Gandalf the Wizard tells Aragorn;.
"The burden must lie now upon you and your kindred."".
This means that the Men must now take responsibility for Middle-Earth. As the mythical beings leave Middle-Earth the world which Tolkien created becomes more similar to our own.
The change that takes place in Middle-Earth almost mirrors the change which was taking place in Europe at the time of the publication of the book. It has been suggested that the Dark Lord Sauron and Mordor represented Hitler and Germany. The end of the war and the end of rationing symbolised a new era to many in Europe. In The Lord of the Rings' the return of the King to Gondor and the passing of the Elves symbolises a new age in Middle-Earth, as Sam says;.
"In the end, the Shadow is only a small and passing thing: there is light and high beauty forever beyond it's reach -.
This is an example of the optimistic view adopted by the Middle-Earth dwellers, that good can overcome evil. It also shows that though things do, and will, change not everything will, and something's at least will remain untouched. The Lord of the Rings' also shows the coming together of all races; Dwarves, Elves, Hobbits and Men. During World War II everyone was being told that everyone should come together to help to win the fight, this was demonstrated by the characters in The Lord of the Rings'. In The Fellowship of the Ring' all races of Middle-Earth are made to work together, even people who do not get on (like the Elves and the Dwarves), however, the only way to succeed is by working together. As Elrond (another high Elf) tells them;.
" they shall represent the other Free Peoples of the World: Elves, Dwarves and Men -.
Tolkien shows these enemies working together to beat the common foe, during the course of The Lord of the Rings' Legolas and Gimli (an Elf and a Dwarf) become such good friends that they are totally inseparable. Showing that even enemies can get along if made to try.