Fall Of Numenor.

[gate7ole]

I have realized that Tolkien’s approach of the Fall of Numenor is somehow different than the other tales of ME where he is mostly an observer, a historian that analyzes the past. He invented time-travel to go back to Numenor (The Lost Road), he suggested that visions came and warned of the imminent disaster, he even created a mysterious gathering of intellectuals who were receivers of such visions (The Notion Papers). In other words, he wanted to participate in this tale (and who knows, change the destiny). Why was that?
Numenor was the second fall of Mankind (the first one, had happened at the very beginning of the awakening of men). Was Tolkien frustrated by this decay of Mankid? Did he –as a human- feel responsible and tried unsuccessfully to change the course of history?
What do you think about it?

 

[Lhunithiliel]

First, a lot is discussed and mentioned by tolkien experts about the

first fall of Men

Forgive my ignorance, but I can't quite clearly specify WHEN that happened. You are saying it was when the Second-born Children of Illuvatar apeared in ME. I know those were dark times and it was described that Melkor at that time practically ruled over ME and the first "God" Men knew was he, so they started to fear but also to worship him, not their creator - IS THIS the first fall?

Second, I too have the impression that Tolkien paid special attention to Men - their evolution and development as a race, and he as if wished to SHOW and ATTRCAT people's attention to some of the greatest flaws of mankind committed. I can understand this, having in mind the time he created his writings.
But I can also often sense some strong attempt by the author to show that Men have some special powers and that they can use this gift to create perfection >
From Atr.FinrodAhAndreth:

Or even that ye, the Children of Men, were not a matter that they could govern? For ye were too great. Yea, I mean this, and do not only flatter your pride: too great. Sole masters of yourselves within Arda, under the hand of the One.

'Therefore I say that if this can be believed, then mighty indeed under Eru were Men made in their beginning; and dreadful beyond all other calamities was the change in their state.

'This then, I propound, was the errand of Men, not the followers, but the heirs and fulfillers of all: to heal the Marring
of Arda, already foreshadowed before their devising; and to do
more, as agents of the magnificence of Eru: to enlarge the Music
and surpass the Vision of the World!

Thus Men can bring the perfection of Arda Remade:

'And then suddenly I beheld as a vision Arda Remade; and there the Eldar completed but not ended could abide in the
present for ever,and there walk, maybe, with the Children of
Men, their deliverers, and sing to them such songs as, even in
the Bliss beyond bliss, should make the green valleys ring and
the everlasting mountain-tops to throb like harps.'

This is how I think Tolkien wished to "heal" Men.

 

[gate7ole]

Originally posted by Lhunithiliel
Forgive my ignorance, but I can't quite clearly specify WHEN that happened. You are saying it was when the Second-born Children of Illuvatar apeared in ME. I know those were dark times and it was described that Melkor at that time practically ruled over ME and the first "God" Men knew was he, so they started to fear but also to worship him, not their creator - IS THIS the first fall?

The tale of the first fall of Men is in Morgoth’s Ring, when Andreth speaks with Finrod. In summary, when the Secondborn had just awakened and yet none had perished, they heard the voice of Illuvatar guiding them. But after a while, Morgoth came to them and claimed to be their God, blaspheming and denying Illuvatar. At the beginning he was giving them gifts and asked them to create a temple for him. But little by little he showed his evil face and commanded men to do evil things for him and to reject the voice. They were afraid of him, but mostly became afraid of the voice, for Morgoth had convinced that it was the voice of darkness. Suddenly the voice came to them and declared that they had failed and they would suffer the consequences. After this, many men started to die. Some understood that the true evil was Morgoth and tried to rebel unsuccessfully. In the end many escaped towards the west when after many wanderings they met the elves.
If this is the First fall, then Men definitely had their excuses. They were alone, terrified and bewildered by the cunning of Morgoth. But this is not true for their

But I can also often sense some strong attempt by the author to show that Men have some special powers and that they can use this gift to create perfection

I am not so optimistic. I think that the Fall of Numenor shows more or less a distrust of Tolkien towards Mankind.
The Second Fall of Mankind was much different from the first. This time the fall came from their selves. Sauron indeed played his role, but the clouds of decline had arisen much earlier. The fall of Numenor was not just a decay of a certain portion of men, but the decay of all Mankind. Never again would Mankind would be totally free from evil that dwelt inside it. Even if all servants of Morgoth were destroyed, some men would take the place. Because, if the wise Numenoreans with the aid, education and counsel of the Eldar didn’t succeed, who would?
As I see it, Tolkien perceived that evil had entered the fea (soul) of Mankind. It may be Tolkien’s sad conclusion that Mankind can never be freed from evil, that caused him to he feel strong emotions about Numenor, seeing it as the start of the downfall. He really “wanted” his mythology to have a different unfoldment but this mythology had already obtained flesh and bones and wouldn’t permit its author to change it. The visions of Numenor were a result of his feelings of guilt as a human.

But then again, he didn’t lose his hope and turned his mind in Aragorn and the events of the War of the Ring, awaiting for the betterment of Mankind and avoidance of the fall.