Identify a theme in the "Akallabęth" of the Silmarillion.

-- Anonymous, November 01, 2004

Answers

I think that a theme in this particular story is that there are certain things that cannot be changed. A very specific example of this is man's quest for immortality in this story. They try many things, none of which work. Then they decide to invade on Valinor, but that as well does not work in their favor. Infact it brings upon their doom.

-- Anonymous, November 06, 2004

I think a theme is that immortality cannot be attained. Being jealous of the elves is very irrational indeed, for they go to the Hall of Mourning when they die, being bound to Middle Earth. Remember, death was originally a gift from Illuvitar to men. Though they are not sure what will happen to them, it seems that they will be rewarded more than the elves will when they die.

-- Anonymous, November 07, 2004

Tibbett's and Will's answers could be summed up in saying that this story shows the inevitability of the Will of Iluvatar. With the immortality and death, nothing Men can do can alter Eru's decree - that they shall die. The closest Men can come to immortality through science is the embalming of dead flesh. The decree is bound up in their lives; the Eldar tell the men of Numenor just before their open rebellion that immortality is not bound up in the Undying Lands. Instead, the Undying Lands are "undying" because of the immortals that dwell there.

-- Anonymous, November 07, 2004

One theme could be don't depend on an easy way out of your troubles. Amandil is hopefull that the Valar will save the Numenoreans from Sauron, but the Valar won't help men this time around. I think he is depending on the same generosity the Valar showed with the Silmarils, but unlike then Men themselves were responsible for getting themselves into their mess and they had shown disrespect for the Valar long before Sauron came to their isle. And in the end, Elendil, Islidur and their men are not given reprive to go back to Numenor, even though they were amoung the "faithful." The are held in a least some responsibility for the fate of their countrymen and are punished by exilement to Middle Earth.

-- Anonymous, November 07, 2004

A theme I noticed in the Akallabeth was that all good things will eventually fade. The fact that this book is about the fall of Numenor is itself indicative of good things coming to an end. It's almost as though it's a continuation of the Falls of Doriath and Gondolin, though focusing on men in place of elves.

-- Anonymous, November 07, 2004

Well I thought a theme was be happy with what you recieve. This reminded me of the saying, "If you give a mouse a cookie, he'll want a glass of milk." The Dunedain had immortality, were free from the shadow of Middle-Earth, could sail around Numeneaor and visit Middle-Earth as they pleased, yet they were not happy because they believed they deserved more. They wanted immortality and to visit Valinor and they wanted what they couldn't have. This, unfortunetly led to their ultimate downfall as Men. If only they had stopped wanting so much. Alas! It is tragic.

ror

-- Anonymous, November 07, 2004

Arrogance and greed bring ruin. The later Numenorean kings' unhealthy cling to life actually proves to shorten their lifespans, and this same desire for longer life, in addition to more power, ultimately leads to the destruction of Numenor. Arrogance, on the part of Pharazon in taking Sauron as servant, and Sauron in staying atop the temple, similarly lead to swift retribution.

-- Anonymous, November 07, 2004

One theme I noticed was that no one is ever fully satisfied with what they have. The men were free from all bad things in the world and were told they couldn't go to one place. Yet, they still desired more.

-- Anonymous, November 07, 2004

A similar idea is that pride leads ultimately to destruction. It seems that as soon as the Numenoreans become powerful and realize just how much they have, they are proud of their accomplishments. When they become so proud that it blinds them to the truth, they forget that they can not get everything and they listen to Sauron, who gains their trust just by telling them how great they are. They are so convinced of their own superiority that they ignor the Valar and worship Melkor (big mistake). The pride in their own power without regard to who gave it to them leads, ultimately to their fall. We see a similar pride in the Noldor before their exile.

-- Anonymous, November 07, 2004

One theme that is not necessarily just from the Akallabeth but rather the rest of the Silmarillion is that evil not just spread by brute force. Sauron corrupts the Numenor through his words and council. That is much like how Morgoth corrupted the elves and the other men originally. You could even see all of the trouble that comes from fighting over the silmarils as an offshoot of Morgoth's treachery because he is the one that urges on Feanor to do what he does.

-- Anonymous, November 07, 2004

I agree with Rory's idea that men want more. I would like to revise his quote, however: "If you give a man a cookie, he will ask for eternal life." Men are the only beings in the Silmarillion that seem to protest their given lifespan. Elves, though they often envy the men's Gift of Iluvatar (aka death), never go to war with the Valar over it. They often have many of the same faults, such as pride (see Feanor), but men are unique in this character flaw. This sort of echoes the original sin of man in the Bible; just like the Numenoreans, Adam and Eve lust for something forbidden to them.

-- Anonymous, November 08, 2004

I think a good theme would be that you cannot wholly classify something as "evil" or as "good". The Men have plain and obvious divisions of opinion, one side influenced by Sauron and the other holding true to the Valar. Thus, we cannot say all men are evil or good--they have the choice of what they can make of their lives.

-- Anonymous, November 08, 2004

A theme that seemed very prevalent to me is that the fear of death can bring destruction. The Numenorean's constant fear of death, and their wish for immortality brought their destruction.

-- Anonymous, November 08, 2004