Good thread, Lomelinde.
Elves, know the plan for the race. The know the history and, are the only ones "in touch" with the Ainur. The ones that know what and believe in the Valar and Eru. They know what is to become of them when this is all over. Men have shy'ed away from the Valar sice day one. Only one has stepped foot on Aman(Undying Lands{That I can remember}). The dwarves pretty much only believe in Aule, and have somewhat knowledge of their after life. Be it turned back to stone in which they came from, of going to the Halls of Mandos, to help Aule build the world after the last Battle. Men have know clue on their history. Just like the saying goes, "Dead men don't talk", and even the dead ones don't philosophize about the after-life.
Look at the world today. Look at how we scury around in our "short" lives, trying to accomplish everything we can before we pass-on. Which we all know we will. I imagine M-E men are the same. Building, creating, studing, learning all they can in the life-span in which they are givin'. Dwarves have a limited life-span as well, although it exceeds the lfe of men by a good 100-200 years. They also know their time is limited. And (I imagne), they will do what they can in that time.
Elves....well when they die, they go to the Halls of Mandos, which will ease some suffereing, maybe giving wisdom. And then "plup", after so long, they land right back in the Undying Lands. So, what do the elves have to fear about dying?
Elves taught Men, of what they had learned from the Valar, language, skill, trade, arts. It is in Men's spirit to expand and advance on some things, just like your example, "Build a better mousetrap".
I think it is in the plan of Eru. He put seeds in his children, waiting for them to sprout and watching them grow.
Immortal were the Elves, and their wisdom waxed from age to age, and no sickness nor pestilence brought death to them. Their bodies indeed were of the stuff of Earth, and could be destroyed; and in those days they were more like to the bodies of Men, since they had not so long been inhabited by the fire of their spirit, which consumes them from within in the courses of time. But Men were more frail, more easily slain by weapon or mischance, and less easily healed; subject to sickness and many ills; and they grew old and died. What may befall their spirits after death the Elves know not. Some say that they too go to the halls of Mandos; but their place of waiting there is not that of the Elves, and Mandos under Ilúvatar alone save Manwë knows whither they go after the time of recollection in those silent halls beside the Outer Sea. None have ever come back from the mansions of the dead, save only Beren son of Barahir, whose hand had touched a Silmaril; but he never spoke afterward to mortal Men. The fate of Men after death, maybe, is not in the hands of the Valar, nor was all foretold in the Music of the Ainur.
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