Well, Tolkien loved enigmas and felt they were very much a part of a proper story. In family histories especially he felt that some missing information was just, well, 'real'. Think of anyone trying to do a family tree. Some information is just missing or incomplete. One clue might be a response Tolkien made about Elves and their offspring. He said that most Elves (the ones that married at all because many did not, just like the Dwarves) married and had children when they were about 50 to 100 years old or so. There are MANY acceptions to this 'rule' however, Arwen was what 2,700 plus years old at the time of the war of the ring. I guess it is one of those 'If a tree falls in the woods and nobody hears it did it make a sound' kind of things...does it really matter?
One thing I do find intruiging is how puzzled Legolas seems with death. And how he still marvels at life and small things and seems much 'younger' than say...Elrond or even Haldir. THere is much joy in his character. So, who knows... (there is an essay on the internet about this...somewhere...) Rosie
|