Visiting Valinor

[baragund]

I just had the pleasure of judging an outstanding debate between the Outcasts and the Tolkienologists over whether or not Men were treated fairly and did they have the same opportunities as other races. This question covers a HUGE amount of territory and I'm sure GOO and GOT could have chewed that over for many weeks!

One of the items that were discussed in quite a bit of detail was the restriction of Men from Valinor. The Outcasts pointed out (correctly, it seems to me) that Men were not allowed to go to Valinor for three basic reasons:

1. Their proximity to the gods would cause Men's life force to be used up more quickly, resulting in a shortened life span. I'll call this the "burn out" theory, kind of like putting too much voltage through a light bulb, causing it to burn out.

2. Any bliss that Men would realize by seeing Valinor would be quickly replaced by discontent and strife by seeing themselves grow old and die among the immortal elves and gods.

3. Men's built-in abilities to shape their own destinies, as given to them by Iluvatar, would result in their desire to carve out their own countries, resulting in the same power struggles so prevalent in Middle Earth.

However, the thought that occurred to me was this: Why not allow Men to VISIT Valinor? Men's consuming curiosity would be appeased, they get there and discover the "burn out" effect and realize "This is a great place to visit but I wouldn't want to live here!" Make it clear that Men are the guests of the Valar and the Eldar rather than settlers so they would not be able to establish countries.

Given the huge amount of pain and suffering this could have prevented, what's not to like?

[Elendil3119]

The Outcasts pointed out (correctly, it seems to me) that Men were not allowed to go to Valinor for three basic reasons:
These three points seem to apply more to a continual dwelling of Men in Valinor. Of course, all three would be experienced to some small degree in a short (few weeks, months?) visit, though problably not enough for Men to actually be conscious of the effects. I highly doubt that if Men were allowed in Valinor for a 'visit' would they feel themselves "burning out".

Second, remember how much envy the Númenoreans had for the Elves that lived on the isle of Tol Eressëa. If Men were allowed in Valinor for a short visit, imagine how much they would dislike getting 'kicked out'! They would be like young children who don't know what's good for them. In my opinion, short visits to Valinor by Men would increase pain and suffering, because the Men would not see why they could not dwell in Valinor for good. I think the Valar made the right choice in forbidding Men any sort of access into Valinor.

[Maedhros]

However, the thought that occurred to me was this: Why not allow Men to VISIT Valinor? Men's consuming curiosity would be appeased, they get there and discover the "burn out" effect and realize "This is a great place to visit but I wouldn't want to live here!" Make it clear that Men are the guests of the Valar and the Eldar rather than settlers so they would not be able to establish countries.
Hmmmmm. I'm not really sure about that. This is discussed in Morgoth's Ring: Myths Transformed Aman.

[Elendil3119]

But let us suppose that the 'blessing of Aman' was also accorded to Men.* What then? Would a great good be done to them? Their bodies would still come swiftly to full growth. In the seventh part of a year a Man could be born and become full-grown, as swiftly as in Aman a bird would hatch and fly from the nest. But then it would not wither or age but would endure in vigour and in the delight of bodily living. But what of that Man's fea? Its nature and 'doom' could not be changed, neither by the health of Aman nor by the will of Manwe himself. Yet it is (as the Eldar hold) its nature and doom under the will of Eru that it should not endure Arda for long, but should depart nd go elsewhither, returning maybe direct to Eru for another fate or purpose that is beyond the knowledge or guess of the Eldar. Very soon then the fea and hroa of a Man in Aman would not be united and at peace, but would be opposed, to the great pain of both. The hroa being in full vigour and joy of life would cling to the fea, lest its departure should bring death; and against death it would revolt as would a great beast in full life either flee from the hunter or turn savagely upon him. But the fea would be as it were in prison, becoming ever more weary of all the delights of the hroa, until they were loathsome to it, longing ever more and more to be gone, until even those matters for its thought that it received through the hroa and its senses became meaningless.(HoMe 10, 'Myths Transformed': Aman)
Now these things are but matters of thought, and might-have-beens; for Eru and the Valar under Him have not permitted Men as they are to dwell in Aman. Yet at least it may be seen that Men in Aman would not escape the dread of death, but would have it in greater degree and for long ages. And moreover, it seems probable that death itself, either in agony or horror, would with Men enter into Aman itself. (HoMe 10, 'Myths Transformed': Aman)