Today's read was very exciting. It's really an eschatological essay concerning the fate of Men and Elves in the form of a debate. In the Elvish it is know as Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth. I am moved at the depth of Tolkien's sub-creation. As I read I can easily picture this conversation actually taking place lost in the annals of history. For Finrod and Andreth are debating what comes after death, that conversation has taken place times uncounted, and still to this very day.
As the Watchful Peace continued Finrod Felgund would often go and visit Men. He had great friendship with Andreth one of the Wise Women of the House of Beor. Furthermore another wise woman, Adanel from the House of Marach had married into her family so that Andreth learned much of their ancient lore as well. "...Finrod would often visit Andreth, whom he loved in great friendship, for he found her more ready to impart her knowledge to him that were most of the Wise among Men" (p. 305, Morgoth's Ring). At a time after Boron, Lord of the House of Beor died, Finrod struck up a conversation concerning the swift passing of Men.
When asked if Men were content in Beleriand Andreth responded: "'No heart of Man is content'" (p. 305, Morgoth's Ring). How true is that? She commented that since moving West the Shadow had been lifted, somewhat, from Men. Finrod inquired about the meaning of this. It's clear that Andreth feels, at several points, that Finrod is being condescending or patronizing of Men though he is not: "'But consider this well, Andreth, when we name you "Children of Eru" we do not speak lightly; for that name we do not utter ever in just or without full intent'" (p. 308, Morgoth's Ring). Finrod felt that Men and Elves were closest of all creatures of Middle-earth in body (hröa) and spirit (fëa). And yet he felt Men's brevity was inherent to their nature. Androth did not think it so: "'Yet among my people, from Wise unto Wise out of darkness, comes the voice saying that Men are not now as they were, nor as their true nature was in their beginning. And clearer still is said by the Wise of the People of Marach, who have preserved in memory a name for Him whom ye call Eru, though in my folk He was almost forgotten'" (p. 309, Morgoth's Ring). Men think they became short-lived due to Morgoth.
This Finrod believed for all who lived Arda Marred (or Middle-earth) had suffered some hurt due to Morgoth. This makes me thinking of the Fallen World we live in as described in Genesis. It made sense the Men were weaker now than when they first were created. Andreth responded: "'Nay, lord, the Wise among Men say: "We were not made for death, nor ever been born to die. Death was imposed upon us"" (p. 309, Morgoth's Ring). Indeed she went on to describe how the fear of death always chased Men but in the end it was inescapable. Finrod was long in silent thought for he had not heard such tidings before; that men were not made for death. He challenged her thoughts that perhaps she was confusing death and the Shadow of Morgoth which was unescapable: "'Nay, death, is but a name we give to something that he has tainted, and it sounds therefore evil; but untainted its name would be good'" (p. 310, Morgoth's Ring).
Andreth felt Elves knew nothing of death being immortal. Finrod recounted his trip over the Grinding Ice and the many that died on that grim journey. Still Andreth was unmoved: "'For ye know that in dying you do not leave the world, and that you may return to life. Otherwise it is with us: dying we die, and we go out to no return. Death is an uttermost end, a loss irremediable. And it is abominable; for it is also a wrong done to us'" (p. 311, Morgoth's Ring). Finrod questioned what hope men had if this were really the case. He then went on to debunk her thoughts concerning the Elves telling how Arda was made by Eru, who does not reside in it, and that one day, as all knew, the End of Arda would come. "'And then we must die; we must perish utterly, it seems, for we belong to Arda (in hröa and fëa). And beyond that what? "The going of no return," as you say; "the uttermost end, the irremediable loss"? (p. 312, Morgoth's Ring).
Now it was Andreth's turn to be overwhelmed by new thoughts. And though the hunter Death may be slow footed when it came to the Elves he was still inescapable. But Finrod turned the conversation back to the idea that Men were made to die and how that came to be--for if Morgoth could rob the inheritance of the Children of Eru then he was more powerful than any could imagine. He pressed Andreth for what she knew concerning this. She would say little and Finrod could not believe that Morgoth could condemn the deathless to death. "'The Lord of this World is not he, but the One who made him, and his Viceregent is Manwë, the Elder King of Arda who is blessed'" (p. 313, Morgoth's Ring). The mention of the Valar made Andreth upset for they had not summoned Men as they had done with Elves. Finrod rebuked her as one who had lived among the Light of Aman with the Valar and knowing their good character.
Turning back to what she meant when she says Men were "'...born to life everlasting, without any shadow of end'" (p. 314, Morgoth's Ring). Finrod continued to question this new thought to his ears. Andreth explained the Wise that in their true natures no living thing was to die. Perhaps its important to note that not all the Wise spoke in one accord concerning these things. Finrod pointed out that she was claiming contradictory truths: that though made of Arda Men were not bound to it and thus Men's bodies and spirits were created out of harmony which did not seem possible for anyone unmarred. Finrod explained how the Elves viewed Men: "'Strange as we deem it, we see clearly that the fëar of Men are not, as are ours, confined to Arda, nor is Arda their home'" (p. 315, Morgoth's Ring). This was a new thought to Andreth who conceded something about it seemed right though she could not explain why. Finrod continued: "'The Shadow may have darkened your unrest, bringing swifter weariness and soon turning it to disdain, but the unrest was ever there, I believe'" (p. 316, Morgoth's Ring). Sounds like eternity was set upon Men's hearts.
Middle-earth timeline: First Age, 409
Today's reading comes from: Morgoth's Ring, pages 304-317
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