[Belin]

A few ideas.

I very strongly agree (and always have) that women in LotR consistently represent home, stability, peace, and wonderful things like that, and that their role in the story is to preserve such things. Galadriel keeps Lorien, Arwen backs Aragorn up (and, interestingly enough, her power is greatest after the end of the war), Eowyn cares for Theoden and is asked to watch over the Meduseld while everyone's at war, and even the Entwives are all about order and cultivation. This seems to be what "the feminine" would mean in this context, while "the masculine" would entail fighting and destruction (hopefully the destruction of evil). But there are moments and characters that cross over. Eowyn's peace is gone--her home has become a cage, so she's no longer able to adequately identify with it, and she becomes, at least in some sense, a man. This occurs in the most dire of moments when hope is practically lost and we can see that destruction has taken over.

Interestingly, a little later, when hope has returned, we see Aragorn-as-healer. He's performing a role consistent with that of the women, and it is this more "feminine" role that defines him as king--indeed, his role as king will be very similar to what I've described as feminine above.

This is the dominion of men. The elves, previously dominant, ALSO play a "feminine" role in LotR, keeping track of history, preserving things of beauty as long as they can, etc. I think this is particularly interesting in view of their love of Varda above the other Valar. Is it possible that there is a link between the feminine and the idea of rightful leadership??

Oh, and Akhtene... I've been planning for months to start a thread on mother-figures in Middle-Earth (thank you, Child), but first I was busy, and then I wasn't sure how to frame it, and then I wasn't sure we should have two threads at the same time on the subject of women in Middle Earth, especially now that Books II is not an option.. I'm a terrible procrastinator [img]smilies/rolleyes.gif[/img] ... but if you're interested in this I'll try to start it soon.

--Belin Ibaimendi