Elves, Men, and Perceptions of Time

[greyhavener]

Perhaps the elves resist change because often change is not an improvement for their own way of life. When you have such a long perspective on things it would tend to create an attitude that change means a cycle of disappointment, loss, and sometimes destruction. Galadriel made the biggest change in her life in coming to Middle Earth. I think Galadriel was conflicted because she loved Middle Earth but knew that it would be necessary for her and other elves to leave in order for Middle Earth to become what it had been created to be. So she made Lothlorien an environment that slowed down time for her so at least in perception she could prolong her stay.

Perhaps elves can only truly have an eternal perspective when they are removed from temporal influences like men. Time would seem different if people were not dying all around you, if seasons never passed, if nothing much changed. I think as long as elves interact with men and dwarves they experience time from a more temporal perspective.

That's my take on it. Thanks for sharing this fascinating discussion.

[ June 13, 2003: Message edited by: greyhavener ]