Arwen vs. Galadriel

[Fey]

arwen (and luthien) would probably been considered the most beautiful by most people in middle earth (that is by humans and elves, valar and maiar probably too, but i would think that for example hobbits have different beauty standards. and what would orcs think? do they even find anything beautiful?)

but galadriel actually does something to influence the big events and in her hair is light of the trees, even if her face was ugly, i would still choose her.

[Inziladun]

You know, I think what really would give Galadriel an edge in physical beauty was the fact that she was born in Valinor. That experience had a notable impact on the returning Noldor, and the differences between them and the Moriquendi were visible.
The attractiveness Galadriel would have possessed genetically would have been enhanced by the light of Aman.

[jallanite]

Tolkien in writing The Lord of the Rings was consciously writing a romance, in the traditional sense, in which female beauty is very, very, very important, far more important than male beauty. Compare Tom Bombadil with his wife Goldberry.

But in reality, even in our world and time people have different standards of beauty. I have found that someone whom one person thinks is extraordinarily beautiful another person thinks is only so-so or even worse, and vice-versa. But in a story each reader or listener can insert his or her own ideas of physical perfection. But not in a dramatic representation.

To make it worse, in The Lord of the Rings, female beauty is directly related to a person’s position in the class system. There seems to be no such thing as dirt-poor and powerless, but insanely beautiful. And apparently a female’s moral and spiritual stature is directly related to that female’s beauty and hereditary class position.

This is quite suitable to the genre of romance of course. Things are quite different in the anti-romance Father Giles of Ham.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by jallanite

To make it worse, in The Lord of the Rings, female beauty is directly related to a person’s position in the class system. There seems to be no such thing as dirt-poor and powerless, but insanely beautiful. And apparently a female’s moral and spiritual stature is directly related to that female’s beauty and hereditary class position.

You're not counting Ioreth, then?

The point is taken, but maybe Tolkien switched up things with Aldarion and Erendis. She was descended from Bëor, but not royalty, and initially thought Aldarion too high for her station. They married anyway, and of course their union had some unpleasant consequences. Maybe that's why we see the beautiful and powerful women most: they are associated with the more powerful and high-blooded males.

[jallanite]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

You're not counting Ioreth, then?

No I am not.

Nor am I counting Éowyn, Lobelia Sackville-Baggins, or Shelob or various females mentioned only in the Appendices. Éowyn would fit, as of royal kin and very beautiful.

The point is taken, but maybe Tolkien switched up things with Aldarion and Erendis. She was descended from Bëor, but not royalty, and initially thought Aldarion too high for her station. They married anyway, and of course their union had some unpleasant consequences. Maybe that's why we see the beautiful and powerful women most: they are associated with the more powerful and high-blooded males.

The story “Aldarion and Erendis” appears to me to be somewhat removed from the more romance tale of The Lord of the Rings. It seems to me to be closer in style to the Icelandic sagas.

Yet here too Tolkien writes of Ancalimë, the daughter that Erendis bore to Aldarion:

Even from birth the child was fair, and grew ever in beauty: the woman most beautiful, as old tales tell, that ever was born in the line of Elros, save Ar-Zimraphel the last.

By attributing this information to  “old tales” Tolkien may be suggesting some exaggeration by poets and tale-tellers. Yet here again Tolkien indicates two of the most highly born women are the most beautiful, those famed in story.

As to Erendis daughter of Beregar herself, Tolkien at first only indicates:

There Almarian the Queen observed her [Erendis’] beauty, of a kind seldom seen in Númenor; for Beregar came of the House of Bëor by ancient descent, though not of the royal line of Elros, and Erendis was dark-haired and of slender grace, with the clear, grey eyes of her kin.

But later he writes of Erendis:

… in time she [Erendis] ceased to be abashed, and became aware that men looked with wonder upon her beauty, now come to its full.

It is indeed reasonable that powerful men or elves should take beautiful women as their wives but I feel Tolkien somewhat overdoes the emphasis on beauty.

[cellurdur]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

You know, I think what really would give Galadriel an edge in physical beauty was the fact that she was born in Valinor. That experience had a notable impact on the returning Noldor, and the differences between them and the Moriquendi were visible.
The attractiveness Galadriel would have possessed genetically would have been enhanced by the light of Aman.

The biggest enhancer of beauty seems to have been descent from Melian: Luthien most beautiful out of all the children of Eru, Dior second most beautiful out of all the children of Illuvater, Elwing second most beautiful maiden.

Earendil another with surpassing beauty had not see the trees either.

[Morthoron]

Originally Posted by cellurdur

Dior second most beautiful out of all the children of Illuvater, Elwing second most beautiful maiden.

Meh. Who wants seconds?

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Morthoron

Meh. Who wants seconds?

Seconds? Yes please! I'm still hungry!

[Faramir Jones]

When Fëanor married the sculptress Nerdanel, people wondered why he did so, due to her being not particularly beautiful. But she was creative, strong and wise, the only person whose advice he listened to; and they became the most prolific elvish couple ever, having seven children.

[Belegorn]

Originally Posted by Faramir Jones

When Fëanor married the sculptress Nerdanel, people wondered why he did so, due to her being not particularly beautiful. But she was creative, strong and wise, the only person whose advice he listened to; and they became the most prolific elvish couple ever, having seven children.

Fëanor had a lot of energy to burn in all spheres, sexual and otherwise, that's why when he died his body turned to ash. He was too hot to trot.