Were there any "evil" women? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Kalimac · 03-12-2002, 10:46 PM

Darn, got here too late. The only ones I could think of were Tar-Ancalime and Queen Beruthiel (at least among the humans or near-humans). And they aren't even in LOTR proper, like Shelob (and Lobelia, though Lobelia is so far removed from Shelob that I hesitate to even mention them together). Though when you get right down to it, proportionally that would be about right; most of the venues of LOTR are extremely masculine - in a society like that, there just aren't going to be a lot of women battling at Helm's Deep or hanging out in the Prancing Pony. They just aren't in the same venues as the main characters and so don't have any opportunities to be evil, except for Galadriel. Maybe Tolkien did have women on a pedestal, or maybe there just wasn't room for an evil woman in the story - can you imagine where to fit one in? Somehow making an evil female consort for Saruman or Sauron doesn't seem quite right. What would she *do* anyway?

03-12-2002, 10:46 PM	#10
Kalimac Candle of the Marshes Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Flyover Country Posts: 780	Darn, got here too late. The only ones I could think of were Tar-Ancalime and Queen Beruthiel (at least among the humans or near-humans). And they aren't even in LOTR proper, like Shelob (and Lobelia, though Lobelia is so far removed from Shelob that I hesitate to even mention them together). Though when you get right down to it, proportionally that would be about right; most of the venues of LOTR are extremely masculine - in a society like that, there just aren't going to be a lot of women battling at Helm's Deep or hanging out in the Prancing Pony. They just aren't in the same venues as the main characters and so don't have any opportunities to be evil, except for Galadriel. Maybe Tolkien did have women on a pedestal, or maybe there just wasn't room for an evil woman in the story - can you imagine where to fit one in? Somehow making an evil female consort for Saruman or Sauron doesn't seem quite right. What would she do anyway? __________________ Father, dear Father, if you see fit, We'll send my love to college for one year yet Tie blue ribbons all about his head, To let the ladies know that he's married.