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Lyta_Underhill · 03-25-2003, 10:43 AM

I suppose I strayed slightly from the main thrust of the topic when I decided to delve more deeply into the character of Eowyn. But such is inevitable, I suppose. As for the idea of Eowyn being a candidate for membership in the Fellowship, I would certainly not put her forward for such a thing. I believe that, in her unbalanced state, she would fall to the power of the Ring in a similar manner to Boromir. She is desperate for a means to lift Rohan out of its plight, just as Boromir is desperate to save Gondor. I think she would see the Ring in a similar light and be tempted thereby. It is difficult to foresee what anyone would do under such a strain, and that is the main stress placed upon the members of the Fellowship. Also, there is the palpable tension between her and Aragorn, which would have destabilized the membership somewhat. I do not see Aragorn being dangerously distracted, however. A different female may have provided less of a destabilization, but there would be a slightly different dynamic between the Fellowship members--one that, I think, Tolkien did not wish to spend time on, as it would have distracted from the main thrust of the saga.

As was said earlier, I do think that the Fellowship could have admitted of a female member, but not necessarily that it should. I, too, prefer the books as they are written; but it is always interesting to speculate, and I wouldn't give up my right to do that, no matter what the merit of the work being speculated upon.

It would have been interesting to see "Boromira" though, Nurumaiel! I imagine her as a sort of Brunnhilde type Valkyrie, armor-clad and terrible! [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] And of a female of the Istari? I think the dynamic between her and the hobbits would have been quite different and less chummy, unfortunately, but in one aspect I can see it: a feminine wizard would have separated the Istari from the mortals in a further way, creating yet another level of removal and thus of awe. This could work for some stories, but I think I prefer the more sociable and interactive Gandalf as he is. I don't think there would have been quite the subtle charm of the relationships with the hobbits in particular with a female wizard in charge.

These are just my impressions, not based on facts or even logic sometimes; but I am quick to admit influence of intuition. (A woman thing, I suppose!) [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

Cheers,
Lyta

03-25-2003, 10:43 AM	#73
Lyta_Underhill Haunted Halfling Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: an uncounted length of steps--floating between air molecules Posts: 841	I suppose I strayed slightly from the main thrust of the topic when I decided to delve more deeply into the character of Eowyn. But such is inevitable, I suppose. As for the idea of Eowyn being a candidate for membership in the Fellowship, I would certainly not put her forward for such a thing. I believe that, in her unbalanced state, she would fall to the power of the Ring in a similar manner to Boromir. She is desperate for a means to lift Rohan out of its plight, just as Boromir is desperate to save Gondor. I think she would see the Ring in a similar light and be tempted thereby. It is difficult to foresee what anyone would do under such a strain, and that is the main stress placed upon the members of the Fellowship. Also, there is the palpable tension between her and Aragorn, which would have destabilized the membership somewhat. I do not see Aragorn being dangerously distracted, however. A different female may have provided less of a destabilization, but there would be a slightly different dynamic between the Fellowship members--one that, I think, Tolkien did not wish to spend time on, as it would have distracted from the main thrust of the saga. As was said earlier, I do think that the Fellowship could have admitted of a female member, but not necessarily that it should. I, too, prefer the books as they are written; but it is always interesting to speculate, and I wouldn't give up my right to do that, no matter what the merit of the work being speculated upon. It would have been interesting to see "Boromira" though, Nurumaiel! I imagine her as a sort of Brunnhilde type Valkyrie, armor-clad and terrible! [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] And of a female of the Istari? I think the dynamic between her and the hobbits would have been quite different and less chummy, unfortunately, but in one aspect I can see it: a feminine wizard would have separated the Istari from the mortals in a further way, creating yet another level of removal and thus of awe. This could work for some stories, but I think I prefer the more sociable and interactive Gandalf as he is. I don't think there would have been quite the subtle charm of the relationships with the hobbits in particular with a female wizard in charge. These are just my impressions, not based on facts or even logic sometimes; but I am quick to admit influence of intuition. (A woman thing, I suppose!) [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] Cheers, Lyta __________________ “…she laid herself to rest upon Cerin Amroth; and there is her green grave, until the world is changed, and all the days of her life are utterly forgotten by men that come after, and elanor and niphredil bloom no more east of the Sea.”