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(very bad things can result from Men spending too much time in Valinor)
(src: this SFF answer)

Given the answer's poster prior history in , my assumption is that the quoted claim is correct.

But what are those "bad things" which can result?

DVK-on-Ahch-To
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1 Answers1

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I'm not sure exactly what Shamshiel meant in that answer, but this is discussed briefly in The Silmarillion (emphasis mine):

'The Doom of the World,' [the Elves] said, 'One alone can change who made it. And were you so to voyage that escaping all deceits and snares you came indeed to Aman, the Blessed Realm, little would it profit you. For it is not the land of Manwë that makes its people deathless, but the Deathless that dwell therein have hallowed the land; and there you would but wither and grow weary the sooner, as moths in a light too strong and steadfast.'

The Silmaillion IV Akallabêth

Tolkien wrote more about this in an essay titled "Aman and Mortal Men":

[I]n Aman such a [mortal] creature would be a fleeting thing, the most swift-passing of all beasts. For his whole life would last little more than one half-year, and while all other living creatures would seem to him hardly to change, but to remain steadfast in life and joy with hope of endless years undimmed, he would rise and pass - even as upon Earth the grass may rise in spring and wither ere winter. Then he would become filled with envy, deeming himself a victim of injustice, being denied the graces given to all other things. He would not value what he had, but feeling that he was among the least and most despised of all creatures, he would grow soon to contemn his manhood, and hate those more richly endowed. He would not escape the fear and sorrow of his swift mortality that is his lot upon Earth, in Arda Marred, but would be burdened by it unbearably to the loss of all delight.

History of Middle-earth X Morgoth's Ring Part 5: "Myth's Transformed" Chapter XI "Aman and Mortal Men"

Essentially, their lives would appear shorter, because of the unchanging nature of everything around them; this would be rather psychologically distressing, as you can imagine, and it would eventually make them bitter, angry, and depressed. This is not a recipe for domestic bliss.

There are also more specific "Very Bad Things" that arise from having Ar-Pharazôn and his soldiers running around; that's dealt with a little more in Shamshiels's answer here, and my own answer here.

Jason Baker
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  • Unless I'm mis-interpreting the quote (being ESL, Silmarillion is hard to parse for me), this seems like the Bad Things merely are Bad for the individual in question, not to Arda as a whole. As such, punishing someone for coming to Valinor seems like Not Worth the bother and disproportionate? – DVK-on-Ahch-To Oct 30 '15 at 14:56
  • @DVK Yeah, basically. The metaphor is one of moths being drawn to a flame; they think it's beautiful, and it is, but it kills them. I don't think the massive punishment was so much for daring to break the Ban, but rather for declaring war on Heaven – Jason Baker Oct 30 '15 at 15:01
  • The undying lands are not heaven. To men the undying lands would be more like hell, especially if they were given immortality. Eru gave them the gift of death, something which the Elves (and often Valar/Maiar too) envy. – John Bell Oct 30 '15 at 15:27
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    @JasonBaker: I was thinking also of another quote in Morgoth's Ring, something about the fea dissolving into the hroar and men basically becoming beasts even if they somehow did obtain bodily immortality, which they would not be satisfied without once there. – Shamshiel Oct 30 '15 at 16:44
  • @Shamshiel Right, that comes soon after the second quote I posted. The trouble with that is that it's hypothetical; it assumes the Valar could grant Men immortality, which of course they can't – Jason Baker Oct 30 '15 at 16:46
  • @DVK: Having a bunch of envious, hate-filled people around is bad for more than just the envious, hate-filled people. :) Ar-Pharazôn rebelled because of that exact same envy. I think it'd also be more 'tragic' if it happened to someone who had at least formerly been a good guy. – Shamshiel Oct 30 '15 at 16:47
  • What flame? The two trees were dead by the time Men arised. – b_jonas Oct 30 '15 at 18:00
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    @b_jonas: It's a metaphorical light. – Shamshiel Oct 30 '15 at 18:51