and theirThe Lord of the Ringsfeud goes all the way back to the beginning. Whether it be the hobbits' reservations over “big folk” or the mutual mistrust between Elves and Men, it is rare indeed for theraces of Middle-earthto enjoy friendly and regular cooperation. Tolerant acceptance is usually the best that can be hoped for in Tolkien’s world, and as long as two races aren’t chasing each other with pointy objects, diplomatic relations are generally considered fine.
Nevertheless, the Elves and Dwarves share a storied and personal rivalry inThe Lord of the Rings' timeline. The language between Legolas and Gimli when they first meet at Rivendell inThe Fellowship of the Ringis poisonous in tone, whileCelebrimbor inThe Rings of Powerseason 2, episode 5, proclaims while unveiling the Doors of Durin, “Dwarves and Elves working together. It was thought to be impossible.” Neither adaptation digs into the specifics of why Elves and Dwarves don’t like each other, but Tolkien’s wider writings inThe Silmarillionand beyond chronicle the entire sorry situation.
The Elves & Dwarves Fell Out Over Jewels During The First Age
It All Started Because Of A Necklace…
The biggest flashpoint between Elves and Dwarves occurred during Middle-earth’s First Age and the time of theSilmarils inThe Lord of the Ringslore.Initially, Dwarves and Elves got along well, more or less, sharing in their mutual appreciation of craftsmanship and shiny things. Both sides prospered from the trade of resources and collaboration of ideas, but it was this spirit of collaboration that prompted Thingol, an elf-king ruling over Doriath in Beleriand, to call upon the Dwarves' expertise for a very special project.
The tension that can be felt between Legolas and Gimli inThe Lord of the Ringslargely derives from lingering upset over the Nauglamír.
Thingol requested the Dwarves craft a special piece out of treasure reclaimed following the defeat of the dragon Glaurung, and the Dwarves happily agreed. This piece was a necklace known as the Nauglamír, and Thingol was so impressed that he accented to setting a Silmaril in the center. Unfortunately for Thingol, the Dwarves were rather impressed with their own work too, and overcome with a desire to possess the glorious Silmaril-bearing Nauglamír they had created, decided to keep it for themselves. The enraged Thingol resorted to insults, calling the Dwarves an “uncouth race,” and bloodshed quickly followed.
Neither the Dwarves nor Elves covered themselves in glory during the consequent battles.The Dwarves murdered Thingol, then fanned the flames of war by lying to their fellow kin about the circumstances surrounding Thingol’s death, casting the elf in a harsher light than was truly deserved. For their part, the Elves reacted brutally to losing a Silmaril, and many Dwarves died at the Battle of Sarn Athrad and elsewhere.
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While the violence simmered down, the relationship between Elves and Dwarves never truly recovered, and the tension that can be felt between Legolas andGimli inThe Lord of the Rings, or between Elrond and King Durin III inThe Rings of Power, largely derives from lingering upset over the Nauglamír incident. Relations did improve in patches, however. As covered inThe Rings of Power, the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm worked alongside the Elves of Eregion on projects such as the Doors of Durin, and the two sides held a united front against Sauron’s forces, but the wider attitudes of both Middle-earth races remained unchanged.
The Elves & Dwarves' Feud Continues Tolkien’s Main Themes From The Lord Of The Rings
The Silmarils & The One Ring Are Both Cautionary Tales
The concepts of coveting material wealth and seeking power, and greed becoming a morally corrupting force, are both themes that sit at the heart ofThe Lord of the Rings. In Tolkien’s most well-known piece of Middle-earth fiction, it isSauron’s One Ringthat threatens to corrupt the races of Middle-earth, tempting the weak-minded with its simplistic beauty and promise of magical potency.
Both races benefited from working together at the beginning, but Thingol’s bling obsession and the Dwarves' pride overcame them.
The story of the Ring is echoed throughout Arda’s history, as the Silmarils played a very similar role during the First Age.Fëanor’s creations pushed the Elves to turn against each other, attracted the gaze of Morgoth, and caused untold misery for all who beheld them. While not as innately powerful as the One Ring, both stories broadly carry the message that desiring a jewel can blacken an honest heart.
The Elves and Dwarves hating each other is an extension of that. Both races benefited from working together at the beginning, but Thingol’s bling obsession and the Dwarves' pride took over, ruining a good thing. Dwarf history is littered with such examples, like howmining Khazad-dûm too deep for mithril awakened the Balrogthat brought about the entire realm’s destruction. Elves are little better, having squabbled and fought for centuries over the Silmarils. In Middle-earth, no one is more powerful or influential than a forger with an eye for beauty.
The Real Reason Why Elves & Dwarves Don’t Get Along Goes Back Even Further
Elves & Dwarves Were Destined To Aggrovate Each Other
The Nauglamír chapter in Middle-earth’s history may have provided the spark, butThe SilmarillionsuggestsElves and Dwarves were predetermined to be natural enemiesat the beginning of creation. The Elves, alongside Men, were the design ofMiddle-earth’s God, Eru Ilúvatar, but the Dwarves were brought into being by Aulë of the Valar without Eru’s permission. While Eru relented and allowed the Dwarves to exist, he insisted that their awakening be delayed until after that of the Elves.
From the Dwarves' point of view, Thingol’s jibes confirmed existing suspicions that the Elves looked down on them not just literally, but figuratively too.
This arrangement gave rise to a very clear hierarchy between Elves and Dwarves, with the latter positioned firmly below their taller, less hairy counterparts. The precedent set by Eru bled into the respective attitudes of both races.Some Elves were guilty of looking down upon the other peoples in Middle-earth, as proved by Thingol’s “uncouth race” comment. The proud Dwarves, meanwhile, were acutely aware of their place in the natural order of Middle-earth, which only made them more determined to stand their ground.
When Thingol demanded the Dwarves hand over the Nauglamír amid hurling various insults, therefore, the stage had already been set for a long-lasting grudge between races. From the elf perspective, the Dwarves attempting to steal a Silmaril could be viewed as proof they were an inferior race not to be trusted. Celebrimbor references this inThe Rings of Powerseason 2 when he makes a joke about checking Narvi’s pockets for swiped gems. From the Dwarves' point of view, Thingol’s jibes, alongside his demand to hand over a necklace crafted by dwarf hands, confirmed existing suspicions that the Elves looked down on them not just literally, but figuratively too.
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Neither side can truly claim to hold the moral high ground, and as is so often the way in Middle-earth history, the only winners were those seeking to commit evil. Sauron would have found conquering Middle-earth far harder inThe Lord of the Rings’Second Age timelineif the Elves and Dwarves were firmly allied all the way through.
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is a multimedia franchise consisting of several movies and a TV show released by Amazon titled The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. The franchise is based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s book series that began in 1954 with The Fellowship of the Ring. The Lord of the Rings saw mainstream popularity with Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.
