For the Love of Galadriel (Middle-earth’s Ultimate Muse?)

[Bêthberry]

An excellent topic for discussion, Estelyn! What really intrigues me for starters is something you suggest about the difference between your approach/view and that of Beth Russell.

Originally Posted by Estelyn Telcontar

This topic is based on the lecture “Galadriel and Her Lovers”, given by Beth Russell during ‘Tolkien 2005’ in Birmingham, England last month. Lalwendë, davem and I heard it and were impressed by the fascinating thoughts she expressed.


Though Galadriel loved and married Celeborn, her beauty, especially that of her hair, attracted others. Three of them are mentioned in Tolkien’s works, and their love for Galadriel had fateful and wide-reaching consequences. She inspired each of them to creative activity, thereby (though unintentionally, perhaps) fulfilling the function of a Muse, in my opinion. (...though Ms. Russell did not agree with that term when I asked her about it.)

What were Ms. Russell's reasons for not accepting the term 'muse'? See, I am all intrigued by the difference between the title of her lecture and the title of your thread.

I wonder if the question doesn't turn on just what a 'muse' is. In Greek mythology, the nine (or three, depending on which age one is reading) were daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne ('memory') who inspired mental activity in men. Two aspects are important. First, it was mental activity they inspired. And second, they themselves were not desired. They were not the loved ones, but their effect was. They provided inspiration for thinking and were channels of thought from the gods.

They were not the only forms of female inspiration in classical mythology. There were for instance sirens ( women who combined human and animal form) who drove mariners to their doom and succubi (demons in female form) who visited men in their sleep. These inspired not mental endeavour but bodily functions with various consequences. And they appear to have been desired for themselves.

This represents the classic split in Western Culture between the body and the mind and it went on, I think, in the tradition of the muse as it developed in at least English literature, which is the one I probably can recall the best. I'm thinking of writers such as Spencer who felt fully confident being able to write glowing prefaces to married women in thanks for their inspiration without any second thoughts about impropriety.

But what Russell seems to be getting at with her word "lovers"--which I note davem has used as well--is that Galadriel was involved in some kind of sexual dynamic. Even Russell's use of "fall" is (I'm betting) significant here with all our connotations of Eve, fall, and sexual doom.

Was this why Russell would reject the use of 'muse', that it is associated so thoroughly with mental aspects solely and sidesteps any sexual implications?

After all, the very negative aspects you yourself point out:

Originally Posted by Estelyn

The creations of both Elves ignited wars in which both died. Not very encouraging for a Muse, is it?!

It's a far step from these sorts of inspirations to the final Marian imagery which Tolkien strove to incorporate in his later years in the Galadriel figure, but I think it is fascinating in terms of various kinds of female figures in mythology.