<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Haunting Spirit
Posts: 80</TD><TD></TD></TR></TABLE>
<img src="http://www.barrowdowns.com/images/posticons/sting.jpg" align=absmiddle> Re: The Downfall of Numenor
You make many interesting points, H.I., and I don't have time to explore all of them in detail. I think you're fairly on the mark about the reasons why the Numenoreans were not restrained from their foolhardy quest by the Valar. However, I thought I'd chip in my two cents to say that I don't know if the Valar were quite as independent, or Illuvatar as distant, as you suggest. It says in Silma that Manwe "governed the world under the hand of Illuvatar", and often in times of difficult decision, we read something like this: "Manwe sought counsel in his inmost thought, where the will of Illuvatar was revealed."
Illuvatar may seem to be distant or disinterested in the troubles of the people of Arda, but I think this is merely shortsightedness on the part of those who are suffering. In the Ainulindale, Illuvatar makes this declaration: "...no theme may be played that hath not its uttermost source in me, nor can any alter the music in my despite. For he that attempteth this shall prove but mine instrument in the devising of things more wonderful, which he himself hath not imagined."
Illuvatar is just quietly confident that even evil purposes will result in good in the end.
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