Why Does Good Suck So Much?

[Nikkolas]

Hello everyone. I just finished reading The Silmarillion for the first time and the thing that struck me as "the moral of the story" is that good guys are really, really dumb and selfish.

The Valar of course are "the goodest" and their bias towards Elves is plain from moment one. They actually go so far as to aid the half-elven Eärendil while letting the equally brave and selfless Amandil to die.
In fact, it seems they are so lazy and egotistical that they demanded someone come begging their assistance. Even as Morgoth threatened to subjugate and destroy all teh Children of Iluvatar, they didn't move until someone came crawling to them.

And what of their servants, the Maiar? No less selfish and unhelpful. In regards to Morgoth, let us not forget Queen Melian. Remember how she protected the Kingdom of Doriath and provided haven for those who wished to escape Melkor's evil?

Well, once her husband died, she said "screw you everyone" and left. With her magical protection gone, the entire kingdom and its helpless populace were left at the mercy of the Dark Lord.
Can you say worst queen ever?

Speaking of her husband, this really just enforces the idea of "good is stupid". With the threat of Morgoth dominating the lands, the Elves and Dwarves go to war among themselves. Even as the shadow of death lays on their doorstep, they insist on petty squabbles.

Getting back to the Maiar, we can't forget Sauron. Remember him? One of the strongest, most dangerous beings on Middle-earth? Second-in-command to Morgoth? What did the Host of the Valar do?
Why, they left him behind! And never once attempted to send someoen to recapture him.

It seems tha the idea that the Fall of Númenor is all Man's fault is a blatant misdirection. It is the Valar's continued failing that doomed them. They left Sauron on the world. They left The Enemy here to poison helpless Men, Elves and everything else.

So...yeah. I'm just rather embittered by the story's attempt to make the Valar seem noble and pure and good. They were anythg but. In fact they seem scarcely less flawed than Melkor or Feanor.