The Purpose of Man

[Formendacil]

Originally Posted by Legate of Amon Lanc

That's one good point too, however I would not call them "insurance policy" just like that. They, as a theme, are a response to Melkor: they mean life and new creation instead of death and destruction presented by Melkor. In that sense, they are "insurance policy", but partially sort of unknowingly. Just because they are, if we wanted to use some philosophical language, we could say that "life and continuation of creation is Men's essence". However, there is also of course the chance of Men grasping sort of consciously the role of the "insurance policy", meaning that they would really materially oppose Sauron or Morgoth (as it happened). But I think the fundamental truth of what you said lies in the former thing I mentioned.

Just to chime in here, I agree with Legate that "insurance policy" gives the wrong connotation, insofar as it suggests a sort of "just in case" response on Eru's part, otherwise undesirable, and a second-best option (the best of course being not to have the incident in the first place). Men are the second race of Children, but they are not "second-best." It's probably better to think of the as the second stage of a rocket, intended to be boosted to a certain height by the Eldar before thrusting forward with our "purpose" as the Elves fade from sight.

[alatar]

Originally Posted by Formendacil

Just to chime in here, I agree with Legate that "insurance policy" gives the wrong connotation, insofar as it suggests a sort of "just in case" response on Eru's part, otherwise undesirable, and a second-best option (the best of course being not to have the incident in the first place). Men are the second race of Children, but they are not "second-best." It's probably better to think of the as the second stage of a rocket, intended to be boosted to a certain height by the Eldar before thrusting forward with our "purpose" as the Elves fade from sight.

Admittedly, and now obviously, it was not the best way to describe the creation of Mankind.

Think that, however, you *do* understand my intent, which was that humans are a counter to Melkor. The elves could only do so much, even with their superhuman 'powers.' The failing, to call it that, of the elves, is that they could become contented. Humans were given the gift of discontent, with Arda, with everything. This creative force might make ugly things, but it would also produce survivors, insuring that some would remain to fight the darkness.

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The feeling I get is that Men are the main characters in the whole Arda saga. Elves are just supplementary, they are there to get Men a good start, to set an example. It is Men that will complete the story, bring it to a climax; they are the prime movers at the centre of Eru's plan. And Dwarves, they're just Eru doing a buddy a favour, aren't they?

[mikelangelo11]

Men were the youngest race in Middle-earth , they awoke when the sun first rose. They have the Gift of Death, given to them by Iluvatar and allows them to go beyond the confines of the world.