How did 👁️Sauron's misjudgments affect his campaign?

[Glorfindel Goldtress]

"Galadriel was the greatest of the Noldor, except Fëanor maybe, though she was wiser than he, and her wisdom increased with the long years."

Reminds me of his convoluted-ness on the number of balrogs. It went from "hundreds, maybe thousands" to "say 3 balrogs or at most 7 ever existed." Gotta love Tolkien! 😂

 

[ZehnWaters]

Reminds me of his convoluted-ness on the number of balrogs. It went from "hundreds, maybe thousands" to "say 3 balrogs or at most 7 ever existed." Gotta love Tolkien! 😂

lol As an author, I definitely get changing your mind. George Lucas was like that too. He had the ability to go back and change things, though. I prefer the idea that there's about 50 Balrogs. The idea that there'd only be 7 fire Maia is...odd. 50 seems a lot but there were supposed to be quite a few Maia.

 

[Tar-Elenion]

"14 Who together with the greatest of all the Eldar, Lúthien Tinúviel, daughter of Elu Thingol, are the chief matter of the legends and histories of the Elves."
PoMe, SoF

 

[banakil]

To be fair, the Valar don't look any better when they blithely let Melkor free with no restraints to tempt the Noldor. The Ainur seem woefully naive at times.

Or does Manwë know a higher law?

If Eru allowed the Valar freedom to choose harmony or interference in the songs of creation,

And if elves do not fear death, for they know that their souls will be reunited to their bodies in the Halls of Mandos,

And if the children of Men dwell only a short space in the world alive, and are not bound to it,

Then, what does Manwë deduce about the character of Eru, and whether Eru seeks faith from the Valar in Eru's plan? Who is master who has not mastered chaos? Is Manwë's greatest desire to be like Eru, as contrasted with Melkor's greatest desire to be above Eru? What law guided Manwë in the unrestraint of Melkor?

And were typologies of this law manifested in the mercy showed to Gollum?

 

[ZehnWaters]

Then, what does Manwë deduce about the character of Eru, and whether Eru seeks faith from the Valar in Eru's plan? Who is master who has not mastered chaos? Is Manwë's greatest desire to be like Eru, as contrasted with Melkor's greatest desire to be above Eru? What law guided Manwë in the unrestraint of Melkor?

Nienna's tears and pleadings and the belief his brother had truly repented. He hadn't.

And were typologies of this law manifested in the mercy showed to Gollum?

I think that's what the Valar were going for but it ultimately wasn't the case. Melkor was corrupted beyond their ability to fix.

 

[banakil]

Indeed, Manwe's position was ordained by Eru, in that Manwe could not know the heart of Melkor, but only observe the heart of Nienna was either true or truly deceived. What risks was Manwe free to take with the hearts of his family?

Manwe's choices were (1) forgive and restore freedom of each heart, (2) not forgive and continue punishment, (3) forgive partially via ongoing parole.

For option 1 to be error, Manwe would need to understand Manwe's role was to place a higher value on distrust (discord if you will). Yet it was discord that created the very circumstances of Melkor's rebellion.

If options 2 or 3, consider duration. What recidivist policies could ever guarantee the desired outcome? Among the singers of creation, was harmony not the highest desire?

And all of this in the context that Manwe's right to rule is entirely dependent upon Manwe being like Eru. What would Eru do, if not grant Melkor the very freedom Eru already bestowed at creation? Was Eru's silence not the open canvas of choice?

In releasing Melkor, did Manwe actually execute option 2 or 3 upon himself as head Valar? If so, justice is inevitable and Manwe would learn this lesson about Eru's world.