Thematically speaking, what do the younger lived races have to offer compared to the
longer lived races?
Think Humans and Elves, or Dwarves and Dragons.
Think Humans and Elves, or Dwarves and Dragons.
Notices |
Shorter-lived races have a much better grasp of mortality and the reality of life. See Tolkien's elves vs. Tolkien's men. |
Not really. The elves have eons to live, and time almost seems to slow down for them. They're infinitely patient. The ents are even more so, so patient that it takes a lot to rouse them to action. Whereas men just up and do stuff. |
It will depend on what you mean by 'the reality of life,' as that may be defined in any manner of ways. However, the elves have a much better grasp on mortality. It is a trope of fantasy literature, including Tolkien's, that men can't actually comprehend mortality -- every man thinks he is impervious to death, until it is upon him. Human lords throw the lives of their men away frivolously. Tolkien's elves, on the other hand, have a very clear grasp of mortality. They are reluctant to enter wars that are not theirs, and when an army of them shows up at Helm's Deep, they know full well that they are sacrificing their lives and shall not leave its walls; that is what makes their sacrifice so incredible. To an elf there are few things worse than an elven life snuffed out before its time; what better grasp of mortality could there be? |