For the Arwen-haters: In Justification of Arwen

[Lady Elwen]

Author's Name: Tari_Niphredilwa
Email: [e-mail]
Submission Title: In Justification of Arwen
Rating: PG
Summary: Arwen is often attacked (unfairly) for the things she does, and this is to dispell the wrong conclusions drawn about her.


Review In Justification of Arwen here


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[Lady Elwen]

One of the most amazing and awe-inspiring things about Tolkien?s writings is that every character had a story to tell. Each character had a past, a future, and a purpose. He developed each so thoroughly we something miss a few details along the way. Consequently, there are many out there who hate the story and character of Arwen Undómiel. In my opinion, Arwen?s story is one filled beauty, love and sorrow, and those who hate her do not understand her. Who is right? A matter of opinion, perhaps, but I will try to defend Arwen?s character and reveal her as JRR Tolkien wished it.

Her mere lineage shows us who she was and explains her later behavior. She is a peredhil, a half-elf, and the daughter of Elrond.

?Itarildë (Idril)? daughter of Turgon was the mother of Eärendil; but his father was a Man of the Atani, of the House of Hador: Tuor son of Huor? Eärendil was thus the second of the Pereldar (Half-elven), the elder being Dior, son of Beren and Lúthien Tinúviel daughter of King Elu Thingol. [...] By the marriage of Eärendil to Elwing daughter of Dior son of Beren the lines of the Pereldar (Pere?il) were united. Elros and Elrond were the sons of Eärendil. (?The Shibboleth of Fëanor', The Peoples of Middle-earth)?

By this long lineage, we see that she is not purely half-elven, but through her ancestors. But what does this mean? ?Now all those who have the blood of mortal Men, in whatever part, great or small, are mortal, unless other doom be granted to them; but in this matter the power of doom is given to me. This is my decree: to Eärendil and to Elwing and to their sons shall be given leave each to choose freely under which kindred they shall be judged.'(?Quenta Silmarillion? The Lost Road)?

This means that the children of Elrond and Elros got to choose whether they wished to be immortal. As we know, Elros chose to be king of the Numenoreans, a mortal, while Elrond chose to be Elvish. It was now Arwen and her brothers? time to decide which they desired to be, Elf or Mortal.

?The view is that the Half-elven have a power of (irrevocable) choice, which may be delayed but not permanently, which kin's fate they will share?. Elrond chose to be among the Elves. His children- with a renewed Elvish strain, since their mother was Celebrían dtr. of Galadriel -have to make their choice. (Letter 153, September 1954)?

Arwen knows this to be her fate; that she must choose sooner or later. The first time Aragorn meets her and calls her Tinúviel she mentions that she may become like Lúthien. For the moment she is of the Elf-kind, and will remain Elf-kind until her father leaves Middle-Earth.

?Thus, despite the children of Elrond and Celebrían (Elladan, Elrohir and Arwen), being 25/32 Eldar, 3/16 Edain, and 1/32 Maiar, they only live the life of the Eldar while they abide with Elrond, and become subject to mortality by remaining behind in Middle-earth. (The Lost Road)?

Her life is tied to her father?s decision to dwell in Middle-Earth. By leaving with him, she remains immortal until the world?s ending. By staying behind, she turns into a mortal. The Peredhil?s version of mortal is different than that of Men. For Men in Middle Earth it means growing old, being susceptible to disease and easily killed, and finally death. To the Half-Elven, it means the same as other Elves, no sickness or quick death by sword, but their destination after death is dependent on their choice. Mortals go to a place unknown while ?the Elves die not till the world dies, unless they are slain or waste in grief?and dying they are gathered to the halls of Mandos in Valinor?(Silmarillion)? The Peredhil can decide for either fate.

This is important to consider when studying the choice of Arwen. If she chooses to remain immortal she goes with her family to Valinor and sees them (even those who have passed because their spirits go to Valinor and receive a new body) and can live with them until the world ends. But not so if she doesn?t choose that path. She instead goes somewhere that is unknown to both Men and Elves, and never sees her family again. We know she loves her father. She obeys him, their parting is bitter, and the reason she does not go with them to see the Elves sail into the West is because it would be too difficult for her. She loved her grandparents and visited them often in Lothlórien. She most likely loved her mother, and would never see her in peace in Valinor, but instead her last memory of her would be that she was in too much pain to stay with her loved ones. And she will never see her again.

The fact that she doesn?t know where she is going after death is another plausible reason for her unwillingness to let Aragorn go when he told her it was time for him to die. Arwen would have to die soon if her husband passed, for he was her reason for living. She was frightened while Aragorn had no fear. Aragorn knew he was going to the place of his fathers, where he would be expected. Arwen is seen as an Elf, though Half-Elven, and may not be welcomed there. She might even been scorned for her decision to be mortal, for Men were jealous of Elves? everlasting lives.

This leads to the next topic: the Gift to Men. ?It is one with this of freedom that the children of Men dwell only a short space in the world alive, and are not bound to it, and depart soon whether Elves know not. Whereas the Elves remain until the end of days, and their love of the Earth and all the world is more single and poignant therefore, and as the years lengthen evermore sorrowful. (Silmarillion)?

