Nature/Cause of the weariness of Eldar in the Third Age

[JeffF.]

Tolkien wrote in the Silmarillion about the host of the Last Alliance of Men and Elves when it gathered at Imladris (Rivendell) that, "none greater has been mustered (in Middle Earth) since the host of the Valar went against Thangorodrim." Given that the kingdom of Arnor was only around a hundred years old the Eldar must have numbered a fairly large part of that host (which was smaller than the army that actually fought at Dagorlad since the Silvan Elves and the Army of Gondor joined it after the gathering at Imladris). I grant that most of these troops at Imladris must have been men, Tolkien writes that he Eldar dwelt most in the lands beyond the Ered Luin, in the Havens and in Imladris implying that most of the lands of Arnor must have been occupied by men under Gil-Galad's rule (prior to him ceding these lands and people to Elendil).

In reading the Peoples of Middle Earth book I agree that the Eldar were diminishing but it seems that Tolkien meant mostly in stature (he calls the Noldor Gnomes in Peoples of Middle Earth) making statements implying they were shorter than their ancestors.

The affect of the "weariness" seems to be limited to the Eldar, the Silvan Elves seem to be much as they have always been, preferring to keep to themselves and only intervening during the in a limited fashion in the war on Sauron, their hosts in the Last Alliance being the last time they march on the Dark Lord. The Avari also seem immune to the "weariness" though of course they are almost a non-entity as far as the history of Middle Earth goes.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by JeffF.

The affect of the "weariness" seems to be limited to the Eldar, the Silvan Elves seem to be much as they have always been, preferring to keep to themselves and only intervening during the in a limited fashion in the war on Sauron, their hosts in the Last Alliance being the last time they march on the Dark Lord. The Avari also seem immune to the "weariness" though of course they are almost a non-entity as far as the history of Middle Earth goes.

Somehow, I don't think the Eldar were the only Elves subject to the weariness. Perhaps the Silvan Elves were simply in something of a general state of denial.

I don't have the books handy, but didn't Legolas make a comment to Gimli along the lines of 'The kingdoms of men will outlast us'? Maybe he realised that one day he too would be subject to the fading.

[JeffF.]

According to Unfinished Tales in the chapter about Galadriesl and Celeborn, Thranduil, Legolas' father, was a Sindarin Elf who ruled over Silvan elves. Both the Sindar and the Noldor seem to have been affected by weariness.

All elves seem to have been affected by the sea longing that Legolas experienced. Perhaps this is the explanation of the abandonment of Lorien though it is nowhere states specifically where the Silvan elves went.

[Boromir88]

Middle-earth is perfect for Men, because Men are mortal. Death comes to them all, and death also quite literally is the nature of Middle-earth.

With Elves, death is not certain, and Tolkien notes their primary weakness is an inability to change. Basically they don't like it. Galadriel tried to turn Lorien into her own personal Undying Lands by stopping Time, stopping her own personal realm from decaying. Try as she might, she could only slow Time, thus only slow decay. So, I think Middle-earth was just an unfit place for Elves, it's nature is in line with the nature of Men, as the Undying Lands is in line with the nature of Elves.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Boromir88

So, I think Middle-earth was just an unfit place for Elves, it's nature is in line with the nature of Men, as the Undying Lands is in line with the nature of Elves.

That's the key, I think. Why else would it be only Elves dwelling in Middle-earth who were affected? Those in the West didn't fade because the land of their dwelling was immortal, just as they were.

[Eönwë]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

That's the key, I think. Why else would it be only Elves dwelling in Middle-earth who were affected? Those in the West didn't fade because the land of their dwelling was immortal, just as they were.

Yes. In fact, I think this could in fact be another question that leads back to the Gift of Men. The elves are tied to the Music, stuck to Arda, so the less it changes, the easier it is for them. Men, on the other hand, can act outside the Music, and this is why they are forever changing things while the elves are content to let things sort themselves out on their own, to let "doom" (as Tolkien always likes to call it), or "fate" run its course. Because Men are not tied to the music, and are free to die and leave, then they don't care about the long-term effects of their actions (much like humans today), while the elves know that they will experience the long-term effects as well as the short-term, which is why when things stay the same it is easier for them.

As well as this, their minds are suited to immortality and no change, so they need a land of immortality and no change in which to live.



Hmm... I don't think I said exactly what I was trying to, but that'll do for now.