I’m starting to get the impression that Tolkien’s elves are, at their worst, like TB: they certainly act all haughty and superior, but in truth they still are people with all of the little flaws, vices, and “improper” behavior like the rest of us gremlins. Even in Middle-Earth’s history, elves are the elder race, though not by much, and certainly were not immune to making very bad decisions. They just live forever and don’t have an afterlife, just a continent-sized retirement home.
Oh they are very much like TB at their worst--and a few I would reckon even worse. I mean, look at Feanor and the Oath. “Fuck everyone, fuck the gods, fuck Morgoth (Sauron’s boss and OG Bad Guy), these jewels that I made that could possibly revive the holy trees that brought light to the world are for me and my family alone.” Feanor and his sons were the catalyst of the first instance of elves killing other elves. Because fuck you the pretty diamonds are ours.
Luthien’s father Thingol sent her human boyfriend on a seemingly impossible task so that they could never get married.
Maeglin sold out his whole kingdom to Morgoth so that he could rule it and get the girl (who was his near cousin). (This ended up badly.) His dad probably forced a marriage with Maeglin’s mother and probably forced himself on her in other ways.
The elvenking (Thranduil) in the hobbit and the gatekeeper and guards get drunk as FUCK and party all night. Thranduil himself is...
Look he’s just TB. In one passage he basically says to thorin “HOW DARE YOU BE LOST IN MY WOODS WITHOUT MY PERMISSION.”