littleman-the only comment I have on your otherwise excellent post, is that I don't believe that Arwen's doom was any more "bitter" that any mortal's doom.
Her woe upon Elessar's death, and her own subsequent departure only seem so stark and depressing because Tolkien took time off from his detached story-telling, and went into some detail here.
I think the problem here is not that Arwen's resume lacked "earth-shattering accomplishments", but the fact that all earthly happiness comes to an end, and Tolkien took the time to remind his reader of the fact.
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~The beginning is the word and the end is silence. And in between are all the stories. This is one of mine~
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