Why Man?

[Child of the 7th Age]

Regarding the Rings of power---

Nine he gave to Mortal Men, proud and great, and so ensnared them. Long ago they fell under the dominion of the One, and they became Ringwraiths, shadows under his great Shaddow, his most terrible servants.

Rings were given to the Dwarves and the Elven kin as well, but they did not become Ringwraiths. Four hobbits carried the ultimate Ring of Power, one for hundreds of years, yet none of these became Ringwraiths. But, in the second age, nine kings became nine nazgul.


Why man? What was Tolkien saying about our nature and destiny?

Yes, I know Aule built the dwarfs with an extra measure of resistence to evil, since Melkor was still active in those days. And I know too how many of the Elves stood on the side of the light for the First and Second Ages, although some did slip especially if we accept the view that at least some orcs were corrupted Elves. And yes, the hobbits are in some sense, men too, although men with a slightly different twist from those who inhabit the world today.

Yet, having acknowledged all this, I still can not help asking, why man? What was different about man, that they should turn into wraiths who were the principal tools through which Sauron worked?