The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - Marriage in Middle-earth II (unhappy)

Morwen Tindomerel · 06-08-2003, 05:50 PM

Aldarion and Erendis: Personally my sympathies are entirely with Aldarion. Granted he's not perfect but, unlike his wife, he does make some effort at compromise.

Erendis is clearly possessive and controlling in her relationships, (look what she does to her daughter!) but it's her reaction to Aldarion's being overdue that really loses me. One would think any wife with an ounce of affection for her husband would at least consider the possibility that something has happened to him - but not Erendis. She promptly concludes he's broken his word and goes off to Emerie to sulk. If Aldarion had been my husband I'd been on the next ship to Middle Earth to look for him!

Eol and Aredhel: It is unjust to say Eol held Aredhel prisoner. Tolkien himself says she was not entirely unwilling and her life in Nan Elmoth was not hateful to her. In fact given her outdoorsy tastes she was probably happier there than she had been in Turgon's city. Tolkien also says that Aredhel was free to fare as she wished *alone* though her husband asked that she avoid the daylight not contact her Noldo relatives.

Admittedly that was rather unreasonable of him but Aredhel doesn't seem to have had any problem in complying - until her son started working on her.

Eol conceeds his wife has a right to leave him and return to her own people if she wishes - though he's ungracious about it. It is his son's defection, betrayal as he sees it, that he will not stomach. And Aredhel does plead for Eol's life, indicating she has some feelings for him.

Aredhel was a flighty, willful, spoiled woman. A strong domineering man like Eol may have been exactly what she wanted and needed. Certainly she was happy with him for many years.

Ar-Pharazon and Ar-Zimraphel: The accepted story is she was forced into marrying her cousin and sharing her throne with him. But there is another tradition which claims Miriel had always been in love with her cousin and more than willing to marry him the minute she was free to do so, (see HoME).

[ June 08, 2003: Message edited by: Morwen Tindomerel ]

06-08-2003, 05:50 PM	#26
Morwen Tindomerel Wight Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Minas Anor or Annuminas the Golden Posts: 187	Aldarion and Erendis: Personally my sympathies are entirely with Aldarion. Granted he's not perfect but, unlike his wife, he does make some effort at compromise. Erendis is clearly possessive and controlling in her relationships, (look what she does to her daughter!) but it's her reaction to Aldarion's being overdue that really loses me. One would think any wife with an ounce of affection for her husband would at least consider the possibility that something has happened to him - but not Erendis. She promptly concludes he's broken his word and goes off to Emerie to sulk. If Aldarion had been my husband I'd been on the next ship to Middle Earth to look for him! Eol and Aredhel: It is unjust to say Eol held Aredhel prisoner. Tolkien himself says she was not entirely unwilling and her life in Nan Elmoth was not hateful to her. In fact given her outdoorsy tastes she was probably happier there than she had been in Turgon's city. Tolkien also says that Aredhel was free to fare as she wished alone though her husband asked that she avoid the daylight not contact her Noldo relatives. Admittedly that was rather unreasonable of him but Aredhel doesn't seem to have had any problem in complying - until her son started working on her. Eol conceeds his wife has a right to leave him and return to her own people if she wishes - though he's ungracious about it. It is his son's defection, betrayal as he sees it, that he will not stomach. And Aredhel does plead for Eol's life, indicating she has some feelings for him. Aredhel was a flighty, willful, spoiled woman. A strong domineering man like Eol may have been exactly what she wanted and needed. Certainly she was happy with him for many years. Ar-Pharazon and Ar-Zimraphel: The accepted story is she was forced into marrying her cousin and sharing her throne with him. But there is another tradition which claims Miriel had always been in love with her cousin and more than willing to marry him the minute she was free to do so, (see HoME). [ June 08, 2003: Message edited by: Morwen Tindomerel ]