Luthien: Maia or Elf.

Originally Posted by narfforc

If Luthien had never met Beren, should she have been given the choice of which kindred she belonged to like The Peredhil had?. The main problems are that Melian clothed herself in the flesh of Arda, in the form of an elf. Luthien was born of the body of Elf Melian, but what about her spirit, what was that?

I will go and commune with Mandos. Perhaps he shall reveal it to us.

[narfforc]

I have always considered Luthien to be the greatest elf/non-elf to have ever existed, I believe her bloodline to be responsible for the good that survives the fall.

[Raynor]

Originally Posted by davem

As I said, this doesn't mean that the Elves of the later Ages were lesser beings than their ancestors, but it does imply that they believed they were.

It is apparent from the Athrabeth that elves do diminish in status while in Arda

- That I can well believe, said Finrod: that your bodies suffer in some measure the malice of Melkor. For you live in Arda Marred, as do we, and all the matter of Arda was tainted by him, before ye or we came forth and drew our hroar and their sustenance therefrom: all save only maybe Aman before he came there. For know, it is not otherwise with the Quendi themselves: their health and stature is diminished. Already those of us who dwell in Middle-earth, and even we who have returned to it, find that the change of their bodies is swifter than in the beginning.