Discriminatory in Valinor? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Bellamira · 08-07-2012, 07:44 AM

That is a very good question. Why was Gimli allowed to go? Does anyone have the exact passage where it describes this?

Is it feasible that all of the Fellowship members could have gone over, had they so desired?

Valinor was created when Melkor destroyed the lands of the world the first time around. The Valar built it as their home and fortified it against Melkor's evil in the East. I think it is possible that the few non-elves who were allowed to live there, including Gimli, were allowed to do so because of their great role in defending Middle-earth against Melkor's, and then Sauron's, evil.

The Valar wanted to protect the First Born from the evil that Melkor created, so they brought them to live in Valinor. As they were going to be around until the world ended, the Valar wanted them to have the beauty and harmony that they saw in Iluvatar's vision, not the destruction of Melkor. Men, able to leave the world, had no need of such protection, because their souls could fine solace anywhere they wanted after death.

Although Melkor was thrown from the world, the Valar are still willing to bring the First Born over to Aman. So we must assume that they considered Sauron's threat to the First Born to be just as potent as Melkor's was.

Therefore, I argue that any being, including hobbits and dwarves, that were directly and hugely tormented by Sauron's evil, would have been accorded a place in Aman for the rest of their time remaining. Their souls would have been tortured in such a way that even upon death they would find no solace, unless they could first be healed in Aman.

Gimli could not have been tormented nearly so much as the ring-bearers. But he was part of the Fellowship, and around the ring for a long time while Frodo bore it, and he spent time away from his people, fighting with Men for the msot part to rid Sauron's evil from the world. I think that simply being a willing volunteer, under no oath, in the Fellowship to destroy evil once and for all, accords him the honor of Valinor.

Why didn't Merry and Pippin go? I think they were young enough and resilient enough that they did not need the healing of the Valar. I think they were perfectly contented to live out their lives in the idyllic peace of the Shire.

I think Gimli was changed enough from his experience, more so than probably any other of his people, and so he was accorded this special honor.

Another argument: The Dwarves were never really given a destiny in Iluvatar's plans. Perhaps it was deemed time, by the Valar and Iluvater, to bring an emissary over to Aman to represent his race in judgement, to see what would become of their spirits after the ending of the world.

08-07-2012, 07:44 AM	#7
Bellamira Newly Deceased Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 3	That is a very good question. Why was Gimli allowed to go? Does anyone have the exact passage where it describes this? Is it feasible that all of the Fellowship members could have gone over, had they so desired? Valinor was created when Melkor destroyed the lands of the world the first time around. The Valar built it as their home and fortified it against Melkor's evil in the East. I think it is possible that the few non-elves who were allowed to live there, including Gimli, were allowed to do so because of their great role in defending Middle-earth against Melkor's, and then Sauron's, evil. The Valar wanted to protect the First Born from the evil that Melkor created, so they brought them to live in Valinor. As they were going to be around until the world ended, the Valar wanted them to have the beauty and harmony that they saw in Iluvatar's vision, not the destruction of Melkor. Men, able to leave the world, had no need of such protection, because their souls could fine solace anywhere they wanted after death. Although Melkor was thrown from the world, the Valar are still willing to bring the First Born over to Aman. So we must assume that they considered Sauron's threat to the First Born to be just as potent as Melkor's was. Therefore, I argue that any being, including hobbits and dwarves, that were directly and hugely tormented by Sauron's evil, would have been accorded a place in Aman for the rest of their time remaining. Their souls would have been tortured in such a way that even upon death they would find no solace, unless they could first be healed in Aman. Gimli could not have been tormented nearly so much as the ring-bearers. But he was part of the Fellowship, and around the ring for a long time while Frodo bore it, and he spent time away from his people, fighting with Men for the msot part to rid Sauron's evil from the world. I think that simply being a willing volunteer, under no oath, in the Fellowship to destroy evil once and for all, accords him the honor of Valinor. Why didn't Merry and Pippin go? I think they were young enough and resilient enough that they did not need the healing of the Valar. I think they were perfectly contented to live out their lives in the idyllic peace of the Shire. I think Gimli was changed enough from his experience, more so than probably any other of his people, and so he was accorded this special honor. Another argument: The Dwarves were never really given a destiny in Iluvatar's plans. Perhaps it was deemed time, by the Valar and Iluvater, to bring an emissary over to Aman to represent his race in judgement, to see what would become of their spirits after the ending of the world.