Outrage?

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by davem

Of course, we have to be careful not to lay all the 'sin' at Galadriel's door. Tolkien states that this is an Elvish failing, not simply a 'Galadrien' one. Her ambition was higher than her compatriots, so she became greater, but consequently her 'sin' was greater. Its interesting that she 'passes' the test & is allowed to return into the West not because of her efforts in the battle against Sauron, not because of her struggles & sacrifices in the war, but because in the end she repents & chooses humility. It is only when she is prepared to 'diminish' (ie to let go of her dreams of power & become simply herself once more) that she is allowed to go home.

Originally Posted by lmp

If Tolkien considered his Elves' primary purpose to be the elevation of Man, then he did not write what he intended. All the reading I've done reveals that the Elves' primary purpose was subcreation; teaching Men was a by-product.

I'm just wondering on the idea of the Elves' 'purpose' being sub-creation. In a way, Galadriel leaves Valinor for Middle-earth as a result of sub-creation; Feanor is chasing his stolen, sub-created Silmarils and she is one of the group following. She then sub-creates her own realm, and like Feanor, is no stranger to the urges of ambition. By sub-creating, she (like Feanor) makes herself 'bigger'.

Elves are naturally at home in the Undying Lands, but this is a place where they would also presumably be unable to independently pursue the dream of having their own realm. Middle-earth must therefore be an attractive place to them for it not only has great beauty and is the place of the Elves' awakening, but it also offers the potential for independence that the Undying Lands cannot offer. Out of interest, Thingol also remains in Middle-earth and creates a 'magical' realm - I wonder if Galadriel was inspired by this in her wish to create Lothlorien?