Adoption and Foster Care - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Lalwendë · 08-22-2005, 06:50 AM

There is also the Galadriel/Arwen relationship after Celebrian leaves Middle-earth, which seems to be close between grandmother and grandaughter. It is interesting how all these relationships are positive when often literature, films and particularly TV soaps often exploit the vulnerability of the 'orphan'. This might be more understandable in older literature as such situations would be a lot more common and the official support netwroks did not exist as they do today (though they still leave much to be desired sadly).

It's not something I had particularly noticed before, but now I've thought about it, Tolkien does have a very positive outlook on such relationships. It could of course be simply a necessity in such societies that children left alone are cared for, or that it might be difficult for a figure such as Aragorn's mother to bring up a child in the wilderness; it could be sheer practicality. But there do seem to be a lot of these rleationships in the books, so it's likely they are a reflection of Tolkien's own upbringing.

08-22-2005, 06:50 AM	#6
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	There is also the Galadriel/Arwen relationship after Celebrian leaves Middle-earth, which seems to be close between grandmother and grandaughter. It is interesting how all these relationships are positive when often literature, films and particularly TV soaps often exploit the vulnerability of the 'orphan'. This might be more understandable in older literature as such situations would be a lot more common and the official support netwroks did not exist as they do today (though they still leave much to be desired sadly). It's not something I had particularly noticed before, but now I've thought about it, Tolkien does have a very positive outlook on such relationships. It could of course be simply a necessity in such societies that children left alone are cared for, or that it might be difficult for a figure such as Aragorn's mother to bring up a child in the wilderness; it could be sheer practicality. But there do seem to be a lot of these rleationships in the books, so it's likely they are a reflection of Tolkien's own upbringing. __________________ Gordon's alive!