The text explains that though the Elves thought it a gift for Men they did not want to for themselves. Every year they love the world more, and their desire to never leave it grows with each passing year. For Men on the other hand, it was easier to accept their fate because ?[Ilúvatar] willed that the hearts of Men should seek beyond the world and should find no rest therein?(Silmarillion)? We see this to be true in Aragorn?s death scene. Aragorn is willing to pass on earlier than his life?s potential, and Arwen is struggling to accept this bitter ?gift?. It may be a gift to Men, but a difficult thing to consent to for the Elves. She says so herself: ?For if this is indeed, as the Eldar say, the gift of the One to Men, it is bitter to receive. (RotK)? Arwen should not be scoffed at for her inner-conflict, for she is reacting as her nature instructs her to. But despite her nature, Arwen still followed through and consummated her choice.
Another rebuttal is that Arwen married Aragorn to be a queen. This cannot be true for several reasons. First, Arwen was of a higher line than Aragorn was. ?But as for Arwen the Fair, Lady of Imladris and of Lórien, Evenstar of her people, she is of lineage greater than yours, and she has lived in the world already so long that to her you are but as a yearling shoot besides a young birch of many summers. (RotK)? She did not need to be queen of mere mortals, she could have gone over to Valinor and be treated for the grand Elf she was. Valinor was a version of the Christian Heaven and so treatment would not be something that would keep her in Middle Earth. Neither would the temptation of Power. Queens were uncommon to rule, and especially since Aragorn was the destined king. I sincerely doubt Arwen had any power at all, this she only had the title; but as I said before, she did not need it.

Secondly, Arwen really loved Aragorn. If she only married him to be queen, then she would not have left for Lórien. Surely the Gondorians allowed a Queen Mother Regent if the king died for their former queen. That way, if Arwen desired still to be Queen, she still would be allowed that honor, and given some rights to rule if she wished. But she did not stay, but instead left after her husband died. I have known many women who are never the same woman they were before when their husbands pass away, and start drifting away from society into solitude. We see that in the story of Arwen. ?But Arwen went forth from the House, and the light of her eyes was quenched, and it seemed to her people that she had become cold and grey as nightfall in winter that comes without a star. (RotK)?

Aragorn was all Arwen had to live for. She gave up her life to be with him. Life is not something anyone can easily throw away willingly for something or someone they do not believe in. Life itself is the most precious thing we have and possess; even the Elves understood that. To give up your life for anything, or anyone, is the greatest sacrifice anyone can make. Arwen understood what she was saying when she said she'd bind herself to him, she was signing her life away for his happiness, and for her brief happiness with him. Some say she was cruel to leave her children to die alone in Lothlórien, but we must remember Aragorn and Arwen were married for over 120 years and their children were most likely full grown with families of their own. I like to think she was not as selfish as abandoning them, and perhaps she left to give her son the throne without being in the way. It may not have been right to leave them, but her reasoning and actions are understandable after such a loss.

*Post cannot exceed 10K characters; this essay has been split by the manager.

[Lady Elwen]

There is something about Arwen Evenstar that must be considered: she is the closest we have to the average woman of Middle Earth. The other women present in the Lord of the Rings are Galadriel and Eowyn. Galadriel is a powerful sorceress Elf and Eowyn is a shield maiden who desires to go to battle and die a glorious death. Neither is ordinary, rather extraordinary, and is not a clear picture into what Tolkien desired the average woman to be. Lobelia Sackville-Baggins does not count, for she is at times considered an antagonist to Bilbo Baggins. The only other insight into the average woman besides Arwen is Rose Gamgee, whom we don?t see very often either. Arwen stayed at home, she obeyed her father and there is even evidence of her sewing. These would most likely be Tolkien?s ideal ?average woman? because that was the role of an average woman in Medieval and Renaissance periods on the surface. Arwen should not be scorned for this role that she was born into, rather commended for this insight into what Tolkien was truly looking to present women, though we have few examples to know for certain.

There has also been a misunderstanding about Arwen?s relationship and likeness to Lúthien. ?Arwen is not a 're-incarnation' of Lúthien (that in the view of this mythical history would be impossible, since Lúthien has died like a mortal and left the world of time) but a descendant very like her in looks, character, and fate. When she weds Aragorn (whose love-story elsewhere recounted is not here central and only occasionally referred to) she 'makes the choice of Lúthien', so the grief at her parting from Elrond is specially poignant. (Letter 153)? Though she is similar to Lúthien, she could never do what Lúthien did for Beren, and help Aragorn on his journey. Aragorn?s journey was his task and only his. Like Frodo and the Ring, no one can help Aragorn carry his burden.

But just because Arwen did not go with Aragorn did not mean she did not help. She did sew a banner for him in secret, which was important and proved useful. Though the banner was important, it was not the most significant thing Arwen did for Aragorn. The most important was not something that can be seen or ever be classified as an action. She loved him.

