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 Elvish Philosophy of Death and Incarnation The fate of the Elves: The Elves see themselves as two different parts: the Fëa (spirit) and the Hroa (body). The two parts are not bound to each other, but without the Hroa, the Fea is powerless, and with no spirit, the body is dead and will soon dissolve. The life span of the Elves is by nature the same as that of the world (although they are often called immortal, which is a totally different thing). But the Elves call the world "Arda Sahta", the Marred World. Within its borders, nothing can be uninfluenced by the dark powers, and Elves and Men, who are made of Arda's matter, are all likely to suffer in some way. Thus the Elvish Fëa tend to "consume" the Hroa, until all that is left of it is a vague shape and it is indeed indestructible. Also, the Elves may die of grief or wounds (but not by disease) and then the Fëa will leave the Hroa. Then the "houseless" Fëa will be summoned to the Halls of Mandos, and it may go there of its own free will. Most Fëa do this, but those who have been influenced by evil and are corrupt often dread the punishment they will receive in Mandos and stay in Middle-earth, trying to take over some other Hroa that already contains a Fëa. Those who follow the summons may, if they wish, be incarnated in a newborn body, identical to the previous. The others stay in Mandos until the end of the world. For the Elves are bound to the world, and cannot leave it. All Fëa, whatever way they choose, must wait in Mandos for a time; how long depends on the individual. If the Fëa has done evil in its previous life it must often wait longer until allowed to return to life. But sometimes it has to stay for good. An Elf reborn is in all ways a child again, and does not remember its previous life until its experience and knowledge has grown. Then its life becomes double rich, since it has experienced two lives. |