[Lush]

Chill out, guys. Listen to some Coldplay. Get a massage.

Lady it's great that Eowyn's character moved you so much. I liked her too. Her marriage to Faramir didn't seem like a match made in heaven to me, but I don't criticize Tolkien for that; Like, Kronos, I rather dislike a story full of neatly-tied ends, especially when they seem forced. I think her future fate was deliberately ambiguous.

Finwe, dude, it's Ok to admit that Tolkien wasn't perfect. I mean, have you read any of his letters? I have, and I distinctly remember a quote about how women learn very well when they're emotionally involved with their teacher and that it might be their only way to grasp complex subjects, or something along those lines. I get good grades, but I don't get emotionally involved with my professors (I might check out their rear-ends when they're writing something on the blackboard, but that's a different story).

Furthermore, it seemed to me that Tolkien was strongly against friendship between men and women, because, in the words of Harry from "When Harry Met Sally": "The sex thing is already out there." I think both Tolkien and Harry were underestimating women when they expressed such similar viewpoints. In Tolkien's case especially, he was afraid of potential sin that might spring from such relationships. I presume it was his sexualized view of women that lead him to this conclusion. Well, if I have the chance to run into the professor beyond the pearly gates, I'll tell him he was wrong, and that the story of my life should be proof enough, and that he was clearly underestimating women's ability to interest men with more than their sexual charms, whether intentionally or unintentionally (I also think he was underestimating men a bit too, but whatever).

Kronos, yeah, romantic passion is lacking in the books (btw, Finwe there's nothing "disgusting" about that stuff, it has its time and place), but the book is choke-full of other nicely drawn elements. Such as Gollum's relationship with the Ring, which you mentioned already.

Anyway, I don't think Tolkien was "sexist" in the strict sense of the word, but neither do I think he was able to understand women nor portray them very well, Eowyn being the one notable exception. I hate to admit this, because it sucks, but perhaps having her die in battle would have made a bolder statement. Though not necessarily a very satisfying one.

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 4:21 PM February 06, 2004: Message edited by: Lush ]

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 4:21 PM February 06, 2004: Message edited by: Lush ]

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 4:24 PM February 06, 2004: Message edited by: Lush ]