Arwen vs. Galadriel

[Finduilas]

Originally Posted by Ghazi

After I see them I'll let you know.

Lol!

Well, movie wise, Galadriel. In the books, probably Arwen, because I like Eomer better than Gimli. Actually, I think that dark hair is very beautiful, so, yeh.

[Andsigil]

Movie-wise, I'll say Arwen. There was one part in the film where she was particularly beautiful: in the "Fellowship", when Aragorn was replacing the shards of Narsil and Arwen walked in to comfort and advise him.

That maturity reflected her age and (certainly) her accumulated wisdom from such a long life. For the rest of the trilogy, she sat around on a couch, brooding and crying, unfortunately. But that part with Aragorn, somehow, made her incredibly beautiful.

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

In the movies: Deffinitly Galadriel. . .

In the books: GALADRIEL ! ! ! I am like Gimli here. . .if anyone says a anything against me beloved Galadriel, then I shall hunt them down and make them eat their own words.

[Morwen]

Originally Posted by Rune Son of Bjarne

In the movies: Deffinitly Galadriel. . .

In the books: GALADRIEL ! ! ! I am like Gimli here. . .if anyone says a anything against me beloved Galadriel, then I shall hunt them down and make them eat their own words.

Now Rune, even Gimli, he of the "Three Hairs", had to concede that Eomer had a point when the latter pointed out that Galadriel, when seen in Arwen's company, had to take second place.

So as far as the books go - Arwen, though given how unusually beautiful Galadriel's hair colour is said to be (gold with silvery highlights as if it had trapped the light of the Two Trees ) she might stake a claim to having the world's most beautiful hair.

[Rikae]

Originally Posted by Morwen

...Galadriel's hair colour is said to be (gold with silvery highlights as if it had trapped the light of the Two Trees ) she might stake a claim to having the world's most beautiful hair.

Gold with silver highlights?
*looks at own hair*

I never knew that going grey was a good thing!

I think that the way I pictured them, and also the way they were both depicted in the movie, represent such different types of beauty, it's almost an apples/oranges comparison. Galadriel is older; more powerful; more exotic; more elvish (genetically, even!); Arwen is youthful by comparison and more transitory (by choice) - she is a second Luthien in this sense, although Luthien was certainly more heroic. Galadriel is noon, Arwen is evening, I suppose; Galadriel seems to represent the glory of a time that is passing away, Arwen the ending itself and the transition.

I have to give my vote to Galadriel; but only for such subjective reasons as being a link to the Silmarillion and sharing my hair color.
Plus, she had a cooler house...

[The Sixth Wizard]

Movie-wise I was annoyed by Arwen, especially in the 'ranger caught off his' --- no I won't say it! Book wise, Arwen was a bit of a sook who really only made a banner and sacrificed her immortality (pfft, anyone can do that ) Galadriel, however, was a butt-kicking, intelligent, powerful temptress, who could rebel against the Valar and woo dwarves! The latter being the more impressive and sacrificial...

Anywho, Galadriel all the way.

[Raynor]

Arwen's beauty is akin to Luthien's

Originally Posted by Many Meetings, FotR

So it was that Frodo saw her whom few mortals had yet seen; Arwen, daughter of Elrond, in whom it was said that the likeness of Luthien had come on earth again; and she was called Undomiel, for she was the Evenstar of her people.

while Galadriel is simply described as beautiful

Originally Posted by The mirror of Galadriel, FotR

Very tall they were, and the Lady no less tall than the Lord; and they were grave and beautiful.

True enough, the Silmarillion mentions Galadriel as the most beautiful of all the house of Finwe.

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

Originally Posted by Raynor

Arwen's beauty is akin to Luthien's

while Galadriel is simply described as beautiful

True enough, the Silmarillion mentions Galadriel as the most beautiful of all the house of Finwe.

These quotes will do you no good as this thread is about who we think is the fairest. . .not who is described as being the most beautiful.

and you must not forget that beauty is a subjective thing. . . so even though Tolkien might say that Luthien (and Arwen) is fairest, it might not be the truth for everybody.

Originally Posted by Morwen

Now Rune, even Gimli, he of the "Three Hairs", had to concede that Eomer had a point when the latter pointed out that Galadriel, when seen in Arwen's company, had to take second place

Gimli forgave Eomer of his words, but I do not think that he admited to Arwen being fairer. . . and neither will I !

[Finduilas]

Originally Posted by Rune Son of Bjarne

These quotes will do you no good as this thread is about who we think is the fairest. . .not who is described as being the most beautiful.

and you must not forget that beauty is a subjective thing. . . so even though Tolkien might say that Luthien (and Arwen) is fairest, it might not be the truth for everybody.



Gimli forgave Eomer of his words, but I do not think that he admited to Arwen being fairer. . . and neither will I !

It wasn't forgiving Eomer, it was mearly understanding what you said in your second paragraph. Beauty is a subjective thing.

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

Originally Posted by Finduilas

It wasn't forgiving Eomer, it was mearly understanding what you said in your second paragraph. Beauty is a subjective thing.

exactly! and after realising this he forgave him

[Raynor]

Originally Posted by Rune Son of Bjarne

Tolkien might say that Luthien (and Arwen) is fairest, it might not be the truth for everybody.

