Ah, Lalwendė bringing up that quote does reveal some elvish psychological conditions doesnt it?
Whether or not the author intended the romantic relationship to be a factor for Celebrimbor, I wonder if grief that all elves felt ever and anon, is the underlying theme. Grief of the loss of the blessed days. Grief that is ever present for the firstborn, who by being first, realizes what has been lost, and what is going to be lost, until All is lost. Thats mighty powerfull stuff. Its also incongruent with the reality of ME - but its nature isnt evil at all is it? Only in Valimar does time truly stand still. Enter Annatar into that situation, and suddenly your work of love and grief becomes tied to something very much evil. What a wonderfully simple way to explain certain (ultimately human) complexities.
Sophia - I love the tie in to the Oath as well - never considered that. What a legacy!
excellent insights here folks! keeps me coming back again and again....
SPM I agree, but on Phantom's line of thought, isnt ME seen through the eyes of one man who is looking through the eyes of a hobbit? AH HAH - my treastice is playing out
Mabye the only way we could understand ME's message to us today is through the eyes of it's most meekest of players.... seriously though my personal rebellion would say that, while fortune has allowed the author to show us via literature the ME condition, Im not sure its the only vision.