If you were half-elf would you be mort or imortal

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

For that I feel a little sympathy for Elros' descendants who were Elf wannabe's. Just because their distant ancestor chose to be mortal they are all doomed to di.

[Nurvingiel]

Yeah. But I think I figured out why this must be so. Elros will now have mortal descendants. They can have many more descendants than Elrond who, with three children, actually has one of the larger Elf families. If even half of Elros's descendants chose immortality, there would suddenly be a lot more immortal people in the world. Then all their descendants, both immortal and mortal, would have children who were also given the choice.

Eru had to draw the line somewhere, so he started early and ended at Elros.

[Beor]

Originally Posted by Morgoth the Elfbit

I dont know about immortality being the greater gift. Remember originally death wasnt considered bad for men. Only after Morgoth confused their idea of it did they begin to envy elves. Elves also envied men for their gift of not being bound to this world. I think they are both equal but for me I would pick immortality.

I know, thats what I am saying. Origionally, it was good, the gift of Illuvatar. No one ever called the immortality of the elves "the other gift of Illuvatar". It was all a big mess once Melkor got involved, but I still think that men got the better of the deal. At least we can leave when we want. We aint got to stick around forever, or hang out at Mando's halls (which are now probably Mandos' Disco or something, Mando's Irish Pub or something). Anyway, men spend some time here then are free to go, whereas elves are bound to the world and its fate. Screw immortality! There can be only one!

[CrazySquirrel]

Originally Posted by Beor

Screw immortality! There can be only one!

Hmm... I wander what will you say at 80 ?

[Maerbenn]

Originally Posted by Nurvingiel

... Elros (who was born immortal) ...
...
I guess it only goes immortality > mortality and not the other way around.

A note in Unfinished Tales, attached to ‘The Line of Elros’, says:

In this account, only Elros was granted a peculiar longevity, and it is said here that he and his brother Elrond were not differently endowed in the physical potential of life, but that since Elros elected to remain among the kindred of Men he retained the chief characteristic of Men as opposed to the Quendi: the seeking ‘elsewhither’, as the Eldar called it, the ‘weariness’ or desire to depart from the world.

A number of people have listed this citation as evidence of the natural mortality of Elros and Elrond.

Originally Posted by Beor

No one ever called the immortality of the elves "the other gift of Illuvatar".

Professor J.R.R. Tolkien did, in The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien no. 153:

Immortality and Mortality being the special gifts of God to the EruhÃ*ni ...

[Beor]

Your superior knowledge has once again cast a shadow of shame upon my soul.

[Gordis]

Originally Posted by Maerbenn

A note in Unfinished Tales, attached to ‘The Line of Elros’, says:A number of people have listed this citation as evidence of the natural mortality of Elros and Elrond.
...since Elros elected to remain among the kindred of Men he retained the chief characteristic of Men as opposed to the Quendi: the seeking ‘elsewhither’, as the Eldar called it, the ‘weariness’ or desire to depart from the world.

It seems that Elros's descendents totally lacked those characteristics, instead they were seeking immortality. They clearly disapproved of Elros's choice. I believe that from the time of Tar-Cyriatan till the Downfall, the founder of the Numenorean royal line was referred to as "Elros the Fool".

[Lotesse]

I don't know, call me crazy, but to me immortality feels like a far more interesting and attractive option as opposed to death.

[Lotesse]

Then again, every time someone I loved died, I'd have to endure that unbearable grief that comes afterward, life's cruel punishment for the act of loving. This kind of horrible hurt would keep happening, as people would keep dying ad infinitum, and since I am the person I am, I'd never be able to get myself to stop loving people to prevent furthur grieving, so the "cycle of life" would no longer be cyclical, but infinitely linear... a dreary thought indeed.
Plus, the world would probably stop being interesting after a couple hundred years of this, especially if you had no other "highlanders" to be able to share the experience with (there can be only one, right?). Or "elves", or whatever.

So, good question. Maybe immortality's not all it's cracked up to be.

