Mmmm, thanks Saucepan, that's exactly what I mean. (Good to see you in here by the way.) Elves are not normal animals of the living world; Men, however, are. We are born, live and die.
Elves, seemingly, are also biological creatures. They too are born, they too need to eat, they inhabit living bodies and can die (although not simply by themselves). However they are distanced from the living world in many respects. In the living world, Elves are a bizzarre and strange anomaly that does not fit in with the normal pattern of earthly life. Men are not an anomaly in this sense; in terms of Tolkien lore, the only thing that distinguishes us from animals is our mind and our fëa (spirit), and in other respects -- in Arda at least -- Men are simply normal, biologically-functioning animals.
The same cannot be said about Elves. While it is true that they do 'belong' in Arda to a greater extent than the fëar of Men do (that is, because they live out their entire existence here while Men depart), the statement that they are more a part of the natural world -- of the laws that govern it, the laws that govern life -- than we are is untrue. Humans fit in perfectly with these laws; Elves break a great many of them. Their place
is in Arda and not with Illuvitar, but they are not more involved in the processes of nature. They place here is more that of a 'governer', I feel, than a 'part of' the world -- the reason they have mostly departed to aptly named Undying Lands, and do not dwell in Middle-Earth any longer. (This also, with me at least, puts paid to the suggestion that the intercession of the Valar, i.e. in taking the Eldar to Valinor, was not right; it is clear that they belong there more than they do here. It is said that they are closer to the Maiar than Men, much closer, and thus it is apt that they live there with them.)
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But, as already pointed out, the firstborn were closer to Eru than any other, so that's pretty hard evidence as well.
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To the contrary, that statement is untrue. Elves are closer to Ainur, but Men are closer to Eru. Elves, staying in Arda, are distanced from Illuvitar but akin to the Ainur; but Men, departing from the world, join Eru at last. 'Happiness in the world' is not theirs, but happiness with Eru is -- much as the Ainur are with Elves (Elves must leave Middle-Earth and go to Valinor to be happy).
Ok, sorry for the hasty thread-starter, I hope I have elaborated on it satisfactorily now.