Tolkien and Mortality

This is a complimentary post which I felt nearly obliged to write after read through 3/4 of the Silmarillion. (Yes, I’ve finally gotten around to reading it! ) The Silmarillion has been one of the most difficult attempts in my reading history, it is so deep, so profound, and has so many…names. The work basically recounts the history of Middle-earth, beginning with the creation of Arda, and the two Trees of Valinor, ending with the downfall of Numenor, and the coming of Elendil unto Middle-earth. Tolkien explores the concept of death rather delicately, declaring death, in itself, a gift of Eru Iluvitar to the race of men. A gift in the essence that unlike the Elves who were created to live in the world, and be part of it for all eternity, men may leave it after a time, going into the fulfillment of hte plans of Iluvitar. (No one actually knows what Eru had in store for men after death.)

But getting down to the basics, towards the end of the Silmarillion, we see men becoming close allies with the elves, and reaching a high state of power and honor. In gaining their power and wealth, they begin to grow envious of the elves, and their gift/curse of immortality. To understand how Death is a gift, we must look at the immortality of the elves. Immoratility is only desired by those who wish to cling onto this life, whether it be for gold, power, pleasure, or the like. The Elves were a kindred who necessarily did not indulge in such things, yet were still prone to their snares. The elves lived their lives attached to the fate of this world, only dying by the hands of their foes, or by deep and irreversible grief. Now, Eru deigned that the elves be part of the world which came into being, and thus must live immortally as part of it. Men came into being by unknown craft, allowed a generous portion of years of life, yet, after that time, were to be called out of this world, into the reward of the afterlife. This doesn’t sound altogether that bad, for rather than living in weariness of this world, men were offered an escape. But in building their Kingdoms, men longed not for the gift after death, but rather envied the elves, in desire of retaining their possessions and wealth ever long. This became their downfall, as the men of Numenor, corrupted by Sauron’s lies and deceit, decided to sail West unto Aman, to claim immortality for themselves. (Being thus blinded by the lies of the Dark Lord.)

In its basic concept, we can see the resemblance between this and Even in the Garden. Satan (Sauron) tempted Eve through lies and deceit, promising Forbidden Knowledge if she were to partake of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. (”Forbidden” as the serpent puts it, saying that God wished to deceive Adam and Eve.) Sauron uses the same tactics to turn the race of Men against that of the Elves. Battle ensues, and Eru Iluvitar orders our justice as he sees fit. Though this is a rather choppy post, it sums up the moral of the story. Though death is a punishment for sin, it is also a gift. For if we live our lives according to God’s Law, then we shall meet Him in the Everlasting Bliss to come.

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Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)

• “What Can Men Do Against Such Reckless Hate?”
• Homophobic?
• The Children of Hurin – post III
• The Story Begins