Free Will in Tolkien's World - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Lotrelf · 04-22-2014, 04:05 AM

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?
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 Aul0Š5 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?

04-22-2014, 04:05 AM	#1
Lotrelf Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 265	Free Will in Tolkien's World 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? 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 Aul0Š5 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? __________________ A short saying oft contains much wisdom. ~Sophocles