Chapter 3: Anger and the Eventual Passing of Dwarves and Elves
I have heard it said that Elves lack emotions, or that we only have a few emotions. Of course, this was not said to my face, but I have overheard it when walking the corridors at night. I wish to respond to that misconception.
We experience the same emotions as the rest of the free peoples, though it may not appear so to non-Elves. We are simply slow and careful about sharing our emotions. It takes an Elf some time to consider an emotion. And then it requires a conscious effort to express it to another, if the other needs to know.
For instance, Elves are not quick to sudden outbursts of anger such as Dwarves and Men. Yet Elves know anger. Anger which is deeper and blacker than that experienced by Dwarves or Men.
Anger runs deep and strong in those who are immortal. We cannot "forgive and forget" like Men, for we can never truly forget. The past is ever present, and wrongs are constantly relived. Only through self-discipline and the careful control of all emotions can the race of the Elves interact with mortals without frightening, disgusting, or confusing them. That is one reason why Elves deign to show their emotions too readily or too much.
The major families of the race of Elves were sundered a long, long time ago because of anger. The sons of Feanor and their followers separated themselves from those who rejected the absolute loyalties demanded by Feanor. The anger of one house against another lasted for more than the first two ages of Middle Earth and has been passed from generation to generation. This anger even effected the Valar, and only now are some Eldar allowed to return to Valinor. Emotions can be the downfall of whole races of peoples.
Each race expresses emotions uniquely fitting their race's place in the design of Iluvitar. For example: Dwarves are quick to anger. Distrustful of the stranger. Greedy concerning material wealth. And they are prideful to the point of obsession.
Yet Dwarves are also quick to forgiveness. They delight in laughter from the heart. Music is a passion. They are lovers of great works of art and beauty. And they are loyal, strong and brave to the point of death.
My great friend, Gimli of the Fellowship, has introduced me to his family and friends from the Blue Mountains. I have learned more truth about the Dwarves from my short few years of knowing and working with them, than all the ages of mistrust and suspicion handed down to me from my father. And though I am probably the single person of my race most in sympathy with Dwarvish nature, I believe our races are forever destined to remain essentially sundered.
For the Dwarves are an insular people, while the Elves are naturally inclined to explore and teach. Yet in one fundamental way our two races are very much alike: We are leaving the world of Middle Earth to Mankind.
The Elves do so by departing over the Sundering Sea to our home in the Blessed Realm. We cannot stop this migration. It is a part of every Elf left in Middle Earth - the longing for the Sea and for Valinor.
The Dwarves are leaving Middle Earth in their own way. They are already retreating deeper and deeper into their mountain homes. Even in the few short years the Dwarves have occupied the Glittering Caves, they have already left the rooms closest to the sunlight, and are headed further underground. A day will come when Elves and Dwarves are no longer to be found walking the wide paths under star and sun.
In those days, Mankind will forget that our races once freely mingled with theirs - side by side as co-equal children of Iluvitar. Elves and Dwarves will be spoken of as beings from a distant time and place; eventually becoming no more real than rumor and myth. As the Ents have become.
Yet if these writings and the writings of the hobbits are carried forward, perhaps Mankind will believe again in his kinship with other free peoples, and will not persist in thinking that he himself is unique in all creation.
I have heard it said that Elves lack emotions, or that we only have a few emotions. Of course, this was not said to my face, but I have overheard it when walking the corridors at night. I wish to respond to that misconception.
We experience the same emotions as the rest of the free peoples, though it may not appear so to non-Elves. We are simply slow and careful about sharing our emotions. It takes an Elf some time to consider an emotion. And then it requires a conscious effort to express it to another, if the other needs to know.
For instance, Elves are not quick to sudden outbursts of anger such as Dwarves and Men. Yet Elves know anger. Anger which is deeper and blacker than that experienced by Dwarves or Men.
Anger runs deep and strong in those who are immortal. We cannot "forgive and forget" like Men, for we can never truly forget. The past is ever present, and wrongs are constantly relived. Only through self-discipline and the careful control of all emotions can the race of the Elves interact with mortals without frightening, disgusting, or confusing them. That is one reason why Elves deign to show their emotions too readily or too much.
The major families of the race of Elves were sundered a long, long time ago because of anger. The sons of Feanor and their followers separated themselves from those who rejected the absolute loyalties demanded by Feanor. The anger of one house against another lasted for more than the first two ages of Middle Earth and has been passed from generation to generation. This anger even effected the Valar, and only now are some Eldar allowed to return to Valinor. Emotions can be the downfall of whole races of peoples.
Each race expresses emotions uniquely fitting their race's place in the design of Iluvitar. For example: Dwarves are quick to anger. Distrustful of the stranger. Greedy concerning material wealth. And they are prideful to the point of obsession.
Yet Dwarves are also quick to forgiveness. They delight in laughter from the heart. Music is a passion. They are lovers of great works of art and beauty. And they are loyal, strong and brave to the point of death.
My great friend, Gimli of the Fellowship, has introduced me to his family and friends from the Blue Mountains. I have learned more truth about the Dwarves from my short few years of knowing and working with them, than all the ages of mistrust and suspicion handed down to me from my father. And though I am probably the single person of my race most in sympathy with Dwarvish nature, I believe our races are forever destined to remain essentially sundered.
For the Dwarves are an insular people, while the Elves are naturally inclined to explore and teach. Yet in one fundamental way our two races are very much alike: We are leaving the world of Middle Earth to Mankind.
The Elves do so by departing over the Sundering Sea to our home in the Blessed Realm. We cannot stop this migration. It is a part of every Elf left in Middle Earth - the longing for the Sea and for Valinor.
The Dwarves are leaving Middle Earth in their own way. They are already retreating deeper and deeper into their mountain homes. Even in the few short years the Dwarves have occupied the Glittering Caves, they have already left the rooms closest to the sunlight, and are headed further underground. A day will come when Elves and Dwarves are no longer to be found walking the wide paths under star and sun.
In those days, Mankind will forget that our races once freely mingled with theirs - side by side as co-equal children of Iluvitar. Elves and Dwarves will be spoken of as beings from a distant time and place; eventually becoming no more real than rumor and myth. As the Ents have become.
Yet if these writings and the writings of the hobbits are carried forward, perhaps Mankind will believe again in his kinship with other free peoples, and will not persist in thinking that he himself is unique in all creation.