Please see our frequently asked questions. very slowly since all its usual inhabitants are immortal there's little need to rush tasks, and 100 years would seem like just a mere blink of an eye, so really its not a nice place for a mortal person to reside less they're left to rest.Welcome to r/tolkienfans! This subreddit is a space for the Tolkien nerds of reddit to debate and discuss the whole Tolkien mythos. He would have eventually to 'pass away': no mortal could, or can, abide for ever on earth, or within Time.Īlso stuff in Valinor happens very. The elves that bore rings of power also went there after the power of their rings was "spent" thus their domains would deteriorate.įrodo was sent or allowed to pass over Sea to heal him - if that could be done, before he died. They would still die, but the hope was that they could live the rest of the time without Suffering or if they could be healed allowed to return. The Ringbearers travel there to receive healing for the wounds (spiritual or physical) incurred as a result of ownership of the One Ring the effects of the Ring is ubiquitous (albeit differing in time) to all beings immortal or otherwise. The Undying Lands are simply named for the immortal inhabitants. The "Undying Lands" do not grant immortality, the Valar do not have the power OR the authority to bestow immortality upon mortals (though they did "bless" the Men loyal to them during the War of the Wrath, the "Numenoreans", with extended lifespans). It was a realm inhabited by Ainur (spiritual beings) and Elves whom are already immortal. No, The phrase "Undying Lands" is not a place of immortality bestowed. Their sojorn was a "purgatory", but one of peace and healing and they would eventually pass away (die at their own desire and of free will) to destinations of which the Elves knew nothing. The Valar had neither the power nor the right to confer "immortality" upon them. Letter #154Īs for Frodo or other mortals, they could only dwell in Aman for a limited time - whether brief or long. They cannot abide for ever, and though they cannot return to mortal earth, they can and will 'die' - of free will, and leave the world. I have said nothing about it in this book, but the mythical idea underlying is that for mortals, since their 'kind' cannot be changed for ever, this is strictly only a temporary reward: a healing and redress of suffering. Thus Frodo (by the express gift of Arwen) and Bilbo, and eventually Sam (as adumbrated by Frodo) and as a unique exception Gimli the Dwarf, as a friend of Legolas and 'servant' of Galadriel. It seems that Christopher Tolkien used many of his father's letters to accumulate a fair body of knowledge about Middle Earth and its rules in The Silmarillion, but that some letters specific to the life and death of Frodo and Bilbo Baggins were unclear, (perhaps intentionally so - my interpretation - The whole thread is a very interesting read).īut in this story it is supposed that there may be certain rare exceptions or accommodations (legitimately supposed? there always seem to be exceptions) and so certain 'mortals', who have played some great part in Elvish affairs, may pass with the Elves to Elvenhome. I am delivering here a relevant portion of a forum thread concerning the immortality of mortals who pass to the Undying Lands.
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