Psychological depth in Tolkien's characters

[mark12_30]

Bethberry, I'm intrigued, particularly about the seemingly limited interaction you mention between Frodo and the archetypal women. Could you expand on what you were driving at below? Thanks!

It is interesting that when Frodo has his intense reactions to both Goldberry and Arwen, we are not given any of their thoughts or dialogue except as they pertain to Frodo. (Goldberry replies, calling Frodo "elf-friend" while his vision of "her whom few mortals had yet seen" does not involve any interaction between them.)

Rather than saying Tolkien did not give his female characters depth or complexity, I wonder if a better way to read their static characterization is to see them as archetypal figures rather than novelistic characters.

Edit: Bethberry on rereading your post you say:

I am speaking here of course of Eowyn. She is the only female character who is given the kind of conflict which leads to change externally.

Interesting; don't you view Galadriel as changed by Frodo's achievements and his offer of the ring, nor had any inner conflict which changed her? Galadriel seems static because she is strong, but I think that's deceiving.

I guess I can ask the same question about Arwen; granted her greatest inner conflict doesn't come til after the quest is over and she's at Aragorn's deathbed.

I would agree Goldberry does seem untouched by change, as does Tom for that matter.

Anyway, please do expound on your theory of Frodo's relationships to archetypal women. Thanks!

[ November 22, 2003: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]