Posted: September 15, 1999 at 16:16:32: by Russ
: You make a good point, and articulate it well. I would point out that your comments should be limited most properly to the Exiles. The elves in Eldamar are supposed to be immortal and unchanging (or at least as long as Arda exists). It is precisely because Middle Earth is NOT a timeless place that the Exiles' attempt to make it (or themselves) so is wrong. As you point out it the problem is "to have your cake and eat it too." I feel that a thread in Tolkein's work is that of measure, or appropriateness. It is not power that corrupts, but rather power beyond one's measure (like a Hobbit trying to weild the One Ring...or an Istari). The desire to be deathless is not wrong for an elf; rather to be deathless in a mortal realm that in the end knows death. In some others writings I have seen Michael you refer to "the Elves" very generically when I suspect that your commenst are most on target for the Exiles.But is it a "mortal" realm? The Children of Illuvatar - both Elves and Men - wee intended to live and reside in Middle Earth. The Valar's decision to invite the Elves to Aman was ultimately revealed to be a mistake. The proper place of Elves was in Middle Earth. However, I think you have it on the mark when you distinguish between the Exiles and other Elves. The Exiles, having experienced Aman, are the one's doing the unnatural - i.e. trying to almost recreate the timelessness of Aman in Middle Earth. Russ
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