The Women of Middle Earth (Great Article!)

Catholic Exchange ^ | 12/18/2003 | Christine O'Donnell

[sweetliberty]

"We can be the passive and serene woman and yet, when the time is needful become the warrior princess."

I agree with you. I too identify more with Arwen, but I like the way you put it. We are not one-dimensional, but multi-dimensional, and highly adaptive to the need of the moment. I like the way PJ brought Arwen into the rescue of Frodo. I didn't even see her so much as the warrior princess there as the healer/protector whose equestrian skill I greatly admired and which served the role well without dimishing her femininity in the least. It gave a beautiful supernatural quality to her femininity.

[sweetliberty]

"Some critics claim that Tolkien’s serene version of femininity is offensive to the modern female viewer. As a modern female viewer, I find the assumption itself offensive."

I would absolutely agree with that. Feminists exploit femaleness at the expense of femininity.

[BenLurkin]

[mnehring]

btt

[MrEdd]

Bookmark

[little jeremiah]

I missed this the first time around. And I love Tolkien.

BTTT for a Christine O’Donnel read.

[Robert A Cook PE]

From the article’s description of O’Donnell:

“© Copyright 2003 Catholic Exchange

Christine O’Donnell serves as Director of Communications for the Intercollegiate Studies Institute. She has been described as sassy, stubborn and sweet, and by those who disagree with her as “the girl you hate to love.” This young woman who National Review Magazine says “blends the flare of the Bible with Cosmopolitan,” shatters the stereotype about her generation. Her frequent television appearances include ABC’s Politically Incorrect, MTV, CNN, C-SPAN, Fox News Channel, MSNBC and CNBC.”

[Immerito]

Thanks for posting this. Great article.

[stingraye]

Hmm... What about Elbereth?
You don’t cry out Manwe’s or Orome’s name when fighting giant spiders (also female).

Or Rosie and Elanor? Someone upwards already mentioned Goldberry.