Silmarillion - Chapter 12 - Of Men

[Alphaelin]

Originally Posted by "Of Men", para 2

The Atani they were named by the Eldar, Followers, and many other names: Apanónar, the After-born, Engwar, the Sickly, and Fírimar, the Mortals; and they named them the Usurpers, the Strangers and the Inscrutable, the Self-cursed, the Heavy-handed, the Night-fearers, the Children of the Sun.

Harumph, I could certainly live without being called "Engwar", although I've found that being "Inscrutable" has come in handy at times.

Bêthberry wrote:

It seems to me that none of these names suggest a particularly positive or strong attachment to the second children. Rather, these names sound like those of a first born possibly jealous of the next-born.

I think that there is a certain amount of truth in this statement, although I think the differences between Men and the rest of Iluvatar's creation were intended to demonstrate both the best and the worst aspects of humans in the book. Later in the same paragraph as Bêthberry's quote, one gets the impression that Men were regarded as the 'red-headed stepchildren' of Arda:

To Hildorien there came no Vala to guide Men, or to summon them to dwell in Valinor; and Men have feared the Valar, rather than loved them, and have not understood the purposes of the Powers, being at variance with them , and at strife with the world.

Yet the last paragraph of this chapter blames the estrangement of Men and Elves as the work of Morgoth, ending

...in the dawn of years Elves and Men were allies and held themselves akin, and there were some among Men that learned the wisdom of the Eldar, and became great and valiant among the captains of the Noldor.

So BB's comment that the names given to Men by Elves reflects the growing estrangement between the Children of Iluvatar makes sense, yet it is the influence of Morgoth which causes the two Peoples to withdraw from each other.

One thing about this chapter that also strikes me is the phrase "being at strife with the world". It could also describe the sons of Feanor in their vow of vengeance against any who withhold a Silmaril from them. The phrase reflects a sense of disharmony with Iluvatar's Arda, and to me implies a willingness to go against his will. In terms of Tolkien's Christian faith, disobedience to God's will is the root of humanity's tendency toward sin. Considered this way the phrase has always led me to think that it is a wonder that some Men in The Silmarillion *don't* fall.

Men may not understand the world, but then Elves and the Valar do not understand Men, and the Atani are doomed to make their way in a world which they pass through in a brief time (compared to the Elves), and where they have had not had the same chances to learn about it in the same ways the ageless Elves did. The bodies of the Eldar can be injured or killed, or waste away with illness perhaps, but only Men die of old age.