'Which is as Fate to all Things Else’ - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Nilpaurion Felagund · 02-14-2006, 12:25 AM

I. Original Conception

[Rúmil: ][Eru] devised that Men should have a free virtue whereby within the limits of the powers and substances and chances of the world they might fashion and design their life beyond even the original Music of the Ainur that is as fate to all things else.

HoME I, The Music of the Ainur--emphasis mine

Remember that by this time, death for Men was nothing special.

How come, when Death as a gift to Men was introduced, the wording was not much changed?

Therefore [Eru] willed that the hearts of Men should seek beyond the world and should find no rest therein; but they should have a virtue to shape their life, amid the powers and chances of the world, beyond the Music of the Ainur, which is as fate to all things else; and of their operation everything should be, in form and deed, completed, and the world fulfilled unto the last and smallest.

TS Ainulindalë--emphasis mine

This argues much for the special freedom of action for Men in Arda. I think we find undertones of this in the Sketch of the Mythology:

If Turgon does Ylmir's will [to prepare for battle against Morgoth] Tuor is to abide a while in Gondolin and then go back to Hithlum with a force of Gnomes and draw Men once more into alliance with the Elves, for 'without Men the Elves shall not prevail against the Orcs and Balrogs'.

HoME IV, The Earliest 'Silmarillion' 16--emphasis mine

The importance of the aid of Men survives into the Quenta:

[Ulmo: ]Forget the treachery of Uldor the accursed, and remember Húrin; for without mortal Men the Elves shall not prevail against the Balrogs and the Orcs.

HoME IV, The Quenta 16 (QII)--emphasis mine

All these attention Ulmo has for Men became in the later stages of the mythology focused on one Man:

II. Tuor

This is Ulmo's speech to Tuor in the most recent form available:

[Ulmo: ]But behold! in the armour of Fate (as the Children of Earth name it) there is ever a rift, and in the walls of Doom a breach . . . Yet Doom is strong . . . And now the Curse of Mandos hastens to its fulfilment, and all the works of the Noldor shall perish, and every hope which they build shall crumble. The last hope alone is left, the hope that they have not looked for and have not prepared. And that hope lieth in thee; for so I have chosen.

UT I 1--emphases mine

There is an rift in the armour of Fate. The Music of the Ainur is as fate to all things else, except Men. Hmmm . . .

[Ulmo: I]t is not for thy valour only that I send thee, but to bring into the world a hope beyond thy sight, and a light that shall pierce the darkness.

ibid--emphasis mine

Now, this is all so very interesting, the concept that somehow, Men can bring hope from beyond the world into it.

( . . . to be continued, I still have to scour Athrabeth)

View Poll Results: The ‘special freedom’ of Man is expressed:
During his lifetime, in Arda, through special freedom of action	22	61.11%
In the fact of the Death	21	58.33%
After the Death	12	33.33%
I’m not sure	3	8.33%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 36. You may not vote on this poll

02-14-2006, 12:25 AM	#13
Nilpaurion Felagund Scion of The Faithful Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: The brink, where hope and despair are akin. [The Philippines] Posts: 5,312	Part I I. Original Conception [Rúmil: ][Eru] devised that Men should have a free virtue whereby within the limits of the powers and substances and chances of the world they might fashion and design their life beyond even the original Music of the Ainur that is as fate to all things else. HoME I, The Music of the Ainur--emphasis mine Remember that by this time, death for Men was nothing special. How come, when Death as a gift to Men was introduced, the wording was not much changed? Therefore [Eru] willed that the hearts of Men should seek beyond the world and should find no rest therein; but they should have a virtue to shape their life, amid the powers and chances of the world, beyond the Music of the Ainur, which is as fate to all things else; and of their operation everything should be, in form and deed, completed, and the world fulfilled unto the last and smallest. TS Ainulindalë--emphasis mine This argues much for the special freedom of action for Men in Arda. I think we find undertones of this in the Sketch of the Mythology: If Turgon does Ylmir's will [to prepare for battle against Morgoth] Tuor is to abide a while in Gondolin and then go back to Hithlum with a force of Gnomes and draw Men once more into alliance with the Elves, for 'without Men the Elves shall not prevail against the Orcs and Balrogs'. HoME IV, The Earliest 'Silmarillion' 16--emphasis mine The importance of the aid of Men survives into the Quenta: [Ulmo: ]Forget the treachery of Uldor the accursed, and remember Húrin; for without mortal Men the Elves shall not prevail against the Balrogs and the Orcs. HoME IV, The Quenta 16 (QII)--emphasis mine All these attention Ulmo has for Men became in the later stages of the mythology focused on one Man: II. Tuor This is Ulmo's speech to Tuor in the most recent form available: [Ulmo: ]But behold! in the armour of Fate (as the Children of Earth name it) there is ever a rift, and in the walls of Doom a breach . . . Yet Doom is strong . . . And now the Curse of Mandos hastens to its fulfilment, and all the works of the Noldor shall perish, and every hope which they build shall crumble. The last hope alone is left, the hope that they have not looked for and have not prepared. And that hope lieth in thee; for so I have chosen. UT I 1--emphases mine There is an rift in the armour of Fate. The Music of the Ainur is as fate to all things else, except Men. Hmmm . . . [Ulmo: I]t is not for thy valour only that I send thee, but to bring into the world a hope beyond thy sight, and a light that shall pierce the darkness. ibid--emphasis mine Now, this is all so very interesting, the concept that somehow, Men can bring hope from beyond the world into it. ( . . . to be continued, I still have to scour Athrabeth) __________________ フェンリス鴨 (Fenrisu Kamo) The plot, cut, defeated. I intend to copy this sig forever - so far so good...