There are different kinds of strengths. Arwen had the strength of love and faith that kept her and Aragorn throughout the war without losing hope. ?And Arwen said: ?Dark is the Shadow, and yet my heart rejoices; for you, Estel, shall be among the great whose valour will destroy it.? (RotK)? Eowyn had physical strength, but no moral strength of mind. She wanted to go to war to die in battle. In that respect, to go to war to die in despair is not as strong as staying behind with hope. Eowyn gave up, Arwen did not.

And with this strength that Arwen possessed, Aragorn was able to resist an even greater evil. Elrond told him he could not have Arwen until he was the king of Gondor and Arnor, a rather difficult task. Not only was it his destiny, but he greatly desired Arwen Undómiel. And since it was his destiny, he could have done it the easy way, and claimed the Ring for his own and became king, no matter how foolhardy a plan that would be. But it would be easy and quick, and Boromir wished do to the same, and he was no fool either. If he did not claim the Ring, and did it another way, he would have succumbed to some sort of power temptation, just as Isildur did. Aragorn is no better than Isildur, and yielding to temptations are still prevalent in the race of Men. But he renounced the Shadow for Arwen. Aragorn said: ?Yet with your hope I will hope. And the Shadow I utterly reject. (RotK)? He could not hide under his title of king if she loved him; he could only be himself. And he, as himself, could not live with the guilt if he fallen to the temptation of Power.

Aragorn would not have become king if Eowyn was his betrothed. Eowyn admired him as a soldier would admire a general, but she did not really love him. She said something to Faramir right before she accepted him, and that she "no longer desired to be queen." This phrase really takes things into consideration. If this did happen, and Aragorn abandoned Arwen for Eowyn, he would not have been king because that would be his only goal to be king. Eowyn did not love him for him, as Aragorn the person, "but a shadow and a thought". As a king. Arwen loved him for him, which makes it a complete reward, one that is worth fighting for and achieving without a gray veil of greed or unholiness. A reward and kingdom placed upon the most sacred vow of love, one that Arwen would die for: Elrond's words: "Maybe, it has been appointed so, that by my loss the kingship of Men may be restored. Therefore, though I love you, I say to you: Arwen Undómiel shall not diminish her life?s grace for less cause. (RotK)"

Finally, all characters must have a fault to be fully developed; and here is the fault of Arwen: ?But I say to you, King of the Númenoreans, not till now have I understood the tale of your people and their fall. As wicked fools I scorned them, but I pity them at last. (RotK)? She is referring to the Númenoreans, who desired to sail over to Valinor to become immortal. But scorn does not mean hate, it means to look down upon others and see yourself as a higher being.

To be perfectly frank, Arwen should not be hated for this; for truth be told they are partially correct. Elves are the First Born of Ilúvatar and were even described by the One as ?the fairest of all earthly creatures, and they shall have and shall conceive and bring forth more beauty than all my Children, and they shall the greater bliss in this world. (Silmarillion)? In cultures all around the world, ancient and modern, the first-born of the family is considered the most important and receives the larger portion of the inheritance. The eldest may not be the greatest, but order does count. Elves were the First Born, and were the higher creatures, that is a fact.

Let?s take this back for a second. What is Arwen really talking about? She is about to lose her husband to death, something foreign to Elves. She is talking about the Men?s fear to die and pass out side ?the circles of the world.? She scorned them, felt disdain and thought them as fools for being so silly, for fearing death and wanting an eternal life within Arda. Elves wish for death, but do not understand it, and so feel disgust for those who want what they have. They could never escape Arda, and felt envy for those who could pass away from this world and continue on, though their destination remained hidden. That is what Arwen is speaking of; she scorned them and saw them for wicked fools for being afraid of death, as they clearly were in the Fall of Númenor, before she could understand how terrifying the experience would be.

This very line about Arwen is, in my humble opinion, the most important line in all of Tolkien?s writings concerning her. Why? It reveals she is not some distant beauty. It brings her up close. It makes her a real character. Like Boromir, she finally sees her fault and amends it in the end. Arwen never hates her people; she just does not understand them. It is no different from today?s world when citizens from other countries scorn the Germans for believing Hitler?s lies and following him. The present day Germans are at no more to blame for those tragic circumstances than the Third Age Gondorians were to blame for the Fall of Númenor. It is a misunderstanding on Arwen?s part as well as many other Elves. But Arwen should not be condemned for this confession, for she renounced it and pitied and sympathized with them at last. The words were not spoken disdainfully, arrogantly or with pride, but spoken solemnly, mournfully and resigned. She is no more a villain than Boromir, whose fault was pride that caused him to fall to the Power of the Ring. Hers stopped her from unadulterated compassion.

Arwen was never an evil character, nor was she ever intended to be by her creator. She was to be an image of all things beautiful, wise and sorrowful. She is the prize at the end of Return of the King to Aragorn, from the Elves to the new Era of Men. But she is not just a trophy, she has felt and seen and experienced despair and troubled times like the rest of Tolkien?s characters. She symbolizes love, inner-strength and faith, and is a character all the same to be defended, respected, and cherished by all who love Tolkien?s works.