The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - Tolkien- For the Love of Eowyn!

Fordim Hedgethistle · 07-23-2004, 02:10 PM

I have something of a crazy theory about Éowyn that goes to this idea of women in LotR as healers.

While Éowyn decides at the end of her journey to adopt a more ‘traditional’ female role as wife of Faramir and become The White Lady, she has already fulfilled a ‘healing’ function by taking the place of Boromir in the Fellowship. (See what I mean about it being a crazy theory?) In this way, she’s already taken the place of a man – please note, I am not saying that she is taking on a masculine role (that is, one that is ‘meant for’ a man) but that she is taking the place of a man (Boromir) who failed in his fidelity.

When Boromir fails the Fellowship at Parth Galen (and yes I know he redeems himself in protecting Merry and Pippin) he leaves a gap in the nine. This gap is filled by Éowyn as she goes on the journey that would have been Boromir’s had he lived; or, at least, she is at first denied going on the journey (with Aragorn along the Paths of the Dead) but by taking matters into her own hands (very much like Boromir) she rides to the defence of Minas Tirith (Boromir’s only concern), wins glory and renown in the defeat of the city’s besieger (Boromir’s greatest wish), and then falls in love with Faramir (Boromir’s brother).

Éowyn and Boromir are a lot alike: they are both warriors, they both seek personal glory, and they both honour Aragorn and come to love him and acknowledge his as their lord (in their own ways). It makes sense to me then that when Boromir ‘breaks’ the Fellowship, it is up to Éowyn to ‘heal’ that breach. She is the opposite of Boromir in a key way: because of his despair, Boromir wants to take up the Ring and put himself forward as the saviour of his realm. Because of her despair, Éowyn wants to sacrifice herself for the sake of her realm. Both of them choose incorrect paths insofar as each is motivated by despair, but whereas Boromir thinks of himself, Éowyn thinks of others (Aragorn, Merry, Theoden).

It’s like Boromir and Éowyn are a despairing mirror of Aragorn and Arwen.

07-23-2004, 02:10 PM	#22
Fordim Hedgethistle Gibbering Gibbet Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Beyond cloud nine Posts: 1,844	I have something of a crazy theory about Éowyn that goes to this idea of women in LotR as healers. While Éowyn decides at the end of her journey to adopt a more ‘traditional’ female role as wife of Faramir and become The White Lady, she has already fulfilled a ‘healing’ function by taking the place of Boromir in the Fellowship. (See what I mean about it being a crazy theory?) In this way, she’s already taken the place of a man – please note, I am not saying that she is taking on a masculine role (that is, one that is ‘meant for’ a man) but that she is taking the place of a man (Boromir) who failed in his fidelity. When Boromir fails the Fellowship at Parth Galen (and yes I know he redeems himself in protecting Merry and Pippin) he leaves a gap in the nine. This gap is filled by Éowyn as she goes on the journey that would have been Boromir’s had he lived; or, at least, she is at first denied going on the journey (with Aragorn along the Paths of the Dead) but by taking matters into her own hands (very much like Boromir) she rides to the defence of Minas Tirith (Boromir’s only concern), wins glory and renown in the defeat of the city’s besieger (Boromir’s greatest wish), and then falls in love with Faramir (Boromir’s brother). Éowyn and Boromir are a lot alike: they are both warriors, they both seek personal glory, and they both honour Aragorn and come to love him and acknowledge his as their lord (in their own ways). It makes sense to me then that when Boromir ‘breaks’ the Fellowship, it is up to Éowyn to ‘heal’ that breach. She is the opposite of Boromir in a key way: because of his despair, Boromir wants to take up the Ring and put himself forward as the saviour of his realm. Because of her despair, Éowyn wants to sacrifice herself for the sake of her realm. Both of them choose incorrect paths insofar as each is motivated by despair, but whereas Boromir thinks of himself, Éowyn thinks of others (Aragorn, Merry, Theoden). It’s like Boromir and Éowyn are a despairing mirror of Aragorn and Arwen. __________________ Scribbling scrabbling.