The role of Fate in Middle Earth - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Orald · 02-08-2001, 06:49 PM

<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Ghost-Prince of Cardolan
Posts: 501</TD><TD></TD></TR></TABLE>
Re: The role of Fate in Middle Earth

I think everything is governed by fate, it is inescapable. I believe that in ME, Arda, etc. everyone has a destiny that was preordained by Ilùvatar. It may seem as though a certain person is going against what Ilùvatar said but this is not true, as he said, it is only tributary to his glory and in the end but part of his design. It might feel like fate isn't predestined because no one can see the future, but certain entities can. Manwë for one and Namo is another. Even then certain things aren't "revealed" to them. Revealed was a good word to choose because this implies that someone else does know. Ilùvatar is the most likely candidate, normally we would associate omniscience to one such as he. He created everything so it should be safe to assume that he knows how everything will be. So if someone, even a Supreme Being knows everything then fate exists, for everything and there are no exceptions.

Therefore Feanor was destined to create the silmarills, the silmarills were destined to be stolen, lost, destroyed, Aragorn was destined to become king, Frodo was destined to come into possession of the ring, and so on.

It may seem like someone is going to do something and end up not doing it, but if Ilùvatar is omniscient, then he knows this is going to come to be and it becomes destiny merely because it can be no other way.

A little philosophical, I don't know if I explained my point well enough to understand. If I did, then that is great, if not, post again I guess.

"It seems fate is not without a sense of irony."</p>

02-08-2001, 06:49 PM	#2
Orald Shadow of Malice Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: right behind you Posts: 843	<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Ghost-Prince of Cardolan Posts: 501</TD><TD></TD></TR></TABLE> Re: The role of Fate in Middle Earth I think everything is governed by fate, it is inescapable. I believe that in ME, Arda, etc. everyone has a destiny that was preordained by Ilùvatar. It may seem as though a certain person is going against what Ilùvatar said but this is not true, as he said, it is only tributary to his glory and in the end but part of his design. It might feel like fate isn't predestined because no one can see the future, but certain entities can. Manwë for one and Namo is another. Even then certain things aren't "revealed" to them. Revealed was a good word to choose because this implies that someone else does know. Ilùvatar is the most likely candidate, normally we would associate omniscience to one such as he. He created everything so it should be safe to assume that he knows how everything will be. So if someone, even a Supreme Being knows everything then fate exists, for everything and there are no exceptions. Therefore Feanor was destined to create the silmarills, the silmarills were destined to be stolen, lost, destroyed, Aragorn was destined to become king, Frodo was destined to come into possession of the ring, and so on. It may seem like someone is going to do something and end up not doing it, but if Ilùvatar is omniscient, then he knows this is going to come to be and it becomes destiny merely because it can be no other way. A little philosophical, I don't know if I explained my point well enough to understand. If I did, then that is great, if not, post again I guess. "It seems fate is not without a sense of irony."</p>