The love of Eärendil - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Dûrbelethwen · 07-28-2005, 01:15 PM

I have noticed that the loves of Lúthien and Beren, Aragorn and Arwen are very much admired on this board for the sacrifices made. It does not seem to be brought up at least very often of the sacrifices Eärendil made for his love of Elwing. I remember it said in the Silmarillion that when they were given a choice as to which kindred they would belong to Elwing wanted to be elven but Eärendil had wanted to be mortal but he choose to be elven for Elwing's sake.

Eomer of the Rohirrim · 07-29-2005, 10:06 AM

Yeah, they were a pretty special couple.

Dimturiel · 07-30-2005, 02:45 AM

Maybe the sacrifice that Earendil made is as painful as the ones of Arwen and Luthien, but we, being humans, cannot understand it. If we were Elves, and were able to understand that immortality is a burden, rather than a blessing, then we would probably admire Earendil,and not Luthien and Arwen. But, since we rarely have the mentality of the immortals, and find the fact that we have to die hard to accept, we tend to say: "Wow, Arwen and Luthien, aren't they great! I would have never given up living forever for anyone.", and regard what Earendil did as a thing worthy of less admiration, if any at all.

Gurthang · 07-30-2005, 11:04 PM

It is strange to think that in our world we would long to grasp immortallity. Personally, I would not want to live forever. But enough about me.

Earendil gave up what may be considered the greatest 'gift' in all of Tolkien's works. That being the Gift of Men, also called the Gift of Death. Men alone are able to cast off the burden of Arda and escape to somewhere else. Giving up that Gift had to be one of the hardest choices Earendil ever made. Perhaps that is why he sailed with the stars for the rest of eternity. Maybe up there he felt closer to his fellow mortals. He must have felt like a stallion kept inside a fence right next to where free-range horses lived. He felt near to his kin, yet he was trapped. That's very sad to think about.

solarisa · 07-31-2005, 07:38 PM

ditto. living forever would be, like: another day. "NOOOOOOOOOO!!!"

i think, even though im (we all) are mortal, just thinking of living forever- earendil's sacrifice seems so much greater. but then he loved her very much. so arwen's decision seems like, so whats that compared to earendil?

Formendacil · 08-01-2005, 05:05 PM

One of the really funny things about Earendil's sacrifice, to my mind, is that this comes after years of what can be easily painted as a somewhat lacklustre relationship. Elwing seems to have always taken the backseat to Earendil's love of the sea, and that ever-present hope of his that he would find his parents. That Earendil ends up giving up his desire to be accounted one of Man, and accepts the "curse" of Elvenkind, is, indeed, very interesting...

Thinlómien · 08-08-2005, 04:33 AM

I think both of them, Elving and Eärendil, made sacrifices for each other. Eärendil sacrificed his mortality and Elving sacrificed her time with Eärendil as he became a star. Elving also followed him everywhere, only for him, not for herself. So maybe it was right that Eärendil did all the minor choices and Elving did the big choice. And then they were in a kind of sacrifice-choice -balance with each other...?

07-28-2005, 01:15 PM	#1
Dûrbelethwen Haunting Spirit Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 80	The love of Eärendil I have noticed that the loves of Lúthien and Beren, Aragorn and Arwen are very much admired on this board for the sacrifices made. It does not seem to be brought up at least very often of the sacrifices Eärendil made for his love of Elwing. I remember it said in the Silmarillion that when they were given a choice as to which kindred they would belong to Elwing wanted to be elven but Eärendil had wanted to be mortal but he choose to be elven for Elwing's sake.

07-29-2005, 10:06 AM	#2
Eomer of the Rohirrim Auspicious Wraith Join Date: May 2002 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 4,859	Yeah, they were a pretty special couple. __________________ Los Ingobernables de Harlond

07-30-2005, 02:45 AM	#3
Dimturiel Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: May 2005 Location: the road less travelled by Posts: 910	Maybe the sacrifice that Earendil made is as painful as the ones of Arwen and Luthien, but we, being humans, cannot understand it. If we were Elves, and were able to understand that immortality is a burden, rather than a blessing, then we would probably admire Earendil,and not Luthien and Arwen. But, since we rarely have the mentality of the immortals, and find the fact that we have to die hard to accept, we tend to say: "Wow, Arwen and Luthien, aren't they great! I would have never given up living forever for anyone.", and regard what Earendil did as a thing worthy of less admiration, if any at all. __________________ Is this the end? No more the hunt, the journey and the goal? That terrifies me most: no more the goal! -Ray Bradbury, Leviathan '99

07-30-2005, 11:04 PM	#4
Gurthang Sword of Spirit Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Oh, I'm around. Posts: 1,401	It is strange to think that in our world we would long to grasp immortallity. Personally, I would not want to live forever. But enough about me. Earendil gave up what may be considered the greatest 'gift' in all of Tolkien's works. That being the Gift of Men, also called the Gift of Death. Men alone are able to cast off the burden of Arda and escape to somewhere else. Giving up that Gift had to be one of the hardest choices Earendil ever made. Perhaps that is why he sailed with the stars for the rest of eternity. Maybe up there he felt closer to his fellow mortals. He must have felt like a stallion kept inside a fence right next to where free-range horses lived. He felt near to his kin, yet he was trapped. That's very sad to think about. __________________ I'm on a Mission from God.

07-31-2005, 07:38 PM	#5
solarisa Animated Skeleton Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: minnesota Posts: 42	ditto. living forever would be, like: another day. "NOOOOOOOOOO!!!" i think, even though im (we all) are mortal, just thinking of living forever- earendil's sacrifice seems so much greater. but then he loved her very much. so arwen's decision seems like, so whats that compared to earendil? __________________ ~Spirit of sunlight...i am free~

08-01-2005, 05:05 PM	#6
Formendacil Dead Serious Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Perched on Thangorodrim's towers. Posts: 3,326	One of the really funny things about Earendil's sacrifice, to my mind, is that this comes after years of what can be easily painted as a somewhat lacklustre relationship. Elwing seems to have always taken the backseat to Earendil's love of the sea, and that ever-present hope of his that he would find his parents. That Earendil ends up giving up his desire to be accounted one of Man, and accepts the "curse" of Elvenkind, is, indeed, very interesting... __________________ I prefer history, true or feigned.

08-08-2005, 04:33 AM	#7
Thinlómien Shady She-Penguin Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: In a far land beyond the Sea Posts: 8,093	I think both of them, Elving and Eärendil, made sacrifices for each other. Eärendil sacrificed his mortality and Elving sacrificed her time with Eärendil as he became a star. Elving also followed him everywhere, only for him, not for herself. So maybe it was right that Eärendil did all the minor choices and Elving did the big choice. And then they were in a kind of sacrifice-choice -balance with each other...? __________________ Like the stars chase the sun, over the glowing hill I will conquer Blood is running deep, some things never sleep Double Fenris