Tolkien's Female Characters in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy Essay Example
In Tolkien's Middle Earth, women are generally expected to submit to patriarchal authority. To what extent does Tolkien present women who succeed in subverting this norm?
J.R.R. Tolkien’s works have been analysed for decades and have often been criticised for the lack of female characters. Arguably his most cherished publications, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, in particular has been condemned for the passivity of his relatively few female characters. Having said that however, throughout the three books, there are a number of female characters who combat the stereotypical role of women and subvert the norm of submission to a patriarchal authority. Arwen, Éowyn and Galadriel in The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King do not conform to the submissive role that was expected from women during Tolkien’s time, as contrasted with characters such as Goldberry, Lobelia Sackville-Baggins and Farmer Maggot’s daughters. This differentiation was further strengthened by Peter Jackson’s subsequent films, in which Arwen and Éowyn in particular are given larger roles than Tolkien had originally scribed.
Arwen Undómiel is an elven princess, the “daughter of [Lord] Elrond” (The Fellowship of the Ring, page 219, line 6), and Lady Celebrían, who rule Rivendell, an elven city in Middle Earth. Arwen has a romantic relationship with Aragorn, the last heir in Men’s royal lineage, but this alliance is fraught with complications due to her Elven immortality and his birthright as Middle Earth’s only hope against Sauron, Tolkien’s antagonist and “Dark Lord” (The Fellowship of the Ring, page 132, line 45). Arwen also has a complex relationship with her father, Elrond. She is both his daughter and the last hope left for the Elven people in Rivendell. Her duties cause additional conflict for her as she wishes to serve her people.
Éowyn is a noblewoman of Rohan, a township in Middle Earth, who battles with the norms and traditions imposed on her regarding a
J.R.R. Tolkien’s works have been analysed for decades and have often been criticised for the lack of female characters. Arguably his most cherished publications, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, in particular has been condemned for the passivity of his relatively few female characters. Having said that however, throughout the three books, there are a number of female characters who combat the stereotypical role of women and subvert the norm of submission to a patriarchal authority. Arwen, Éowyn and Galadriel in The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King do not conform to the submissive role that was expected from women during Tolkien’s time, as contrasted with characters such as Goldberry, Lobelia Sackville-Baggins and Farmer Maggot’s daughters. This differentiation was further strengthened by Peter Jackson’s subsequent films, in which Arwen and Éowyn in particular are given larger roles than Tolkien had originally scribed.
Arwen Undómiel is an elven princess, the “daughter of [Lord] Elrond” (The Fellowship of the Ring, page 219, line 6), and Lady Celebrían, who rule Rivendell, an elven city in Middle Earth. Arwen has a romantic relationship with Aragorn, the last heir in Men’s royal lineage, but this alliance is fraught with complications due to her Elven immortality and his birthright as Middle Earth’s only hope against Sauron, Tolkien’s antagonist and “Dark Lord” (The Fellowship of the Ring, page 132, line 45). Arwen also has a complex relationship with her father, Elrond. She is both his daughter and the last hope left for the Elven people in Rivendell. Her duties cause additional conflict for her as she wishes to serve her people.
Éowyn is a noblewoman of Rohan, a township in Middle Earth, who battles with the norms and traditions imposed on her regarding a