Manwë stumbles

[Morthoron]

Originally Posted by alatar

Eru changed this, breathing life into Aule's creations, who shirked when Aule thought to destroy them.

So what of Manwe? Does he have the same spark within, a flame that, like the dwarves, would make him flinch when Eru calls? Why would men, elves, etc have the notion to flee - to disobey the creator - and not Manwe?

I guess all that I'm looking for is a moment of doubt to spring forth from Manwe. One little moment to show that he's not some machine.

Because Manwe is dedicated to his mission does not mean he lacks a spark. Society somehow eschews the thought of consistently adhering to goodness but accepts the fundamental presence of evil, or the ease of corruptiveness; therefore, we can comprehend Morgoth's descent into evil more easily than Manwe's staying the course and following Eru's vision, because it is far more glamorous and interesting (as a simple example, in the movie Gone With the Wind, most folks remember Vivian Leigh's Scarlett O'Hara, but tend to forget Olivia DeHavilland's Melanie Hamilton). For every Mother Theresa there are thousands who would spit a baby on a bayonet.

But Manwe was certainly no machine. Consider the invasion of Ar-Pharazon and the Numenoreans. Was it out of cowardice that he surrendered his station to Eru's justice? I would say that is far-fetched. Did Manwe lack the military might to quash Ar-Pharazon? I would say that is absurd as well, seeing as he could have easily sent Eonwe and the armies that crushed Morgoth in the War of Wrath to do the same against the Numenoreans. Why then did he beg Eru's favor in this instance? Perhaps because he was not dealing with Morgoth and his cast of monstrosities, rather, it was the race of men, Children of Illuvtar, and he felt it was not in his power (or duty, if you will) to destroy men. That alone was for Eru to handle (as was the case of the Noldor, who, after the kin-slayings, escaped divine justice, or Eonwe letting Maedhros and Maglor escape after they stole the Silmarils and committed murder).

We find Manwe doubting about pressing issues, but we never see him doubt the master plan. And, after all, we are not speaking of a frail human's battered conscience, but a divinity who has seen more of the Creator's vision than any other Ainur; therefore, to psychoanalyze Manwe is rather like putting the Archangel Michael on the therapist's couch and asking him why he didn't follow Lucifer in his rebellion in Paradise Lost.