[Manveru]

it is a really hard decision. but imagine u had chose immortality a while ago and lived through most of human history. that would be so awesome. living through the roman empire, the dark ages would kinda suck but im sure the renaissance would make up for it. then living through the scientific revolution and then the industrial revolution would be so crazy.

[Lotesse]

I know! I was watching "Russian Ark" last night, where the director (actually, his cameraman) does a continuous Steadycam journey through L'Hermitage in St. Petersburg, and the narrator guy gets to briefly witness various moments throughout the history of the building. He sees Peter, Catherine, different political figures, the Romanov family at breakfast the day before the Bolshevik revolution, etcetera each time he opens and goes through a new door in L'Hermitage. Anyway - To be a witness to the giant story of the progression of the human race would ABSOLUTELY be a dream come true, for me. I used to have a vampire obsession, stemming from my fascination for this very idea.

But when would the story end? And when (and if) it did end, where then would the immortals go? Hmmmm...

[Gulio, Strength of Many]

If I could choose, I'd pick mortality. But that's probably just because of the knowledge I have that isn't the end for me (but I'll leave that to the Religion thread ).

I think immortality has always been a fascination of the human race, and Tolkein carried that desire for eternal life into his writings. How many years were spent searching for the fountain of youth? Even now, people fear old age because is only a step away. However, I think living forever would be terribly dull. But it would be cool to see history unfold before your eyes.

[durinsbane2244]

1st of all, living through the roman empire and dark ages and everyting would be if no one killed you, but also, if you were that sad and depressed, you could kill yourslef, but it would be nice if you could change your mind and become mortal, which i think Aowyn did. . .

[Rosie Gamgee]

I'd choose mortality. Earthly life is crappy enough as it is. One lifetime's more than enough.

[inked]

Originally Posted by Telcontar_Dunedain

For that I feel a little sympathy for Elros' descendants who were Elf wannabe's. Just because their distant ancestor chose to be mortal they are all doomed to di.

Yes, TD, but isn't the fact that we all are at the mercy of the generations before, particularly our parents individually? It is a complex web. And, lest you forget, your decisions will so influence your children.

Mortality, not a bad choice!

[durinsbane2244]

that would suck to hav a long line of half elves who chose immortality, an then your parent shoose mortality an u want immortality but can hav it.

[CrazySquirrel]

I think Elros should have chosen immortality. Then each one of his descendants would have had a choice!

[Earniel]

Originally Posted by CrazySquirrel

I think Elros should have chosen immortality. Then each one of his descendants would have had a choice!

I think his decendants should have been satisfied with what they got: longer life spans, no doubt some of the Elven beauty and skills as well, half the human world looked up to them in awe AND they each had a ticket beyond the bounds of the world when they got bored of it. (admittingly, they didn't seem to get bored quickly enough after a few centuries...) Some people are just impossible to please.

[Jon S.]

I'm still relatively new here and don't know if this kind of post is considered appropriate for this forum but must admit reading through this thread leaves me appreciating greatly my own cultural myth on this subject. The price of the knowledge of good and evil, with all that entails - free will; the ability to make moral or immoral choices; sexual knowledge and experience; leaving the innocense of childhood and accepting the responsibilities of adulthood - is mortality. To be fully human means to one day pass from this world into something different and uncertain, leaving everything material behind. More than a gift or a curse, this is simply what is.

[Olmer]

Originally Posted by Jon S.

I'm still relatively new here and don't know if this kind of post is considered appropriate for this forum but must admit reading through this thread leaves me appreciating greatly my own cultural myth on this subject. The price of the knowledge of good and evil, with all that entails - free will; the ability to make moral or immoral choices; sexual knowledge and experience; leaving the innocense of childhood and accepting the responsibilities of adulthood - is mortality. To be fully human means to one day pass from this world into something different and uncertain, leaving everything material behind. More than a gift or a curse, this is simply what is.

Well said! We are, as we are even with all shortcoming, the great race, who in given short period of time is acheving more than, say, Elves in the centuries.