Nothing has been more transformational (for better or for worse) to modern masculinity than the rise of the Industrial Revolution. The Grounded Man has it all. He has answered the question “What is a man” eloquently and succinctly.

Right now, I challenge you to identify the next step in your development. Let your fears be your guide. Burn the ships. By emulating the work ethic of the Industrial Man (in conjunction with the other traits I’ll be discussing throughout this article), we will be one step closer to rebuilding positive masculinity and being the real men our world needs. In the thought of Ilúvatar, Manwë was the brother of Melkor, but dearest to Ilúvatar and the one that best understood the will of Eru. [4] When Melkor created the discord in the second Song of the Ainur, Manwë took over leading the song, pondering about airs and winds. [5]He did not understand evil, even in the form of his own brother. He released Melkor from Mandos, thus allowing him to cause the distrust of Fëanor, the Poisoning of the Two Trees, the murder of Finwë, the theft of the Silmarils, and the revolt of the Noldor.

J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, " Ainulindalë: The Music of the Ainur" As the vicegerent of Eru on Earth, Manwë was a kind, compassionate ruler, unconcerned with his own power. Manwë dressed in blue robes and had blue eyes. He wielded a scepter of sapphire made for him by the Noldor. The Vanyar were his favorite Elves, and they lived with him and Varda on Mount Oiolosse, and he delighted in their songs and poetry. [1] History [ edit | edit source ]

But these men fail to realize that true masculinity is not so narrow. Fixating on one of these definitions of manhood doesn’t make you a powerful man, it makes you what Garrett White calls a “one-dimensional douche bag”. What makes a man a man? What does it mean to be a “real man”? What is a man (beyond the purely biological) in the first place? My biggest problem was I had to sue the Beatles; I tried to sue [Apple Group business manager] Allen Klein, but he wasn’t a party to any of the agreements, so I ended up having to sue my best friends as a technical matter. It was the last thing in the world I wanted to do, but it was pointed out to me that it was the only way to do it. They would often cheat on their spouses and break down their own family, constantly trying to “upgrade” their spouse by finding younger and more promiscuous partners. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, " Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Silmarils and the Unrest of the Noldor"

They believed that they were invincible and they acted like it. Especially when it came to the way they treated women. The Sophisticated Man objectified and used women, treating them like a prize to be conquered instead of a person with whom they could share their lives. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Two. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: The Last Chapters of the Quenta Silmarillion", p. 246 Afterwards, the Valar under Manwë made an abode on Middle-earth in the Isle of Almaren and constructed the two Lamps of the Valar to provide light to the world. But Melkor destroyed the lamps, and the Valar retreated to the continent of Aman, which they heavily fortified. Eventually, the Elves awoke in Middle-earth, and Manwë at last went with the other Valar to subdue Melkor. They succeeded, and Melkor was imprisoned in the Halls of Mandos. He extended an invitation to the Elves to journey to Aman and live there amongst the Valar. For the three Ages of Melkor's imprisonment, the Valar and the Elves lived in peace and happiness. But eventually Melkor was allowed to plead for pardon before Manwë again.J.R.R. Tolkien, "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings", in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson), p. 124 He is strong, even “violent” in pursuit of his goals, yet gentle with those he loves. (Industrial Man/Emotional Man) Manwë is intended to mean "Blessed One" in Quenya, from root MAN plus the male ending -wë. However it is said also to be a version of the Valarin name Mānawenūz, which was the original Valarin name for Manwë. It meant "Blessed One, One (closest) in accord with Eru". [6] Other names [ edit | edit source ]