Just wanted to point out... [Eowyn changes]

[Mithalwen]

Originally Posted by eowyntje

Very good point, as Faramir accepted and loved all sides of Eowyn, marriage would not have to mean that eowyn would turn into a boring housewife. Also, Eowyn's decision to marry Faramir would make sence if she trusted him to indeed let her be all she could be.

What I can't understand, is: "I will be a shieldmaiden no longer... nor take joy only in the songs of slaying, I will be a healer and take joy in all things that grow and are not barren"
This seems a very drastic change that effects Eowyn's entire character, how could someone change so much? "The Sahdow has departed, I will be a shieldmaiden no longer... nor take joy only in the songs of slaying, I will be a healer and take joy in all things that grow and are not barren"..
This seems to me to be a very drastic change in eowyn's character? How could one change so much in moments? It seems to me impossible that her old spirit would have completely left her. Maybe I lack the maturity to understand the beauty and fulfillment of healing, it seems like a boring job to me. :P

I think there has been a drastic change in Eowyn's situation which means that a new world has opened up ... she has come so close to death and now, in an oasis of tranquility with fate poised but her helpless to act she has a moment of great clarity and self awareness. Not driven by the need to alter the course of events she realises what she wants, it is to be creative not destructive. Tolkien does suggest that it may be a change in her perception rather than her nature.

As for the lack of appeal of healing....well I don't want to sound patronising but I think you may be right but only maybe you have been lucky enough never to have encountered serioous illness close up.

My mother's cancer was diagnosed at a very late stage and she was close to death. Within a couple of weeks of starting chemo she was almost back to her normal life ... it didn't heal her but it gave her another 10 months of good quality remission I cannot tell you how precious that time was.

I have a friend who just finished radiotherapy on tuesday. - she had cancer first 12 years ago. Thanks to healers she has seen her kids get to be teenagers, and now becasue the return was diagnosed at a routine check up she has a good chance of seeing them reach adulthood.

Without healers I would have died at 3 weeks old.....

I cannot think of many jobs more interesting, fulfilling and beautiful than giving people back their health.....