 ‘Eowyn is safe now,’ [Gandalf] said. ‘But you, Wormtongue, you have done what you could for your true master. Some reward you have earned at least. Yet Saruman is apt to overlook his bargains. I should advise you to go quickly and remind him, lest he forget your faithful service.’ |
The King of the Golden Hall
Inspiring.
Of course the “evil counselor” plot device is anything but new, but the healing of Theoden, his incredible recovery and transformation was wonderful to read.
Now with the Eorlingas chasing off to war with Saruman, I wonder what has happened to the Ents and Pippin and Merry…where are they in their story? Are they on their way to battle, or is their battle over?
The spark of romance between Aragorn and Eowyn is plain to see and it won’t be surprising if the two wed in time. Yet the riddle of Aragorn’s troubled look has me wondering…like so many things.
I have to bring up (again) Tolkien’s ability to bring to life so many different places. Every new and vivid location has me scribbling something down. How many more fascinating places will we encounter? Cause Edoras is just as interesting as Tom Bombadil’s house…or more so, I should say. That they are all so different from one to the next is a testament to Tolkien’s skill.
Eowyn is noticeably another strong leading female character. There are a handful of remarkable women in Tolkien’s Middle-earth. Galadriel isn’t just powerful now, she endured the Helcaraxe helping lead the abandoned Noldor after Fëanor into Middle-earth in ages past.
Also in the Silmarillion was Melian, a Maia, and her daughter Lúthien. Then, also, there was Aredhel who left Gondolin against her brothers wishes. Elwing, the wife of Earendil is pretty remarkable, too. No strong female characters I recall in the Hobbit, but in the Lord of the Rings aside from Galadriel there is now Eowyn. Clearly the number of strong women is overwhelmed by the number of strong men, but that there are as many leading women as there are is striking to me.
till next time, keep thinking,
Mark-Edmond Howell
Kanazawa Japan
