Two Journeys...

[Gurthang]

This sort of popped into my head yesterday, and I started to post on it, but there was a power surge, and I lost it all. I haven't spent much thought on it, and it may be nothing, but here's my general idea in short:

There seems to be a striking resemblance between the voyage of the elves to Valinor and the journey of the Pilgrims/colonists to the New World (being North America.)

Similarities:

1. Both of the journeys were very long.
2. The destinations were not completely known by the travelers
3. Both were taken on ships over large seas.
4. In each case, the traveler was leaving his entire life, everything he had known, and was going to start over in a new place.
5. The journeys were one-way trips.
6. The journey was made because the person saw no hope for the future where he currently was.
7. Both voyages were limited in who could make them. Only elves could go to Valinor (exempting Frodo, Bilbo, etc.). Likewise, the colonists would have to be from the country that had established a colony, so only citizens from those countries could make the trip.

Differences:

1. The elves did know some things about Valinor, like it would be good, but the colonists did not know what to expect about America.
2. The colonists' journey was not very safe, storms and inadequate navigation made the seas deadly.
3. The colonists could possibly come back, but were not really likely to.
4. The new life was guaranteed to be better for the elves.

I would particularly like to point out the fact that both groups were tired enough of their old lives to completely start over. That's one very compelling reason behind the analogy, besides the ships across seas. Both the elves and the colonists were giving up on their homes. They saw no reason to stay, no good outlook for the future. They despaired and left to begin anew.

Well, that's about all I have for now. Feel free to point out any flaws in my analogy, like I said, I haven't spent a lot of time developing it.

[Shelob]

This is an interesting idea and I would like to contribute to it...unfortunately my mind just shut down for the day and the only almost relevant thing I can think is that my friend can trace her family back to people who came to America on the Mayflower...

Oh, but I lie...one slightly relevant thought has come through...

The first of your differences is that

# The elves did know some things about Valinor, like it would be good, but the colonists did not know what to expect about America.

it's true that the colonists didn't really know what to expect but later immigrants/emigrants (whichever is technically right, I never know) did know/think that America would be better and still, like the colonists and elves, abandon everything to come here to start over completely--well, I guess they didn't abandon everything, communication was quicker than it was for the colonists.

Sorry that it's more a rigmarole than an actual-coherent-helpful thought...I'll revisit this idea tomorrow--when I can think things through...

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Those are interesting thoughts; however, a huge difference that occurs to me spontaneously is that not all who went to the New World did so of their own free will. Prisoners and slaves were shipped there, and the former were definitely not the type of character that you'd want for building up a respectable society!

[luthien-elvenprincess]

It strikes me that the Nolder leaving Valinor for Middle-earth could be quite comparable. They were going to new frontiers, looking for unsettled lands to conquer. Whereas, the elves returning to Valinor were coming to an already settled place.
Interesting thought you raise, Gurth!

[Ainaserkewen]

I'd agree with Lady elvenprincess on her last post.
It does seem that the voyage of the Noldor with the various reasons, happening and eventual corruption are very similar. Though another great difference waters down this theory. The earliest countries to send out brave men to face the unknown were equally as misplaced about the world as the travellers, they sent them there for gold and resources and prestige against other exploring Powers of the Renaissance. However, in terms of the Noldor voyage, they "escaped" from Valinor to find all this wealth and power for themselves (different reasons for everybody on those boats it seems) and the Valar knew full well where they were going and what they would find there all the time trying to convince them to stay.

Another comparison is the travels of the Men from Numenor. They were more like in mind to more modern voyageurs and their kings probably had the some of the same ulterior motives.

[Keeper of Dol Guldur]

It seems like, if Middle Earth is supposed to represent an ancient past of real life, that sailors setting out west like Columbus, or Ponce de Leon, may have been "searching for Numenor".

I mean, if Numenor was lost two ages ago ... maybe these explorers found some rumor of it and sought it.

Especially Ponce de Leon, who sought the 'fountain of youth'. Numenoreans had twice the lifespan of a normal man in their decline, in their peak they lived to be around four hundred years old. The El Dorado myth kind of speaks to this too, as Numenor was supposed to be blessed beyond belief, rich, lavish, and chock full of resources.

But as for the Pilgrims ... the elves sailing to Valinor would be like if the Massachusetts Native American tribes set sail from Europe to go reside with the Puritans.

But then, perhaps (and this is sort of shooting into the wind ...) the Puritans headed west for peace, wanting in fact to go to Valinor, but since the world was bent, they found something else.

This is a hard topic to actually think of anything for ... everything I just wrote feels like I came to a conclusion working backwards ...

~Keeper.