Melian's Heir and Other Mothers of Middle-Earth

[Belin]

We've had a thread about motherlessness in Middle-Earth, and a more current one about the role of women in LotR, and both of them have spurred me to think about mother-figures, both literal and symbolic, and about Galadriel (whom I've named "Melian's Heir" in the title because Melian was her teacher, and she has taken Melian's role as the maker of lembas) in particular.

Her protection of both Lorien and the Fellowship, her prophetic abilities, her unreachable wisdom, her combination of sternness and gentleness, and of course the handing out of lembas give her the aura of a motherly figure. In fact, when I read the Carpenter biography, I remember Tolkien's mother reminding me of Galadriel (although since I don't remember why I made that association and I don't have the thing with me, I don't suppose that connection will be a very useful one, unless somebody else thought so too). Child also pointed out that Tolkien associated her with the Virgin Mary, another powerful, archetypal mother-figure. So my first question is, what does everyone else think of her in this role? What light does this cast on her character? Where can we go with this?

My second question is, in fact, the second part of my title. What about the other mothers and mother figures of ME? What about Melian? Varda? Gilraen? What do they add to the story? How are we to see them? How much power do they really have?

This is the first time I've started a topic, and I can't wait to see where it will go.

--Belin "I can't believe I'm finally a Wight" Ibaimendi