The Gift of Men pertains to Iluvatar's present to Men, whom he considers as his younger children. This gift is unique to Men, and none of the other children of Iluvatar possess this. The fans of Tolkien often analyze and discuss the true meaning of it. There are two presentations by Tolkien on the meaning and consequences of the Gift of Men. Death is the catalyst and outcome in the lives of Men. With the knowledge of an imminent end, they strive to fulfill or resist and despair. The gift is Iluvatar's way of fulfilling his purpose in Men. It also triggers resistance in Men, and so by succumbing to this, it brings suffering and despair.
The Gift of Iluvatar
The Gift of Men was an order of the highest being and creator of Arda, Iluvatar. It distinguishes the race of Men from the Elves. Iluvatar gave the Elves-folk joy, satisfaction, and the privilege of being the most beautiful of the Children of Iluvatar. Meanwhile, he gave Men the honor of being his central characters in Arda. Iluvatar meant for the consciousness and soul of Men to have dissatisfaction with Arda, restless, searching, and wandering for something above this world and its borders. Unlike the Elves and all the creatures of Arda, Men do not conform to the Circles of the World. When they die, the souls of Men depart the material realm and never come back. Hence, their destinies were far different from the fate of the Elves. The Elves will remain as the world goes on.
Only if killed with force, misfortune, or by waning during the final days of Arda will the Elves be free from immortality. However, as the centuries lengthen and Time erodes, the immortals such as the Valar [1] will crave Iluvatar's present to the folk of Men, who have freedom from the material world. They also have the certainty of death and woe, which are natural outcomes of life in Arda. Furthermore, another outcome of this absolute independence of Men is that they are also free from the authority of destiny. The souls of Men never remain in Arda. After a fleeting moment for the endless Elves, Men grow old, become strained, and eventually pass away. Another benefit of the gift is purpose. Men have the inspiration to make their fate even with the forces and odds of Arda.
Men can devise their way of existence, surpassing the Music of the Ainur that sets all the destinies of all other life in this world. They could dance along with the melody of Arda's creating music or ignore and even resist it. Iluvatar accepts that the race of Men may choose to live their lives disconnected from the main events of history. But he also perceives that eventually, men will come to direct their lives to go along with the happenings in Arda.
According to the Silmarillion, all actions in Arda will ultimately lead to the destined concept and condition of things. All things will achieve their purpose, even unto the final and littlest of details. In other words, Men and all their actions will always result in the plans of Iluvatar. Thus, Men are indeed accomplishing instruments of Iluvatar, and this evidence would eventually show in the coming years and end of things. Iluvatar presented it as a genuine gift, and so Men were initially not afraid of its consequences. Even though they appreciate their existence in Arda, they give up their souls willingly, even with joy. Then turns to sleep in contentment, never to awake anymore. The reason may be that their souls move on somewhere, even the Valar and the brightest of the Elves never knew. But it is explained that by the end of Dagor Dagorath, the Second Music of the Ainur begins. The souls of men will be among those who will sing this new music of creation. And all those who sang with the music will recognize their roles and their connections, as one complete story. Therefore, all will contribute to the wonder and splendor of the one grand story of all.
Only if killed with force, misfortune, or by waning during the final days of Arda will the Elves be free from immortality. However, as the centuries lengthen and Time erodes, the immortals such as the Valar [1] will crave Iluvatar's present to the folk of Men, who have freedom from the material world. They also have the certainty of death and woe, which are natural outcomes of life in Arda. Furthermore, another outcome of this absolute independence of Men is that they are also free from the authority of destiny. The souls of Men never remain in Arda. After a fleeting moment for the endless Elves, Men grow old, become strained, and eventually pass away. Another benefit of the gift is purpose. Men have the inspiration to make their fate even with the forces and odds of Arda.
Men can devise their way of existence, surpassing the Music of the Ainur that sets all the destinies of all other life in this world. They could dance along with the melody of Arda's creating music or ignore and even resist it. Iluvatar accepts that the race of Men may choose to live their lives disconnected from the main events of history. But he also perceives that eventually, men will come to direct their lives to go along with the happenings in Arda.
According to the Silmarillion, all actions in Arda will ultimately lead to the destined concept and condition of things. All things will achieve their purpose, even unto the final and littlest of details. In other words, Men and all their actions will always result in the plans of Iluvatar. Thus, Men are indeed accomplishing instruments of Iluvatar, and this evidence would eventually show in the coming years and end of things. Iluvatar presented it as a genuine gift, and so Men were initially not afraid of its consequences. Even though they appreciate their existence in Arda, they give up their souls willingly, even with joy. Then turns to sleep in contentment, never to awake anymore. The reason may be that their souls move on somewhere, even the Valar and the brightest of the Elves never knew. But it is explained that by the end of Dagor Dagorath, the Second Music of the Ainur begins. The souls of men will be among those who will sing this new music of creation. And all those who sang with the music will recognize their roles and their connections, as one complete story. Therefore, all will contribute to the wonder and splendor of the one grand story of all.
