Quote:
|
Originally Posted by The Phantom
Could the Valar have been expected to do something different? What about Olwe? Or was the bloody exodus of the Noldor unavoidable the moment the Valar released Melkor amongst the elves?
|
In The Ainulindale we're told that Men have 'the freedom to act beyond the Music, which is as Fate to all things else' - which begs the question of exactly how much freedom of
action Valar, Elves & Melkor actually have. If we take Ainulindale literally it would seem that everything they do is fated to happen. I've discussed this before, so I don't want to go into detail, but its entirely possible that the Noldor
had to go to Middle-earth, & their only 'freedom' was in how that came about. Feanor could have chosen to go along with the Valar's wishes & offered them the Silmarils to save the Trees, but asked permission to pursue Morgoth to either defeat him in battle or at least keep him at bay. Manwe could then have consulted with Eru, gained his permission for Feanor to lead the Noldor East, etc, etc.
Hence, the events foredoomed by the Music happen, but in a diferent way, because, while the Music is as fate to all but Men in terms of what happens, it doesn't determine the individual moral choices made by Elves & Valar.
Its entirely possible that Feanor, & the Elves generally felt a kind of unconscious drive to act out the Music (or their part in it) but were havig to 'make' themselves do it, come up with reasons - I wake up with this urge to go to London, but don't know why. I can't shake the urge. I
must go. I do, however, have the freedom to choose whether I draw the money for the ticket from my bank account, mug some little old lady to get it, hitchhike there, steal a car, etc. Lots of choices, & my freewill plays a major part in
how I get there. The only thing is I don't have a choice in whether or not I
go to London. There will be all kinds of consequences for me personally dependent on how I choose to get to my destination, & I will be judged on
how I did it & held accountable for my actions.