[Reyna Evergreen]

To add my opinion to the long list, I do believe that Tolkien did a good job protraying the female characters of his novel, considering the time periode he lived in.

Think about it, in the 1950's, men were all but dominant. It's normal that he painted the women of Middle-earth in the fashion of the positions of the women of his knowing; beautiful creatures, yet unimportant in the greater story of history (well, back then, I'm not sure any of us would let someone say that nowadays).

But, yeah. Even if it was uncommon for women to have important positions in Tolkein's time, there is a definate lack of female characters. I read the books, and there are only three highlighted female characters (Arwen Undomiel, Galardriel the Lady Of The Golden Woods, and Eowyn sister-daughter of Théoden of Rohan), and even at that, they do not have lead roles.

Again in contrast (I have a weird way of thinking, wouldn't u think?), go back to the times of Tolkein, it must have caused quite a controversy; Eowyn was indeed quite a role for a female, even now; she was a key role in The Two Towers, and was still around for The Return Of The King. I guess he tried to make a female have an important role, even if it wasn't the style at the time. I guess we'll never know, since all was in his head whence he wrote the books, and stayed there.