One of my favorite storylines/motifs in Tolkien’s Middle-earth is the idea of immortality in Elves. The fact that they cannot die from any natural causes, their bodies will last forever if they aren’t reckless, and it is interesting that Men covet this characteristic yet the Elves almost approach it with despair. What would a world look like if our bodies could last forever? Would time even exist? What would motivate us? I think that anybody who desires immortality has never seriously considered the issue.

Take Elrond for example, he is one jaded elf, having lost almost all of his family, seeing men fall numerous times and it is no wonder that after thousands of years (even though he is comparatively young) he is so full of despair in the FOTR that he is downright cynical.

Then having read the Deathconsciousness booklet it is an interesting contrast, which is an exploration in mortality. For humans, birth signifies death; nobody lives forever and nothing can last forever because it is inevitable that it will all die, be replaced or be disproved. Thus, we are motivated by this short lifespan in our actions, relationships, spirituality, everything.

I don’t know, it is such a perplexing question to me, whether it is a bigger curse to be immortal or to be mortal.