The Machinations of Melkor
April 01, 2020
In the Ainulindalë, Eru Ilúvatar gives the Ainur a theme which guides them in the composition of their music. After the Music concludes, Ilúvatar gives them a vision of how their music would take physical form as the world of Arda. As they witness the history of the world unfolding before them, each Ainur has their thought drawn to a particular aspect. In particular Ulmo, Manwë, and Aulë are described as having pondered the water, air, and earth, respectively.
And Ilúvatar spoke to Ulmo, and said: “Seest thou not how here in this little realm in the Deeps of Time Melkor hath made war upon thy province? He hath bethought him of bitter cold immoderate, and yet hath not destroyed the beauty of thy fountains, nor of thy clear pools. Behold the snow, and the cunning work of frost! Melkor hath devised heats and fire without restraint, and hath not dried up thy desire nor utterly quelled the music of the sea. Behold rather the height and glory of the clouds, and the everchanging mists; and listen to the fall of rain upon the Earth!”
Ainulindalë, J.R.R Tolkien
Melkor’s attempts to disrupt the work of the other Ainur manifest as extreme heat, bitter coldness, and other natural destructions. Ilúvatar shows Ulmo that Melkor’s discord only served to make the waters which Ulmo loved more beautiful, creating snow and mist. Ilúvatar reiterates that all of Melkor’s attempts to rebel against him are all within the confines of creation. Thus nothing that Melkor could do would permanently divert the course of Arda from the original purposes of Ilúvatar. Although Melkor would bring sorrow and woe to Elves and Men—the Children of Ilúvatar—all of his evil designs would only contribute to the glory and beauty of Arda.
When the world seems to be filled with suffering, evil, and death it can be hard to believe in God; to reconcile the existence of a loving and merciful God with a world that can seem so cruel and uncaring. To let fear warp our minds, twisting our thoughts away from the eternal to dwell only on the temporal, is to give in to the temptation of despair. For we know that we will return to dust and the world too will come to an end one day. And if that is truly our end, then we have reason to despair. But if we believe in that which lies beyond the bounds of the world, we can see the light of hope that pierces through the dark.