Was Tolkien Depressed? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Evenstar1 · 07-17-2002, 08:14 PM

To remain true to Catholic theology, in the Sil, Tolkien explains death as a gift from Eru to Man, not to the Elves, who received unending life. In fact, the Elves were envious of Man b/c it was a tedious thing to live forever! But Morgoth used the gift of death against Man and made Man envious of the Elves. Many Men came to see death as a curse.

But in the Appendix to LOTR, Aragorn understands this gift, when he explains from his own deathbed to a tearful Arwen, "But let us not be overthrown at the final test... In sorrow we must go, but not in despair. Behold! we are not bound for ever to the circles of the world, and beyond them is more than memory. Farewell!"

To me, this is Tolkien's way of explaining the optimism of the promise of Heaven to a world in which he was surrounded by pessimists and negativity.

07-17-2002, 08:14 PM	#8
Evenstar1 Wight Join Date: May 2002 Location: Colorado (just east of the Misty Mts.) Posts: 111	To remain true to Catholic theology, in the Sil, Tolkien explains death as a gift from Eru to Man, not to the Elves, who received unending life. In fact, the Elves were envious of Man b/c it was a tedious thing to live forever! But Morgoth used the gift of death against Man and made Man envious of the Elves. Many Men came to see death as a curse. But in the Appendix to LOTR, Aragorn understands this gift, when he explains from his own deathbed to a tearful Arwen, "But let us not be overthrown at the final test... In sorrow we must go, but not in despair. Behold! we are not bound for ever to the circles of the world, and beyond them is more than memory. Farewell!" To me, this is Tolkien's way of explaining the optimism of the promise of Heaven to a world in which he was surrounded by pessimists and negativity. __________________ - Eve