From: jchokey@leland.Stanford.EDU (James Alexander Chokey)
Subject: Re: Eowyn
Organization: DSG, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 92 22:21:19 GMT

In article <1992Dec17.125855.1@ulkyvx.louisville.edu> krsear02@ulkyvx.louisville.edu (Kendall 'Opusii' Sears) writes:
>
>How about this....  Eowyn's *DESTINY* dictated that she be the way she is.
>Her whole purpose in being born was to slay the Nazgul.  Remember that
>no _man_ may slay him, but SHE is woman (hear her roar? ;-)

	I think the role of destiny and of fate in LOTR is an interesting
question-- and one that is, perhaps, even more debatable than that of 
Eowyn.  There certainly are prophecies in LOTR and other forms of divination
(i.e. Galadriel's mirror, the palantiri), but the role of choice and free
will in the narrative are also profoundly important.
	I don't think that the idea of "destiny" really has anything to
do with the existence of particularized gender roles in LOTR--  unless you're
trying to say that Tolkien was somehow destined to construct the narrative in 
the way that he did.  No matter how you want to contextualize it--  there _are_
noticeable gender roles in the text.  In one of my earlier postings on this
topic, I went through a list of the other signficant female characters in
LOTR--  Goldberry, Arwen, Galadriel-- as well as some of the minor ones--
the Healers, the Entwives, Rosie Cotton-- showing that they _all_ occupied a
role that can be easily described as "domestic." (Nobody has yet disagreed
with this, I might add). Eowyn challenges the domestic role that is relegated 
to every other (humanoid) female character in LOTR.  The language she uses in
her speech with Aragorn indicates an an awareness of the fact that Eowyn, in 
wanting to ride out to battle, _is_ challenging the gender roles that seem to
be the textual norm.  Regardless of how you wish these roles (or her challenge
to them are explained) are explained with regards to fate or free will within
Middle-earth--  they are undeniably there in LOTR. 


>It is not that she was trying to break the "female role" for the "good/bad"
>of all the women of the Rohirrim; she was driven by destiny, just as Bilbo's
>destiny was to find the ring.

	I didn't say she was trying to break the domestic female role for 
the good or bad of all the women of Rohan or of Middle-earth.  I said that
she was challenging a gender role that exists in the text of LOTR--  and that
the language that she speaks suggests that her character is meant to be 
aware of the fact that she is challenging the role that is specified for
female characters virtually everywhere else in the narrative.
	Once again, I think the issue of "destiny" is an interesting one
in it's own right.  As an explanation for why things are constructed the
way that they are in LOTR, however, it seems to be an answer that leaves
the question unanswered.


>Eowyn didn't _decide_ to settle down either. She was forced into submission by
>Aragorn in a pseudo-Royal decree.  Her eventual settlement was because she had
>fulfilled her role, just as Frodo and Bilbo BOTH felt the need/urge to settle
>down once their roles were finished.  If you'll (generic you) reread the
>series (I have MANY times) you should notice that _every_ character settles
>down after their role is finished. 

	I'm sure we've all read LOTR many times, Kendall, and are very aware
of the workings of the narrative.  And I don't think it's accurate to say that
_every_ character settles down to a peaceful domestic existence. Frodo sure
doesn't--  nor does Bilbo, Gandalf, or the great majority of the Elves.  
Merry and Pippin don't settle down in the actual course of the narrative--  
they remain vassals of Rohan and Gondor respectively and, unlike Sam, Faramir,
and Aragorn, remain arms-carrying bachelors through the last chapter.  (The 
appendices, of course, tell us that do end up getting married, but I think 
it's noteworthy that they end up dying and being buried in Gondor rather than
at home in the Shire).  Legolas and Gimli certainly never "settle down" in
either the story or the appendices. 	

	--  Jim C. <jchokey@leland.stanford.edu>


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