The diminshing of the characters

[Lalaith]

Also for the people of the first age, the situation was more desperate. Morgoth was a more invincible foe than Sauron. The Elves had, as they thought, been abandoned by the Valar. Men were in an even worse position - they had been more or less ignored by the Valar, and left open to Morgoth's blandishments from the moment of their awakening. Many generations of Edain who rejected Morgoth and allied themselves with the Elves got little reward for their courage other than death and enslavement.
For the ultimate example of valour and sacrifice in Tolkien's work, I am always haunted by the Last Stand of the Men of Dor-lomin at the Fen of Serech.