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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

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Old 07-14-2008, 07:30 PM   #41
Peregrin Took
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I'm not entirely sure. Tolkien does say that death is the gift of Man...
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Old 07-15-2008, 12:20 PM   #42
Gollum the Great
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Silmaril

In the Akallabeth the Valars', messenger says:

"And the Doom of Men, that they should depart, was at first a gift of Iluvatar."
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Old 07-15-2008, 01:34 PM   #43
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I'm not entirely sue on this matter, men have the gift of death, so they can pass out of the world and it's griefs. But after men die they go to another heaven-like place, do they not? Also, men have more freedom then say the elves, men can run around and do things that elves cannot do, so that also is freedom... But the greatest of all of them? I do not know.
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Old 07-16-2008, 08:16 AM   #44
Hot, crispy nice hobbit
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Pipe Gift of Illuvator..?

I voted for the gift of Death. There was an pretty good explanation in the Akallabeth:

Quote:
'... The Eldar, you say, are unpunished, and even those who revelled do not die. Yet that is to them neither reward nor punishment, but the fulfilment of their being. They cannot escape, and are bound to this world, never to leave it so long as it lasts, for its life is theirs. And you are punished for the rebellion of Men, you say, in which you had small part, and so it is that you die. But that was not at first appointed for a punishment. Thus you escape, and leave the world, and are not bound to it, in hope or in weariness. Which of us therefore should envy the others?' - The Akallabeth, The Silmarillion
There was a much better argument in HOME: Morgoth's Ring, of course. (Self-multilation for misplacement). But it kind of make you wonder... are there other worlds and universes outside of Arda?

I can't contemplate Non-being... but I can swallow the fact that some folk may be able to contemplate non-being. The very fact that I can accept that fact shows that imagination has no limits (mine at least... with the exception of dreaming of foul breathe...). Maybe the gift of Death allowed Men to exit the limitations of the living world, and into something more akin to their imaginations?
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