Elros's Choice - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

The Squatter of Amon Rûdh · 09-03-2002, 01:31 PM

Surprisingly little is said about Elros' reasons for choosing the fate of Men. Certainly he didn't elect his fate because of a woman, but because it appealed to him more than the fate of the Elves. I don't see why people find this so difficult to understand: Men are not so bound to the world as the Eldar, being able to escape its confines after death; and they have the gift of free will, being able make their own destiny independently of the Music of the Ainur.
Perhaps Elros had no desire to exchange his freedom of action for long life; perhaps he was even curious about what lay beyond the world he knew, and realised that he would never know if he chose to be numbered among the Eldar. I doubt that he was worried about being the 'worst of the best', as he was descended from kings on either side of his family, and he stood to be an important Elf if he chose that path: we've seen what his brother achieved, and I can't imagine that Elros would have done any less. It's even possible that, knowing how the Firstborn were tied to fate, he believed that only Men could truly make a difference.

All of which speculation is purely academic unless someone can find an explanation somewhere in the convolutions of the Histories.

[ September 03, 2002: Message edited by: Squatter of Amon Rudh ]

09-03-2002, 01:31 PM	#1
The Squatter of Amon Rûdh Spectre of Decay Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Bar-en-Danwedh Posts: 2,178	Surprisingly little is said about Elros' reasons for choosing the fate of Men. Certainly he didn't elect his fate because of a woman, but because it appealed to him more than the fate of the Elves. I don't see why people find this so difficult to understand: Men are not so bound to the world as the Eldar, being able to escape its confines after death; and they have the gift of free will, being able make their own destiny independently of the Music of the Ainur. Perhaps Elros had no desire to exchange his freedom of action for long life; perhaps he was even curious about what lay beyond the world he knew, and realised that he would never know if he chose to be numbered among the Eldar. I doubt that he was worried about being the 'worst of the best', as he was descended from kings on either side of his family, and he stood to be an important Elf if he chose that path: we've seen what his brother achieved, and I can't imagine that Elros would have done any less. It's even possible that, knowing how the Firstborn were tied to fate, he believed that only Men could truly make a difference. All of which speculation is purely academic unless someone can find an explanation somewhere in the convolutions of the Histories. [ September 03, 2002: Message edited by: Squatter of Amon Rudh ] __________________ Man kenuva métim' andúne?