Tolkien's Elves and Eden

I think that in Tolkien's work, the elves may represent, at least in part, men of Eden - those who would be happy, unblemished by evil, and primarily unfree to chose wrong. They would be content with the garden (creation) and live their peacefully, knowing no disease, death, etc.

That is certainly the picture we get from when the Hobbits visit places of elvish influence and dominion - peace, bliss, happiness, beauty - but eventually they must head back into the "real world" and know pain and suffering, and actively choose good in the face of evil. The elves mostly stay to themselves though, in their Garden-like surroundings, and can not know death by age or disease.

When evil was introduced into the world though by the serpent, man was deceived and came to know the difference between good and evil. He came to know suffering, pain, struggle - and this is the man as we know him now and in Tolkien's works. He is often and easily still deceived, but must struggle against the temptations of evil, repent, and try to do good with his relatively short life.

So man must actively chose good, and in this can potentially become closer to God, while the elves and such creation may be always beautiful, but can only go so far.