The Point of the Unions

[Elianna]

I always have this problem when analyzing texts: I know something is important, but I don't know why, or what it means.

Why are the marriages of Beren and Lúthien, and Tuor and Idril, and Aragorn and Arwen important? I know through them better blood, Elven blood came into Men's gene pool, but what's the literary message here?

Why is it always the girl who was immortal? Why couldn't the guy be an elf and have to become mortal? I can't think of an answer to this one that doesn't involve sexism and making fun of Elven grace.

What made Tuor so special that he could become counted among the Elves, when Lúthien and Arwen had to become mortal? Maybe Aragorn was too far down with Men through the Ages to be counted Elven, but Beren is a direct decendent of Bëor of the First House of the Edain and valiant enough to oppose Morgoth even in Taur-Nu-Fuin. Tuor *checks* okay, he lived as a slave and outlaw, but fighting against Easterlings, not Sauron. It seems Turgon let Tuor marry Idril mostly because he was the son of Huor, who had fought valiantly by Turgon's side in the Dagor Aglareb, and little because of Tuor's own greatness. And Tuor was favored by Ulmo; but why?