Hmmm...Salocin. I have to admit to feeling a bit misunderstood, however, I do see how what I wrote could be miscontrued (sort of). But in essence, you and I are saying the same thing.
Eru created beings with free will. Including Melkor...it was not said that Eru set up the world for suffering. You're right, that would be a monster. However, Eru, the first, not only had the power to create, but also the power to see what would be. He allowed Melkor and thus evil to endure...allowing for free will. I don't think he created men and elves in order to "weed out the bad ones". It seems more probable that he created them and placed them in an environment where they could live in what he intended - by their own choice.
And in actuality, Melkor was part of the pre-existing landscape of Middle earth. He was created and was corrupted before the children of Illuvatar came to be. They were born into a world where they had to choose.
It was in the midst of this world that the calm, the light...became more meaningful.
I believe that Eru was heartbroken when Melkor rebeled. I believe that he hated it when some of the elves abandoned the world he created for them. And more importantly, I believe he hated what was done to Middle earth and the suffering that was wrought through Melkor.
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