This strikes me as the appropriate thread to add a different acknowledgement in Tolkien's depiction of women.
Here, we have been discussing the positive attributes of women which he depicts, their role as healers in providing respite, which Goldberrry, Arwen and Galadriel do in LOTR. And the very much smaller role of the aged wise woman and Rosie, the domestically-inclined woman with a solid backbone and great strength of character.
What we haven't touched upon is the issue of violence against women. I'm thinking particularly of the story of Elrond's wife and its affects on his sons. Assault and death by the hands of orcs is not limited to women, though. Does evil stalk women in a particular way in LOTR and The Silm or rather everyone indiscriminantly?
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I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away.
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