Heighty is mighty?

[Holbytlass]

Originally Posted by Eomer

How tall was Tolkien, and how tall was his wife? Perhaps great height is meant to be linked with an ideal of beauty?

It is, how often has it been written (or said) that a woman was "tall and slender" also all the examples been set about tall men and great strength, even if a woman is slender but short she is described as pretty or cute.

One thing that has to be considered along with the 'caveman' and the natural world of bigger is better-meaning tougher is that height has come around because of good nutrition and easier access to it.

Now that the world has better and faster means of transportation, variety of foods are available to people (or at least industrialized societies). Even in Tolkien's time and today there is a difference of nutrition and heights. The healthier we are the bigger we get (and I'm not getting into fatter as in too much food-that's another topic).

Originally Posted by Thinlomien

And consider Merry and Pippin. They became leaders after growing not only mentally, but also physically...

After drinking nutritious entdraft.

Another misconception is that the bigger the body, the bigger the brain therefore they are smarter. It's basically psychological-how often is a shorter person not taken seriously or a shorter man seems to be more defensive cause they have to proof themselves more often. Mind you, this is general terms and doesn't apply to everyone.

EDIT: (I forgot to tye this back into LOTR)
In medieval-ish and historical times, the best of what was available was reserved for the leaders and elite. So it makes sense that these men of position (mostly being born to it) had better nutrition, therefore better health.

And because of the psychological thoughts behind it, Tolkien purposefully had Aragorn be taller than Boromir.