The Fall of Man

Before I dive into the details of this post I think a little context will be helpful. As I am seeking to read chronologically through Tolkien's Middle-earth I am incorporating texts from unpublished materials. Books like Unfinished Tales and The History of Middle-earth (of which there are 12 volumes!) contain writings of Tolkien that were unfinished, unpublished, and unused for various reasons. My last two posts detailed the conversation of Finrod of the Elves and Andreth who is human. In the midst of that conversation Andreth reveals that Men do not believe they were made for Death; however, she would say little regarding how Men's nature was changed. Tolkien wrote another account of this conversation were Andreth discusses in detail the changed nature of Men or perhaps better said the Fall of Man. It's noted that Tolkien abandoned this explanation feeling it to be a parody of Christianity.

Being urged by Finrod Andreth recounted the Fall of Man which came to her from her kinswoman Adanel of the People of Marach. "'Some say the Disaster happened at the beginning of the history of our people, before any had yet died. The Voice had spoken to us, and we had listened. The Voice said: 'Ye are my children. I have sent you to dwell here. In time ye will inherit all this Earth, but first ye must be children and learn. Call on me and I shall hear; I am watching over you'" (p. 345, Morgoth's Ring). As Men made words they often called on the Voice and it responded but seldom answered their questions: "'First seek to find the answer yourselves. For ye will have joy in the finding, and so grow from childhood and become wise. Do not seek to leave childhood before your time'" (p. 345-46, Morgoth's Ring). But people are restless and hasty and spoke less to the Voice.

"'Then one appeared among us, in our own form visible, but greater and more beautiful; and he said that he had come out of pity. 'Ye should not have been left alone and uninstructed,' he said'" (p. 346, Morgoth's Ring). This new voice, accompanied by visible features such as beauty and adorned with a jewel enhanced crown, offered to teach Men many things that would make their lives more abundant and easy. "'I am the Giver of Gifts,' he said; 'and the gifts shall never fail as long as ye trust me'" (p. 346, Morgoth's Ring). So Men adopted this teacher and became dependent on him. It seemed that all he taught was good, in the beginning at least. But in increasing measure who spoke of the devouring Dark. "'Greatest of all is the Dark,' he said, 'for it has no bounds. I came out of the Dark, but I am its master'" (p. 346, Morgoth's Ring). The teacher implied only he could rescue Man from the Dark.

It was at this time people told the teacher about the Voice. "'But his face became terrible; for he was angry. 'Fools!' he said. 'That was the Voice of the Dark. It wishes to keep you from me; for It is hungry for you'" (p. 346, Morgoth's Ring). To the dismay of Men the teacher left for a long time. As life grew more difficulty and the gifts ceased Men became afraid. An eclipse came sending panic among all when the teacher returned rebuking them for some still believed in the Voice. That day the teacher gave them a choice to serve the Voice of the Dark or himself. And then the Fall:

"'Then in fear we spoke as he commanded, saying: "Thou art the Lord; Thee only we will serve. The Voice we abjure and will not hearken to it again.' 'So be it!' he said. 'Now build Me a house upon a high place, and call it the House of the Lord. Thither will I come when I will. There ye shall call on Me and make your petitions to Me'" (p. 347, Morgoth's Ring). The house was built and Men bowed down to their new lord claiming him to be the One Great. In fire and flame this new lord left the house. Seldom he came back, even when Men called upon him, and when he did he demanded gifts from them or commanded deeds be done. "'The first Voice we never heard again, save once. In the stillness of the night It spoke, saying: 'Ye have abjured Me, but ye remain Mine. I gave you life. Now it shall be shortened, and each of you in a little while shall come to Me, to learn who is your Lord: the one ye worship, or I who made him'" (p. 347, Morgoth's Ring).

Then the Darkness increased and Men started to die. They called upon the teacher, the Giver of Gifts, but he did not answer. At long last he came with proud disposition saying to Men: "'I do not trouble that some of you should die and go to appease the hunger of the Dark; for otherwise there would soon be too many of you, crawling like lice on the Earth. But if ye do not do My will, ye will feel My anger, and ye will die sooner, for I will slay you'" (p. 348, Morgoth's Ring). Indeed, it seemed that Men did begin to die sooner, from various afflictions at that time. It is told that Men did his bidding, no matter how evil it be, to appease him but still they were afflicted. To the strongest and most cruel of Men their lord gave secret knowledge, gifts, and respite, so that they lorded it over and enslaved other Men.

It was in this time that some Men stood against this tyranny saying: "'Now we know at last who lied, and who desired to devour us. Not the first Voice. It is the Master that we have taken who is the Darkness; and he did not come forth from it, as he said, but he dwells in it. We will serve him no longer! He is our Enemy!'" (p. 348, Morgoth's Ring). Fearful that these comments would anger their Dark Lord some of the people killed them on the spot. Those that fled were hunted and taken to the high place to be burned alive. But there were some who escaped hoping to flee the shadow and perhaps to find the Voice again.

Wow. Tolkien's son Christopher noted that he did not know what his father meant by this story being a parody of Christianity. I can certainly see parallels and perhaps that's why it was not included. Particularly how Morgoth comes in, parading to be an angel of light, a Giver of Gifts, and distorting the words of the Voice as Satan did in the Garden of Eden. I can see parallels in this story to the Christian story of Morgoth's reckless hate for Men who listen to the Voice like the Biblical Enemy Satan hates those who follow Jesus. But the story is not the same and I certainly don't read it as a parody of the Christian faith. Regardless, this adds a whole other dimension when reading The Silmarillion when it's casually mentioned that Men began migrating West to flee from the darkness. This is tough stuff. The depravity of Man in Middle-earth is perilously close to the depravity of Man in this world.

Middle-earth timeline: First Age 409 (Being in the context of the debate of Finrod and Andreth)
Today's reading comes from: Morgoth's Ring, pages 345-349