Gondor, Rohan and Lorien - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

09-14-2006, 05:04 PM

I hope I am not intruding by jumping in. I'm new to this sort of thing and bring with me only my love of LOTR and other JRRT writings.

The theme I am gleaning from this thread is a lament that Celeborn seems to be sitting in the back seat and a wonder that Galadriel is held up so high. The Silmarillion answers this. Galadriel was a High Elf and JRRT seemed obsessed with them. Celeborn is a Wood Elf, of one of the clans that never even answered the call to go overseas, if memory serves me right. He is very old and has been around a long time, but his entire existence has been in Middle Earth.

Galadriel, on the other hand, was born in Valinor. She knew life in the undying lands amidst the two trees. She joined the rebellious ones and fled to Middle Earth. She had high ambitions of being a big fish in a little pond. In the beginning, she was a warrior, willing to fight to be that big fish.

However, by the time we meet her in LOTR, the battle has pretty much gone out of her. She is struggling against the curse the Valar placed upon those Elves who rebelled and fled to Middle Earth - that they would weary of it. The ring of power she wore kept that weariness at bay - but it cost her. Her's is by far the more dramatic story. I think that's why she gets more press than Celeborn.

09-14-2006, 05:04 PM	#19
Lobelia Bracegirdle Guest Posts: n/a	High Elves and Wood Elves I hope I am not intruding by jumping in. I'm new to this sort of thing and bring with me only my love of LOTR and other JRRT writings. The theme I am gleaning from this thread is a lament that Celeborn seems to be sitting in the back seat and a wonder that Galadriel is held up so high. The Silmarillion answers this. Galadriel was a High Elf and JRRT seemed obsessed with them. Celeborn is a Wood Elf, of one of the clans that never even answered the call to go overseas, if memory serves me right. He is very old and has been around a long time, but his entire existence has been in Middle Earth. Galadriel, on the other hand, was born in Valinor. She knew life in the undying lands amidst the two trees. She joined the rebellious ones and fled to Middle Earth. She had high ambitions of being a big fish in a little pond. In the beginning, she was a warrior, willing to fight to be that big fish. However, by the time we meet her in LOTR, the battle has pretty much gone out of her. She is struggling against the curse the Valar placed upon those Elves who rebelled and fled to Middle Earth - that they would weary of it. The ring of power she wore kept that weariness at bay - but it cost her. Her's is by far the more dramatic story. I think that's why she gets more press than Celeborn.