May 7, 2003
The Lord of the Rings is a series controlled and played out almost completely by men; the Fellowship is all male, the enemies are male, and the only women who had a significant part is Arwen, the counter-part to Aragorn as his love interest and Galadriel. This is why I enjoy having Eowyn in the two books so much. I do not think she scorns being a woman, but rebels against the limitations that are placed upon her sex. If she could, she would ride out with the soldiers for every battle and take her place of honor in protecting her home and those she loves. She is cold, perhaps, but she is strong and obviously not without feeling, as she seems to care for Aragorn very much. It almost seems odd that Tolkien puts her in the books, but I appreciate it. True, Eowyn is often portrayed with descriptions that are often negative when applied to a woman-cold, a steel blade, stern-and none of these can be denied, but these attributes are what give her strength and courage to fight. They also hollow her, for the yearning to go and die as a soldier is so strong, to stay behind because all the men in power tell her so is agony which she finds hard to bear. But I am proud of her, because she never stops trying to go to battle. She often appears clad as a Rider or soldier, with a sword and shield and there is doubt of her talent. Even the title of a 'Shield-Maiden of Rohon' doesn't quite fit her, because she does not want to just defend, she wants to attack.
Her will to go and battle is recognized in Merry, more specifically, she sees it in his face when he is to be left behind. Like so many of the characters in the book, Eowyn and Merry do not follow orders, which ultimately leads to a better end, as it often does with the others as well. Once Eowyn has a purpose, she is set on her goal and will not let anyone stop her from achieving whatever end she desires.
May 16, 2003
The Scouring of the Shire, and the four Hobbits' return was just a fantastic scene. I was very please to see that they could take care of themselves without relying on others, such as Gandalf and Aragorn. The Scouring of the Shire, led by Saruman and wicked Men, was Saruman's way of bringing the Second Darkness to the Hobbits as punishment for all that Sam, Frodo, Merry, and Pippin did to him. It was a sad, miserable life, all the rules that ruined life in general for the folks of the Shire-no beer, no pipe-weed, no extra food, curfews, no parties, and everything made to be so dismal and dank. The Hobbits were unequipped emotionally/in spirit to fight back against the Men without a leader. Saruman's control came subtly, and since it was Lotho, the 'Chief' of the Shire who had first allowed the Men in, the Hobbits were even more lost.
Enter the four Hobbits who have just returned from war and Mordor. They had watched the leaders long enough to understand how to fight, and courage has been permanently instilled in each Hobbit. To see their precious homeland destroyed and the Hobbits made to be slaves is too much for them, and it was quite invigorating to see them fighting back against the tyranny. This battle, Raising the Shire, was the moment when Merry, Pippin, Sam, and Frodo acknowledge that they cannot go back to who they were, even in the Shire, ever again. But their home was saved and, in Hobbit-fashion, rebuilt to how it was and replanted with good ol' Samwise's earth from Galadriel.
The Lord of the Rings is a series controlled and played out almost completely by men; the Fellowship is all male, the enemies are male, and the only women who had a significant part is Arwen, the counter-part to Aragorn as his love interest and Galadriel. This is why I enjoy having Eowyn in the two books so much. I do not think she scorns being a woman, but rebels against the limitations that are placed upon her sex. If she could, she would ride out with the soldiers for every battle and take her place of honor in protecting her home and those she loves. She is cold, perhaps, but she is strong and obviously not without feeling, as she seems to care for Aragorn very much. It almost seems odd that Tolkien puts her in the books, but I appreciate it. True, Eowyn is often portrayed with descriptions that are often negative when applied to a woman-cold, a steel blade, stern-and none of these can be denied, but these attributes are what give her strength and courage to fight. They also hollow her, for the yearning to go and die as a soldier is so strong, to stay behind because all the men in power tell her so is agony which she finds hard to bear. But I am proud of her, because she never stops trying to go to battle. She often appears clad as a Rider or soldier, with a sword and shield and there is doubt of her talent. Even the title of a 'Shield-Maiden of Rohon' doesn't quite fit her, because she does not want to just defend, she wants to attack.
Her will to go and battle is recognized in Merry, more specifically, she sees it in his face when he is to be left behind. Like so many of the characters in the book, Eowyn and Merry do not follow orders, which ultimately leads to a better end, as it often does with the others as well. Once Eowyn has a purpose, she is set on her goal and will not let anyone stop her from achieving whatever end she desires.
May 16, 2003
The Scouring of the Shire, and the four Hobbits' return was just a fantastic scene. I was very please to see that they could take care of themselves without relying on others, such as Gandalf and Aragorn. The Scouring of the Shire, led by Saruman and wicked Men, was Saruman's way of bringing the Second Darkness to the Hobbits as punishment for all that Sam, Frodo, Merry, and Pippin did to him. It was a sad, miserable life, all the rules that ruined life in general for the folks of the Shire-no beer, no pipe-weed, no extra food, curfews, no parties, and everything made to be so dismal and dank. The Hobbits were unequipped emotionally/in spirit to fight back against the Men without a leader. Saruman's control came subtly, and since it was Lotho, the 'Chief' of the Shire who had first allowed the Men in, the Hobbits were even more lost.
Enter the four Hobbits who have just returned from war and Mordor. They had watched the leaders long enough to understand how to fight, and courage has been permanently instilled in each Hobbit. To see their precious homeland destroyed and the Hobbits made to be slaves is too much for them, and it was quite invigorating to see them fighting back against the tyranny. This battle, Raising the Shire, was the moment when Merry, Pippin, Sam, and Frodo acknowledge that they cannot go back to who they were, even in the Shire, ever again. But their home was saved and, in Hobbit-fashion, rebuilt to how it was and replanted with good ol' Samwise's earth from Galadriel.
