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Originally Posted by Morthoron
An intriguing theory, Lal, and perhaps the correct view -- if it weren't for Tolkien's insistence on muddying up the waters. For instance, there's that hint that Legolas and Gimli rowed their boat ashore (alleluia!), and made it to Aman. Of course, we aren't necessarily positive that they made it, but it seems the sentimental Tolkien adds these little nuances for the express purpose of assuring us that they did indeed arrive.
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Hmmm, wonder if Gimli ever made those jewels with Galadriel's hair encased in them and if he left them in Middle-earth? After all, her hair must have had
something special about it or Feanor wouldn't have pestered her so much for some of it?
It's only Gimli who is the problem there, and as a Dwarf he'd be different yet again to a Man or Hobbit?
Actually, if Legolas and Gimli went over in a ship of their making, then it also was not something about the ships that could get you there, was it?
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Originally Posted by Ibrin
I think we can find the fingers of the Valar at work, protecting the various incarnates in areas where they should not be able to survive. We are shown the moment of Frodo's arrival in Aman, and he does not appear to be a spirit; indeed from the description in LotR, he doesn't even appear to have noticed that the ship ever left water. We also know from a variety of places that the permission given for the Hobbits to reach the West came from the Valar through their remaining representative in ME, Gandalf.
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Much as I hate to say it, yes, the Valar may well have had something to do with it all. And even more so considering their big mistake over Numenor and Eru's having to be called out of a nice long bath to intervene! You'd think he'd want them to keep a better eye on things, wouldn't you?
I hate to say it because I'd much rather find a more pleasingly 'scientific' explanation for the Straight Road
I've also been thinking about Light. In much the same way as a Prism can break a beam of light and split it into component colours, the 'rain curtain' makes me think of a singular Road belonging to the everyday world splitting into others at that point (a raindrop is also a prism), one of which leads to Valinor. It also makes me think of that other old fave topic of mine, Saruman's 'breaking of the Light' after which he becomes Saruman of Many Colours....and it makes me think of how the characters in HDM can see other cities through the Aurora Borealis, through a kind of 'broken light', as the Aurora is caused by particles from the Solar wind reacting with our own atmosphere....
There's a quote I found in a volume of HoME t'other night (I think it was in The Lost Road) about how via one of the Palantiri it was still possible to catch a glimpse of Valinor, which suggests it was not entirely removed from the world. And though I don't know nearly enough about it, I believe under some conditions, light refraction can make it so things over the horizon can actually be seen?
Interesting that those watching Frodo's ship leave, though, did not report a rain cloud, though the point about it not actually dipping over the horizon is one I'd not thought of and it's obviously at that point when it goes. Was it at sunset? I'l have to go and check that one....it might have bearings on the idea of 'broken light' being the factor....hmmm....