I was very impressed with the way that Tolkien handled women characters, especially considering the times.
One of the most daunting challenges for an author, particularly a fantasy author because of the Mary Sue/Gary Lou bait, is creating a character that has some of the right vices and wrong virtues. Eowyn was a lively, believable character because of her mistakes, accomplishments, and incongruities.
I was probably most fascinated by Galadriel. After reading about Arwen, the "ornament", I braced myself to deal with one more author that brushes off female roles. What a pleasant surprise when Galadriel, wise leader and ancient husband-overshadower, stepped onto the scene in a halo of foresight and judiciousness.
One of the things that turns me off to a book is when the author utilizes women readers to boost sales and popularity by writing female characters into ridiculously unlikely places. Galadriel's position was realistic and rang of an accomplishment in equality. The fact that women were not always treated fairly, as in Eowyn's case, only adds to the realistic feel of Middle Earth and completes his recognition of a culture that is as rounded and varied as his individual characters. Tolkien did not seem to write as if he was advocating a view-point, but as if he was an elucidator of truth (to use a phrase of Child's).
[ June 29, 2002: Message edited by: The Silver-shod Muse ]
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"'You," he said, "tell her all. What good came to you? Do you rejoice that Maleldil became a man? Tell her of your joys, and of what profit you had when you made Maleldil and death acquainted.'" -Perelandra, by C.S. Lewis
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