Once again, the topic flourished: the old discussion about Tolkien’s chauvinism in The Lord of the Rings. It’s a generational thing, I always told my students and fellow lovers of the book. And he was a medievalist, and all the roles of women in Medieval society are there. Even the White Lady of Rowan, Ewyn, the Shield Maiden.
The problem is that women are nearly excluded from the main frame of the story. The tale of Arwen and Aragorn appears as an appendix. Yet, everything Aragorn does has to do with Arwen. He’s waiting for the time to come for him to be King, but he’s walking the Earth to prove his worth, to show Arwen’s father, Elrond, he’s got more in him than just royal blood. He loves Arwen so much, he'll do anything for her. When he achieves it, and only then, can he marry Arwen. She’s too exalted, even for him, her father said.
And what does she do? She has to decide if she waits for him or if she leaves Middle Earth for ever. And she stays. Because she truly loves him. For that, she gives up her immortal life, which is the greatest proof of love she could provide. She'll stay near him until he dies and then she'll let herself die too, in a short time. During the War of the Ring, she sends him all he needs for his quests: horse, sword, even the banner. She’s never there, but she’s always there (much more in the book than in the film). She’s the star that enlightens his way, and he never stops thinking about her. In the end, he’s already King, and she’s not there yet. And he waits, in quiet desperation, until the day she joins him. The description of her approach to Minas Tirith is one of the most beautiful Tollkien ever wrote. She is the true ruler, not Aragorn; he rules the people, but she rules him. If that is chauvinism, I don’t know what feminism is.
Tolkien was a romantic, in his own Catholic/Edwardian way. He had to prove himself too, in order to marry the woman he loved. And he did. That’s why this is a strong topic in his work. And this is how my discussions about this subject usually end: Aragorn would have never been King without Arwen; moreover, I don’t even believe he would have wanted to.
The problem is that women are nearly excluded from the main frame of the story. The tale of Arwen and Aragorn appears as an appendix. Yet, everything Aragorn does has to do with Arwen. He’s waiting for the time to come for him to be King, but he’s walking the Earth to prove his worth, to show Arwen’s father, Elrond, he’s got more in him than just royal blood. He loves Arwen so much, he'll do anything for her. When he achieves it, and only then, can he marry Arwen. She’s too exalted, even for him, her father said.
And what does she do? She has to decide if she waits for him or if she leaves Middle Earth for ever. And she stays. Because she truly loves him. For that, she gives up her immortal life, which is the greatest proof of love she could provide. She'll stay near him until he dies and then she'll let herself die too, in a short time. During the War of the Ring, she sends him all he needs for his quests: horse, sword, even the banner. She’s never there, but she’s always there (much more in the book than in the film). She’s the star that enlightens his way, and he never stops thinking about her. In the end, he’s already King, and she’s not there yet. And he waits, in quiet desperation, until the day she joins him. The description of her approach to Minas Tirith is one of the most beautiful Tollkien ever wrote. She is the true ruler, not Aragorn; he rules the people, but she rules him. If that is chauvinism, I don’t know what feminism is.
Tolkien was a romantic, in his own Catholic/Edwardian way. He had to prove himself too, in order to marry the woman he loved. And he did. That’s why this is a strong topic in his work. And this is how my discussions about this subject usually end: Aragorn would have never been King without Arwen; moreover, I don’t even believe he would have wanted to.
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