Hm, but without any image of either of them, what would make particular "ratings" differ? After all, this "universal" standard of beauty does seem to exist in Arda. As for Gimli, it may be that he liked Galadriel more due to their... "history"/empathy. Well, not that I want to spoil your guys' fun .

[Lindale]

They are beautiful in their own rights. Movie and book. Although the part of me thinking that Galadriel is really superior to Arwen in many ways (like the wisdom of many ages) makes me biased in favor of the Lady of the Golden Wood.

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

Originally Posted by Raynor

Hm, but without any image of either of them, what would make particular "ratings" differ? After all, this "universal" standard of beauty does seem to exist in Arda. As for Gimli, it may be that he liked Galadriel more due to their... "history"/empathy. Well, not that I want to spoil your guys' fun .

Even if Tolkien had written "Arwen is the fairest, it is not up for debate", this thread asks you to look beyond that!

Who did you find to be more beautiful in the movies?

And if you can still remember how you pictured the two when reading LotR for the very first time. . .who did you imagine to be most beautiful?

[Finduilas]

Originally Posted by The Sixth Wizard

Movie-wise I was annoyed by Arwen, especially in the 'ranger caught off his' --- no I won't say it! Book wise, Arwen was a bit of a sook who really only made a banner and sacrificed her immortality (pfft, anyone can do that ) Galadriel, however, was a butt-kicking, intelligent, powerful temptress, who could rebel against the Valar and woo dwarves! The latter being the more impressive and sacrificial...

Anywho, Galadriel all the way.

For the first part, I agree with you entirely.

As to the second part, at least half of it was false. (Butt-kicking? Wooing Dwarves?) Noooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(even though that many exclaimation points in a row are gramatically incorrect...)

Not to make an arguement of it, you are free to have your own opinions, Galadriel didn't do much more than Arwen in the LotR, and mostly what she did in the Silm was act like a silly adventure seeker who wanted to see new lands. ( I realise this may sound mean, but don't take it that way. Galadriel's is cool, and I'm not even totally sure which I like better, Arwen or Galariel.)

On an other hand, mayby not THE other hand, I also understand that you may not have been entirely serious when you wrote that, or you may have been a very small amount sarcastic( and I don't mean that sarcasticly(sp))

Am I making myself at all clear? I always feel as if I sound ticked off or fault finding when I write these kinds of posts, while that's not at all how I mean them. I just happen to like silly little debates about nothing.

[Sir Kohran]

Originally Posted by Andsigil

Movie-wise, I'll say Arwen. There was one part in the film where she was particularly beautiful: in the "Fellowship", when Aragorn was replacing the shards of Narsil and Arwen walked in to comfort and advise him.

That maturity reflected her age and (certainly) her accumulated wisdom from such a long life. For the rest of the trilogy, she sat around on a couch, brooding and crying, unfortunately. But that part with Aragorn, somehow, made her incredibly beautiful.

I agree, though I think she's most beautiful either when the Fellowship are about to leave Rivendell, or when Aragorn has the flashback.

[The Sixth Wizard]

But, as all happy endings go Eowyn finds her own boy toy Faramir.

Heheh, when some beautiful powerful elf comes along and steals your secret love, swallow your pride and go for his best man.

Originally Posted by Finduilas

On an other hand, mayby not THE other hand, I also understand that you may not have been entirely serious when you wrote that, or you may have been a very small amount sarcastic( and I don't mean that sarcasticly(sp))

Sarcastic? Moi? I'm never sarcastic, never...

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by The Sixth Wizard

Heheh, when some beautiful powerful elf comes along and steals your secret love, swallow your pride and go for his best man.

Eowyn. Always the bridesmaid and never the bride

Anyway, have you guys thought about how Galadriel's power might be a bit scary? She's always reminded me just a tiny bit of Maggie Thatcher. Not that there were communities of miners to smash in Lothlorien or a Liverpool to lay waste to, but that she was frighteningly powerful and enjoyed that power too. Celebrimbor tried to impress her with something that would give her even greater power. A bit like the Geoffrey Howe of Middle-earth? Meh-heh-heh...

Or do you find that kind of female power thrilling?

Maybe she's also a bit like Hillary Clinton or Cherie Blair? Arwen is more like Sarah Brown. The inspiration behind Gords'/Aragorn's mission...

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

We, simple once-eastern-bloc folk, know Maggie only from second-hand rumour (twisted?) and from the songs of Roger Waters, therefore I will not even come to think of her when I imagine Galadriel's possible misuse of power... however, as Six said, there is that terrible image of Galadriel as temptress able to control everything she wants. However, the very important thing on her is that she rejected that choice - while the choice depended only on herself. In that I find, so to say, some sort of redemptive power, or how should I describe it. Some sort of an example, you know. I don't know, but I find that aspect very important. A beautiful lady who at first wants, but later rejects the power (in this case of the Ring, leading even to the rulership of whole Middle-Earth) is really stunning character, literally even more interesting than just someone who does not want the power in the first place (thus has it easy to reject it).

But I think we are getting faar off-topic here. This is exactly what Finduilas said about discussing characters and not looks. We should indeed discuss just who is the fairest. And even considering all I have said above about Galadriel's character, I still find her the one more beautiful just for the sake of it.

[Finduilas]

This seems to me as if it aught to be a poll.

Is there any Skwerl for off topicness?