The Gift of Men
March 04, 2020
the Elves remain until the end of days, and their love of the Earth and all the world is more single and more poignant therefore, and as the years lengthen ever more sorrowful. For the Elves die not till the world dies, unless they are slain or waste in grief; neither does age subdue their strength, unless one grow weary of ten thousand centuries;
Quenta Silmarillion: Chapter 1, J.R.R Tolkien
When Elves die their spirits pass from Middle-earth to the far west of the realm, into the Halls of Mandos. There, they await reincarnation into Middle-earth in new bodily form, or the end of the world. The spirits of the Elves are closely coupled to the world of Arda and they find great joy in the creation of Eru Ilúvatar.
‘But to the Atani I will give a new gift.’ Therefore he willed that the hearts of Men should seek beyond the world and should find no rest therein;
It is one with this gift of freedom that the children of Men dwell only a short space in the world alive, and are not bound to it, and depart soon whither the Elves know not.
In contrast to the immortal Elves, the lifespans of the Men of Middle-earth are fleeting. Eru created them free from the bonds that tie the Elves to the fate of the world. Men live in Arda for a short time; able to experience her beauty but not beholden to it. When they die their spirits pass outside of the realm, perhaps to dwell with Ilúvatar himself.
Death is their fate, the gift of Ilúvatar, which as Time wears even the Powers shall envy.
The gifts of freedom and death go hand-in-hand. It is through death that Men are truly freed from bondage to the world.
Memento mori is a Latin phrase that roughly translates to “remember your death.” This saying calls us to acknowledge the transient nature of our lives. But in the hopeful soul it points towards an ultimate freedom from the created world.