you never can begin to live until you dare to die...

Friday, September 11, 2009

"I fear a cage"








Debate Time! Yes, you heard me. I want your thoughts, even if you disagree with me!

Note: This is NOT the Eowyn vs. Arwen debate. There are whole sites devoted to that. I'd rather Arwen just stayed out of this. I want to know what you think of Eowyn!

She's proud, beautiful, and very brave.


And while I loved all the LOTR books, I have a confession to make- I didn't care for the Two Towers that much. I know that many readers may well be avid Ent lovers, but the Ents were too slow for me. Tolkiens's WRITING style isn't slow- just the Ents. I *gasp* "skimmed" them. But I loved Eowyn.


Recently I noticed on a (beautiful) blog a button on the sidebar. It had a picture of Arwen and Eowyn and text underneath that read,"Arwen and Eowyn: Two of my favorite women from Lord of the Rings." I smiled. They are nearly the ONLY women in LOTR. No offense to Goldie the River daughter or Rosie or anything.They just aren't really pivotal characters. So of course Eowyn would be one of your favorites!


But the more I read, the more I find unfavorable opinions concerning Eowyn.


Personally, I love her. She loves her brother and uncle, kills the Witch King in an incredibleact of bravery, and then marries Faramir and lives happily ever after. Mostly. She still had to struggle against the Shadow, and watching her grow and love again is a delight.


As to the movies- Miranda-what's-her-name was not the natural choice for Eowyn. Does anyone agree? She looks older than Eomer- all wrong! Eowyn is supposed to be young and foolish and reckless and daring enough to go into battle and fall in love with a King.

Tell me all your thoughts- Discussion is encouraged!

9 comments:

Danaphanous said...

hmmm...I've read the books and seen the movies and extended versions of the movies, so I suppose I'm qualified to form an opinion. Personally, I really like Eowyn. I know you said this wasn't a Eowyn vs. Arwen debate, but at least for me, Arwen was very odd in the movies. She just kind of sighed a lot, and hardly ever spoke. She also wasn't out in the action except in the beginning when the party was approaching the house of Elrond. Eowyn on the other hand, and esp. in the movies, seemed more human and lively. Given, they may have made her too old, but I didn't mind and, frankly, didn't notice...I really like the actor they chose. In fact, Eowyn is one of my favorite characters of all time. She is independent and rash...something that I admire. I've never liked the helpless feminine characterization... :)

Danaphanous said...
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Marian said...

Eowyn is definitely one of my favourite heroines, from any fictional book. I know this isn't Arwen vs. Eowyn, but I think it seems hard to compare them, when they had such different lives. Eowyn went through a lot of gloom and depression--no parents, an uncle and king under the power of an enemy (who was once an ally), the orcs invading Rohan, and, of course, Grima. Not to mention the banishment of her brother.

Furthermore, there is a sort of character development in her; like you said, she gets married in the end and lives happily ever after, and she changes her attitude:

'I will be a shieldmaiden no longer, nor vie with the great Riders, nor take joy only in the songs of slaying. I will be a healer, and love all things that grow and are not barren.'"

I like the movie portrayal of her; she doesn't look too old to me. The Two Towers is also my favourite of the books, but I think it might be my least favourite of the films...

hazel marie said...

I would have to agree with Danzibar. I like Miranda Otto as an actor and I think she did a fantastic job portraying Eowyn in the movies.
I like how Eowyn is not perfect {unlike Arwen, who seems to be always right in EVERYthing she does} and is human enough to fall in love with a king and yet has the grace and strength to pull herself back together when she realizes it cannot be. {Something I can't envision Arwen doing... Sorry! No more comparing!} She is brave and independent, both things I can relate to.
Well, that my opinion:)
~Gwyn

hazel marie said...
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Peach said...

Well, after discussing it last night, you know my posish: As an actress, she brings out the character (and development) well. I'm sure that's why she was casted, not on looks alone. As I tend to be a "movies should follow the books they're based on" type of girl, I did think she could be slightly younger. However, most young actresses could probably not pull off a part like Eowyn. Regarding the character (books and movies): She's amazing. A bit one-sided, perhaps, but amazing nonetheless. Plus, she gets a few great lines!
---P

Anonymous said...

Alright. Here I go. Granted, I want everyone to know that I haven't watched the movies in a long time, and am going through the books again because I haven't read them in forever. So this will also be more one-sided because I'm absolutely Arwen crazy. So...
She is a good character, and does have good lines, and has had a hard life, and does have self-control (usually), and is brave, and much more. But she disobeys her uncle in cutting her hair and running off to fight.
But "then marries Faramir and lives happily ever after"... what sort of girl could ask for more than that? :)
so, I guess I have mixed emotions about her.... dunno... :)
-tinydancer

Rachel Kimberly said...

I like Eowyn a lot. I don't see any of the negative stuff that Eowyn-haters talk about. In fact, I see her as a wonderfully brave, beautiful woman with a tender heart.

And I loved the actress in the movies-- She was great. I hated many other actors they chose (including Arwen and Frodo), but that's another topic. ;)

You don't like the Ents? Amazing! I think they're hilarious and fun, not in a hasty way, but a good and thoughtful and careful way. And they're balanced out by the squirrelly hobbits, of course.

Danaphanous said...

I should think they balance out nearly every other race IN the story...the dialogue makes that absolutely clear. ;)