Good thread topic, Esty!
I was about to start a thread on isolationism--namely, the tendency of civilizations in Tolkien's books to want to shut themselves off from the outside world and its problems. But then I realized that the topic is rather closely related to this one. Well, maybe not exactly, since it's the difference between an individual being a homebody, and an entire society wanting to isolate itself.
Examples:
Valinor (after Melkor and the Noldor leave) In HoME X, Tolkien says that
Quote:
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The lifting up of the range of the Pélori to a great height. It is possible to view this as, if not an actually bad action, at least as a mistaken one.
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Nargothrond -- eventually gets overrun
Gondolin -- eventually gets overrun
Doriath -- eventually gets destroyed
Moria (isolated after the fall of Eregion) --eventually gets destroyed
The Shire -- gets saved, but suffers some very bad times at the hands of Saruman
Lórien -- survives Sauron's attack, but cannot continue in suspended animation once the Three Rings have lost their power.
Imladris -- similar to Lórien
(and various other examples)
Tolkien's view seems to be that all attempts to create a haven safe from the outside world's troubles are at best temporary, and often lead to very bad ends. What he seems to be saying (IMO) is that it is better to engage the outside world and all its problems, however bad they may seem.