[Thingol]

I've always had the impression that the fear of men cannot permanently stay in Middle Earth, they must heed the calling of Iluvatar and leave the circles of the world. In Hurin's conversation with Melkor he states that no one can prevent the spirits of men from leaving Arda. The fear of men make a stop at the Halls of Mandos, but they depart after a short time. The fear of elves are bound to Middle Earth and do not need to accept the summons of Mandos. Morgoth's Ring goes into some depth about what becomes of elven fear if they do not accept the summons of Mandos and remain floating about in Middle Earth. Many were captured by Morgoth and Sauron, and Tolkien hints that the Barrow Wights were elven spirits that refused the summons. On the other hand the fear of men must eventually leave the circles of the world. Somehow Beren was able to postpone leaving the circles of the world and remained in Mandos waiting for Luthien. However, it should be noted that he did not have to wait very long. The dead men of Dunharrow also remained in Middle Earth for a very long time, which is contradictory to Tolkien's writings about man's fea. The only way to explain this is that Iluvatar willingly complied with Islidur's curse, knowing that the men of Dunharrow would have a part to play in His plan later on. The last exception to the fea of a man not leaving Arda after death is Turin dealing Melkor his death blow in the last battle at the end of the world. But there are at least two contradictory accounts that deal with the fait of Tuin, and it cannot be known what Tolkien would have ultimately decided to do about Turin.

[ June 29, 2002: Message edited by: Thingol ]