by Cosima W. Ancanar.com's Iaurond room Loremaster
Ancanar's
search for immortality reflects an important theme at the heart of Tolkien's realm. In the beginning of The Silmarillion, Iluvatar gave Men the gift of death and Elves the
gift of immortality. Yet Men sought everlasting life, not knowing what it truly entailed. It was the Numenoreans who first began to consider their gift as a doom. They
yearned to escape death and believed that the forbidden West held the key to immortality: "Why do the Lords of the West sit there in peace unending, while we must
die and go we know not whither, leaving our homes and all that he have made? And the Eldar die not ..." Ancanar cries out against the same injustice, "Why must
mortal man be forbidden such? Do we not die of sickness and age whilst you are granted life eternal?!" It is in their ignorance that men do not see death as the gift of
freedom. They are not "bound forever in circles of the world" as Elves are. But for men, immortality is the forbidden apple which they must taste ...no matter what
the cost. The Numenoreans think that by sailing to The West, they'll find the answer. But they sail to doomed end, "for it is not the land of Manwe that makes it's
people deathless, but the Deathless that dwell therin have hallowed the land; and there you would but wither and grow weary the sooner, as moths in a light too strong
and steadfast."
While the Numenoreans search for the
West, Ancanar searches for a hidden elven city deep in the mountains. But the elf Finlomë warns him that by taking such a path he will condemn himself and anyone
who goes with him. He tries to teach Ancanar about the burdens immortality: "Time . . . Time flows by us like water. The ages pass until we are weary, so weary of
life. Everything we create is destroyed! The lands we love are upturned. Mortal man may pass beyond this world. Even if they do not know what lies there. But the
elves . . .the elves must stay. You are about to face something, Ancanar, that may require stronger faith then you know have. Death . . . death is a gift Ancanar."
To die is to be gifted with freedom and to be immortal is to be bound with the earth. The immortal must watch as life fleets by and it is a grief to them. They change
little in the passing years and do not count it's seasons. They may wish to die as men do, and men may wish to live as elves do, but neither could find peace with the
others fate.
The glory of Numenor has long since fallen beneath the tossing waves. Will Ancanar find everlasting life or fade into legend? The search for immortality is a universal
quest. It can be found in myths, songs and stories from around the world. But more often it is found in the remembrance of others. . . immortalized by their great
accomplishments and their failures. Where will Ancanar's journey lead him? The Search Begins...
|
 |
