Why are the Elves and Dwarves so hostile to eachother?

[Mayla Took]

I don't really understand why the Elves and the Dwarves have such a harsh relationship. Is it because of the whole secret creation of the Dwarves that was mentioned in the Sil?

[Imperica]

Perhaps because of the slaying of King Thingol in Doriath by the Dwarves. If you remember the Dwarves stole the Nauglamir (sp???) and were on their way back to the Blue Mountains and were assailed by Green Elves of Ossiriand and Beren.

(Please forgive me if I am wrong about this, it's been awhile)

[burrahobbit]

You are partly right, Imperica, but it goes deeper than that.

It is because Elves and Dwarves both love trees.

The thing about that is that Elves love to live in trees, and that Dwarves like to catch them on fire.

The above is not a complete answer.

[Dwarin Thunderhammer]

And trees love Dwarves, just the other day I was driving and this tree jumped right out on the freeway, bit my car, and dragged me off the road. And the officer said I was drunk..... boy was he wrong

[orlandoandsaran]

Hahahaa
LOL, dwarin
smilies/tongue.gif smilies/tongue.gif

[lathspell]

I think it's both those answers, burra!
The love of trees wasn't the only reason, there has been much inconvenience between the elves and the dwarves. The destruction of Doriath is one of the greater ones. Also the 'too deep delving in moria' was one, I believe. For afterwards the elves had to leave Eregion. Nevertheless the relationship seems to improve after the War of the Ring and Bilbo's adventure...
- Gimli is let into Lothlorien, he is the first to enter it after the coming of the Balrog in moria.
- The relationship between Legolas and Gimli.
- Dain Ironfoot who established peace with both the men of Dale and the Elves of Mirkwood.

So it seems that many relationships that were forgotten are returning again at last. And all this because of the finding of the Ring by Bilbo.

'Often help may come from the weak when the Wise falter.'

greetings,
lathspell

[Kuruharan]

The Dwarves thought that the Elves were a bunch of stuck up, prissy snots. The Elves thought that the Dwarves were a bunch of short, ugly mutants.

Tolkien did mention this attitude in his discussion of the relations between Caranthir and the Dwarves. Those were essentially the attitudes that each brought to the table.

However, as with many things in life, since there was money to be made so both sides tolerated each other (and gleefully made money off each other).

[Aldagrim Proudfoot]

Elves also see Dwarves as being greedy thieves. If you remember Legolas thought Dwarves would destroy the Glimmering Caves, but Gimli assured him they wouldn't.

[Gimli Son Of Gloin]

They just disagree on everything.

[Aldagrim Proudfoot]

like some siblings I know.

[akhtene]

If you mention family relations, then it can be the eternal argument 'who is the eldest'
Dwarves were created before elves, but put to sleep until the Elder Children would awake. So which is really the eldest race in M-E?

[Lush]

The Elves were just too shallow for a couple of milennia there. So what if the Dwarves didn't have perfect skin and good grooming habits? Sheesh, ya know?

[TarElendil]

their personalities were so different that there were bound to be problems. One reason there is hostility between the races is because Thingol was slain by the dwarves and they were responsible(as was thingol) along with the orcs for the ruin of doriath. The dwarves responsible for the destruction of doriath i believe were those out of Belegost and Nagrod, yet mnay elves held a grudge with the whol dwarf race including those of moria, who aided them in the battles of eriador. Another obvious one isthey awoke the balrog in moria.