Evading the Gift
With the dark influence of Morgoth, the prime foe of Arda, he twisted the primary purpose of the Gift of Iluvatar. He caused doubt, covering its true meaning. And so Men began to be scared and hate the gift. They started to see it, not as freedom but as a curse. And so they dislike their nature and deny their character as Children of the Father of All, Eru Iluvatar. [2] Hence, they saw their selves as imperfect and longed to change this inborn characteristic.
For this reason, almost all of Men experience suffering throughout the generations and at all times. Several figures in the Lord of the Rings display the perils of knowingly and unknowingly evading the Gift of Men. Three men turned into vile creatures because they denied the Gift of Men through mistakes that they have made. These include the Nazgul, the King of the Dead, and Smeagol [3] (He is a Hobbit in part, belonging to the Younger Children of Iluvatr and therefore possess the Gift of Men). The Nazgul were Men turned into undying, and also cursed by the Nine Rings given to Men.
The King of the Dead turned into a spirit or creature through the curse of Isildur. He broke his vow to help Gondor battle the forces of Sauron. Time passed, and after he died, he honors the oath as a spirit and thereby released by Aragorn, finally being at rest (the same fate applies all the dead). Meanwhile, Smeagol is owned by the One Ring, completely controlling him throughout the years. Its power turned the Hobbit Smeagol into the monstrous Gollum.
Bilbo Baggins, just as Smeagol, is not a Man but a Hobbit (Younger Children of Iluvatar and bearer of the Gift of Men). Bilbo meets Gollum in the depths and flees, taking the Ring. Having a more pleasing nature than Smeagol, Bilbo withstands the dark influence of the One Ring that befell everyone who wears it. His appearance remained youthful throughout the years, only a feeling of being light and spent. In the final period of his keeping of the One Ring, Bilbo starts to display manic inclinations, especially calling the Ring as precious. He also reveals instances of aggression, especially when Gandalf urges him to pass the Ring to his successor, Frodo. When the Ring was finally unmade, Bilbo started to display manifestation of aging and tiredness.
For this reason, almost all of Men experience suffering throughout the generations and at all times. Several figures in the Lord of the Rings display the perils of knowingly and unknowingly evading the Gift of Men. Three men turned into vile creatures because they denied the Gift of Men through mistakes that they have made. These include the Nazgul, the King of the Dead, and Smeagol [3] (He is a Hobbit in part, belonging to the Younger Children of Iluvatr and therefore possess the Gift of Men). The Nazgul were Men turned into undying, and also cursed by the Nine Rings given to Men.
The King of the Dead turned into a spirit or creature through the curse of Isildur. He broke his vow to help Gondor battle the forces of Sauron. Time passed, and after he died, he honors the oath as a spirit and thereby released by Aragorn, finally being at rest (the same fate applies all the dead). Meanwhile, Smeagol is owned by the One Ring, completely controlling him throughout the years. Its power turned the Hobbit Smeagol into the monstrous Gollum.
Bilbo Baggins, just as Smeagol, is not a Man but a Hobbit (Younger Children of Iluvatar and bearer of the Gift of Men). Bilbo meets Gollum in the depths and flees, taking the Ring. Having a more pleasing nature than Smeagol, Bilbo withstands the dark influence of the One Ring that befell everyone who wears it. His appearance remained youthful throughout the years, only a feeling of being light and spent. In the final period of his keeping of the One Ring, Bilbo starts to display manic inclinations, especially calling the Ring as precious. He also reveals instances of aggression, especially when Gandalf urges him to pass the Ring to his successor, Frodo. When the Ring was finally unmade, Bilbo started to display manifestation of aging and tiredness.
The Gift of Death
Death is the Gift. The wisest of Men regarded as initially meant to be. And so when death came to them, they willingly accept and offered their lives to it. The first Kings of Numenor and Aragorn embraced it as the inborn conclusion of life. For many men, Morgoth twist it, showed the lie's full effect, and so they dreaded it instead of accepting it. This dread was at its height, in the final years of Numenor, the prolonged life of the Numenoreans still did not suffice. They used their wisdom instead to find a way to flee death. Because of this obsession came the downfall of Numenor, Ar-Pharazon raised an army armada towards the Undying Lands. Its the deception of Sauron, convincing that the key to the never-ending life of the Elves is in there. The tricks and lies of Morgoth ultimately decreased the years of Men into its original span. At the turn of the millennium, some of the heirs of Numenor possess an extended lifetime. The name of these long-living Men was Dunedain.
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