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Forum Home » Books Discussion » BC Archive: The Silmarillion » The Silmarillion IV, Akallabeth - on Death
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PotbellyHairyfoot
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Post The Silmarillion IV, Akallabeth - on Death
on: March 17, 2010 12:11
The 'Gift of Death;
1)In 3.I; 'Of The Beginning of Days' death is described as one of the Gifts of Men and throughout the First Age, a terrible time full of dangers, woe, and little hope, men live their lives and then die, mostly without envy. At the Start of the Second Age the men of the Houses that helped out in the Battles of the First age are given their own land, a beautiful island where they can enjoy themselves, and live a life of bliss with little or no danger to confront them. They can live the much longer now gifted to them with nothing to fear as no evil creatures were brought to their new home.
So what happened? Why are they now so envious of the Elves and their lives?

2)Elros' choice; All we really know of Elros is that he, when given the choice, decided to live a finite life as the first King of Numenor and then die, while his brother Elrond chose the life of the Eldar. How could he make that choice? Was he, perhaps, one of the last to accept that death was a gift? Would you make the same choice?

[Edited on 18/3/2010 by PotbellyHairyfoot]
PotbellyHairyfoot
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Post RE: The Silmarillion IV, Akallabeth - on Death
on: March 18, 2010 12:37
1) Perhaps the Valar made a mistake or two when creating Numenor. The first new gift given to the Numenorians was an extended life. This could have been a mistake for two reasons; firstly it gives the Numenorians a reason to question the length of their lives, and secondly they are now aware that the Valar can control the length of their lives.
Lucy_Took
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Post RE: The Silmarillion IV, Akallabeth - on Death
on: March 18, 2010 04:08
1) My guess is that when life was hard,men were glad that it didn't last forever,they welcomed the final release. But when they lived in a wonderful place,they didn't want the release.

2) No clue. Could have been any number of things. It could have been love of a mortal woman,or the desire of kingship of Numenor. Or both. Or some other factor.
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