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I had the same question reading Tolkien. The Elves don't age. They live amogst deities and have first hand knowledge of the creator of the universe. More so, th

I had the same question reading Tolkien. The Elves don't age. They live amogst deities and have first hand knowledge of the creator of the universe. More so, they even know beyond doubt the fate that awaits those who die from other means: awaiting the end of the world in the comparatively boresome Halls of Mandos. Why would any Elf go to war as often as they do in Tolkien's universe seemed unexplicable.

mmcdermott 5y ago
Tolkien's elves were also supposed to be morally pure to a greater degree than most of the world. That this would entail risking one's own longer lifespan for the greater good seems internally consistent. I think the Silmarillion also indicated that elves reincarnate, which would mean death wouldn't even be the end for them.
inglor_cz 5y ago
Elves can get reincarnated from the Halls of Mandos and it is not entirely clear how often that happened, but it definitely did happen. Glorfindel of LOTR was a reincarnation of a First Age Noldo. To cite Tolkien: Elves were destined to be 'immortal', that is not to die within the unknown limits decreed by the One, which at the most could be until the end of the life of the Earth as a habitable realm. Their death - by any injury to their bodies so severe that it could not be healed - and the disembodiment of their spirits was an 'unnatural' and grievous matter. It was therefore the duty of the Valar, by command of the One, to restore them to incarnate life, if they desired it. But this 'restoration' could be delayed by Manwe, if the fea while alive had done evil deeds and refused to repent of them, or still harboured any malice against any other person among the living. [0] Of course, most of the reincarnated Elves probably stayed in Aman, so they had little influence on the development of Middle-earth. But that is not a bad consequence of getting killed in a war. [0] https://www.reddit.com/r/tolkienfans/comments/90vqkq/why_exactly_was_glorfindel_reincarnated/ https://www.reddit.com/r/tolkienfans/comments/90vqkq/why_exa...
imtringued 5y ago
>Why would any Elf go to war as often as they do in Tolkien's universe seemed unexplicable. Presumably because the loss of a 1000 year old friend hurts a lot.

mmcdermott 5y ago

Tolkien's elves were also supposed to be morally pure to a greater degree than most of the world. That this would entail risking one's own longer lifespan for the greater good seems internally consistent. I think the Silmarillion also indicated that elves reincarnate, which would mean death wouldn't even be the end for them.

inglor_cz 5y ago

Elves can get reincarnated from the Halls of Mandos and it is not entirely clear how often that happened, but it definitely did happen. Glorfindel of LOTR was a reincarnation of a First Age Noldo. To cite Tolkien: Elves were destined to be 'immortal', that is not to die within the unknown limits decreed by the One, which at the most could be until the end of the life of the Earth as a habitable realm. Their death - by any injury to their bodies so severe that it could not be healed - and the disembodiment of their spirits was an 'unnatural' and grievous matter. It was therefore the duty of the Valar, by command of the One, to restore them to incarnate life, if they desired it. But this 'restoration' could be delayed by Manwe, if the fea while alive had done evil deeds and refused to repent of them, or still harboured any malice against any other person among the living. [0] Of course, most of the reincarnated Elves probably stayed in Aman, so they had little influence on the development of Middle-earth. But that is not a bad consequence of getting killed in a war. [0] https://www.reddit.com/r/tolkienfans/comments/90vqkq/why_exactly_was_glorfindel_reincarnated/ https://www.reddit.com/r/tolkienfans/comments/90vqkq/why_exa...

imtringued 5y ago

>Why would any Elf go to war as often as they do in Tolkien's universe seemed unexplicable. Presumably because the loss of a 1000 year old friend hurts a lot.