In the early 1980's I was at a sort of hippy tea house where they conducted readings of books followed by discussion. Imagine my surprise when the evening I wandered in, they were starting a reading of
Aldarion and Erendis. I had only recently read through the chapter and I loved the actual insights into Numenor. Anyway, the discussion led to some interesting hypothesis on their relationship. Some of what I remember is touched on in some of this discussion here.
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Originally Posted by Dilettante
What I find interesting is that Erendis surrounds herself with women. Her house in Emerie has no male servants and the closest man is several miles away, so it appears. She then proceeds to teach her daughter that men are evil, vile creatures and all females are better off without them. If this were a modern story, the first thing Erendis would do after Aldarion had been gone for a year would be to start an affair with one of the household staff or a handsome squire from the estate next door. Instead here, she turns her hatred of Aldarion into a hatred of all men in general.
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There was a thought expressed that
The White Lady of Emerie was possibly a lesbian and enjoyed the company of women in her house. Her reasoning for marrying Aldarion had to do more with acquiring power than love, but the relationship may of had its beginnings in brief but intense lustful period which didn't carry over to their marriage.
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Originally Posted by Thinlómien
I can't help feeling Aldarion and Erendis would have been happier if they hadn't married after all, and it's a very sad conclusion to make from a love story. The story of Aldarion and Erendis is, for me, a lot about the sacrifices you make for love, and whether they are worth it in the end or not. I'm also wondering if what happens in the end could be called a divorce, and if any kind of divorce existed in Númenór or Middle-Earth.
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I never really saw it as a love story but more of a tragic tale if a married couple. They were in essence 'separated' for years on end while Aldarion was in Middle Earth. One f the hypothesis that came up was the possibility that Aldarion had a 2nd family in Middle Earth. Anyway, the consensus, then and now, is the reader at first feels for Erendis, but by the end, feels more for Aldarion.
I always liked this chapter for its showing the Numenoreans off exploring in their tall ships, and the brief expansion of Gil Galad with his letter.