Here is Tolkien's own comment on this topic, written by him in Letter 244:
Quote:
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It is possible to love more than one person (of the other sex) at the same time, but in a different mode and intensity. I do not think that Eowyn's feelings for Aragorn really changed much; and when he was revealed as so lofty a figure, in descent and office, she was able to go on loving and admiring him.
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I see a tendency to restrict the use of the word 'love' in explaining her feelings, actually mitigating them by using a different, weaker word ('crush', for example) because we do not feel comfortable with the same word for various emotions. This is, in my opinion, a modern phenomenon. Earlier generations were not so hesitant to use 'love' for intensive friendships, platonic relationships etc.
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'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth..
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09-23-2002, 04:16 AM
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