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View Poll Results: The ‘special freedom’ of Man is expressed:
During his lifetime, in Arda, through special freedom of action 22 61.11%
In the fact of the Death 21 58.33%
After the Death 12 33.33%
I’m not sure 3 8.33%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 36. You may not vote on this poll

 
 
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Old 02-17-2006, 11:21 AM   #30
Raynor
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Join Date: Jan 2006
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Raynor has just left Hobbiton.
I would say there is a great freedom in deciding how to do a certain thing, even if you are 'fated' to do it; the way you do it can bring about the exact opposite of a 'normal' result.

To give but a few examples of the freedom of the elves:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ainulindale, Silmarillion
Therefore when they beheld them, the more did they love them, being things other than themselves, strange and free, wherein they saw the mind of Iluvatar reflected anew, and learned yet a little more of his wisdom, which otherwise had been hidden even from the Ainur.
Now the Children of Iluvatar are Elves and Men, the Firstborn and the Followers
No difference between Men and Elves; and an example to which I reffered previously:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth
They were given a choice [to remain houseless or not], because Eru did not allow their free will to be taken away. Similarly the houseless fear were summoned, not brought, to Mandos
Moreover, considering that in letter #153 Tolkien describes them as having "certain freedoms and powers we should like to have" so I would conclude that the only freedom Man have exclusively is the leaving of the world, and that the only fate the elves have to obey is to leave Middle-Earth (due to the decay of their bodies, resulting from the fire of their spirit and the marring of Melkor). Also in the Silmarillion, Ulmo argues that elves should be left to walk freely in Middle-Earth and Melkor instills in them the desire to rule freely their own realms.
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