Free Will in Tolkien's World

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Lotrelf

In Tolkien's books there're lots of divine interventions at the different stages of the story. Free will vs. Fate is a long debate, I guess, when it comes to Frodo's decision of carrying the Ring to Mordor. Did he have free will?

Yes, he did. That is made clear to him, first by Gandalf, who tells Frodo "The decision (to keep the Ring and try to destroy it) lies with you". Then, later, Elrond says that though he does not lay the burden of the Ring on Frodo, if Frodo chooses to accept the burden, Elrond thinks to do so is right.

Originally Posted by Lotrelf

Second one's Melkor who was created by Eru, and was a part of his thoughts[dare I say Eru's part?]. He, later turned out to be the darkest spirit in the end. Was he EVIL when Eru created him? Was he created purposefully i.e. Eru's purpose to teach his children like Aul�0Š5 did? Or He "turned" evil i.e. on his own free will? Others-- Sauro, Ungoliant and the Elves that were corrupted and turned into Orcs, and Balrog-- had free will(or not?). If they [all] had free will how much things were in control of Eru, the Father of All? Or if not, isn't the entire world the puppet of him, since they are not free to choose between good and bad?

Melkor, and every other being created by the One had Free Will. Melkor's turn to evil was part of the plan. The omniscience of the Creator of what his children will do has no effect on the choices themselves.