Lindon

[skip spence]

^No appologies needed.

When you try to imagine how life in Lindon (or in any other elven society) must have been a problem to my mind is the elevated and idealised way in which Tolkien portrayed his elves.

I think it's fair to presume that Lindon was an agrarian society where the sea also had an important place in people's every day life. But life in such a society would require a lot of back-breaking labour. Can you imagine the fishermen returning with their catch every morning, after battling hard winds and rough waters out in the unforgiving ocean? How could they still would be considered the fair people after thousands of salt-stained years? And can you picture the elven maidens gutting fish on the piers, with blood, slime and scales all over their pretty little fingers? Or the lumberjacks, pushing their oxen hard to pull carts loaded with trunks of great oaktrees home? It's hard to do, isn't it. You'd rather picture them singing a song to fill their nets with fish or something like that.

[The Might]

Of course, of course... still, I guess this is just a misconception.
Also, you don't really think that the Silvan Elves feasting in Mirkwood in The Hobbit actually had to do much to get all that organized, it just all probably magically popped out of the earth.
Perhaps Elves would have an easier time with daily chores in the household because they do possess powers that Men lack and so could get done with all the work without so much effort, but still it wasn't as easy as many think.

What I think would even be harder would be to imagine Elves doing anything in Aman. I mean I picture Ingwe feasting and sleeping for thousands of years.

[Bêthberry]

Originally Posted by skip spence

When you try to imagine how life in Lindon (or in any other elven society) must have been a problem to my mind is the elevated and idealised way in which Tolkien portrayed his elves.

One thing to remember is that LotR is told from the hobbit point of view and the hobbits, particularly Sam and Frodo, are especially entranced with elves. It is part of a clash of cultures, except that it isn't a clash so much as a wide-eyed discovery of astonishing possibilities that neither hobbit had ever thought of or experienced previously. As Sam says once Frodo has awakened in the Last Homely House east of the Sea, "Always a bit more to discover, and no knowing what you'll find round a corner." ("Many Meetings")

[skip spence]

Yeah I suppose the elves do scrub the floor or wash the dishes just like you and me. Perhaps they even use the bathroom.

It's kinda of like your mum and dad having sex I suppose. Evidently they do it (or have done it) from time to time but you just don't want to think about it that much. Or at all.

[The Might]

I think of it as immaculate conception, LOL.