Strong women - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Lush · 11-02-2002, 07:46 PM

Yeah, I really don't know how a few of the posts above can be related to Tolkien at all. Frankly, it appears this thread is headed for a shut-down, and we haven't even crossed over into gay-bashing yet! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Ok, ok, all kidding aside, Gurl, I hope you're not offended by my statements. I'm not branding you a blushing Puritan (I blush all the time myself), I just think that you tend to idealize certain aspects of the male-female dynamic.

As for the importance of the husband being the leader of the household, I personally think it is important for him to think and feel that he is the leader. In reality, most smart women are manipulative creatures, so when the husband thinks he's getting his way...Well, you get the idea.

I think Tolkien understood this aspect of the female personality, but it wasn't in his interests to play it up in the story. The importance of family is present in its archetypal, mythical form, but as for actually goes on in a marriage...This wasn't one of Tolkien's literary concerns. Frankly, I like it that way. If I want to read about the stark reality of it all, Erica Jong, Chaucer, and Tolstoy are at arm's reach.

11-02-2002, 07:46 PM	#1
Lush Fair and Cold Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the big onion Posts: 1,770	Yeah, I really don't know how a few of the posts above can be related to Tolkien at all. Frankly, it appears this thread is headed for a shut-down, and we haven't even crossed over into gay-bashing yet! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] Ok, ok, all kidding aside, Gurl, I hope you're not offended by my statements. I'm not branding you a blushing Puritan (I blush all the time myself), I just think that you tend to idealize certain aspects of the male-female dynamic. As for the importance of the husband being the leader of the household, I personally think it is important for him to think and feel that he is the leader. In reality, most smart women are manipulative creatures, so when the husband thinks he's getting his way...Well, you get the idea. I think Tolkien understood this aspect of the female personality, but it wasn't in his interests to play it up in the story. The importance of family is present in its archetypal, mythical form, but as for actually goes on in a marriage...This wasn't one of Tolkien's literary concerns. Frankly, I like it that way. If I want to read about the stark reality of it all, Erica Jong, Chaucer, and Tolstoy are at arm's reach. __________________ ~The beginning is the word and the end is silence. And in between are all the stories. This is one of mine~