Have ye then no hope?

[Evisse the Blue]

Hang on, I may have started from a wrong supposition here - so help me correct it. The meaning of Estel implies hope for the fate of the world as a whole (as in the ultimate fate of Arda, or of Elves), not the fate of individual Elves, Men, etc? Because that's what I meant when I asked 'Can Estel ever be proven wrong?' I meant can anybody have the faith, the unfounded hope that things would work out well for them, and have their hope crushed? (Take Mark12_30's example of Arwen's hope for Aragorn surviving and being made king. What if Aragorn were to die in battle and Arwen's banner be left to remain as a testimony of her foolish hope?) The fact that Eru would prevail in the end is a bitter comfort for generations of defeated individuals. It makes sense then that Elves, who are very spiritual creatures feel Estel, while hobbits, and even men, settle for a more grounded sort of optimism.