Re: Eh, the other Vala don't do much of anything either.
lyringlas Send a noteboard - 09/04/2010 05:44:03 PM
So I guess I have to amend my initial thoughts, and side with you. Tolkien is only slightly sexist, in the fact that he was writing these books several decades ago, when sentiments were different, especially in the Oxford crowd, and because he was writing a history- mythological aside. It is interesting to note that most of his women are "equals" when they are powerful. In a way, he has one up on modern feminist lore, simply by the fact that he is able to write the women as equals, and doesn't have to go to extremes to represent their strengths. I do see where you are coming from, Legolas, and I concur for the most part; I just wish there was some variety, because Tolkien writes of numerous men that aren't married that are influential. Now, he could be writing them as homosexual characters, which is fitting because they're all outcasts in a way:
Gandalf, Sauron, Radaghast are all maiar that went into
voluntary exile to raise the newest children of Middle-Earth
(men); Saruman, the misunderstood adopted son of a twisted and
envious god; Frodo, Bilbo the two biggest queens on Baggins
street (Might as well be Frodo Tea-Baggins); Merry, Pippin, The
Shapeshifter in the mountains that provides shelter to the
company before and after Bilbo gets lost and meets Golum....oh,
and Golum himself.
But this is never explicitly mentioned, or even really insinuated in the book series, so I digress. I just like my powerful women, damn it. Why not have Galadriel be a diademed battle lord? She's a beast.
Gandalf, Sauron, Radaghast are all maiar that went into
voluntary exile to raise the newest children of Middle-Earth
(men); Saruman, the misunderstood adopted son of a twisted and
envious god; Frodo, Bilbo the two biggest queens on Baggins
street (Might as well be Frodo Tea-Baggins); Merry, Pippin, The
Shapeshifter in the mountains that provides shelter to the
company before and after Bilbo gets lost and meets Golum....oh,
and Golum himself.
But this is never explicitly mentioned, or even really insinuated in the book series, so I digress. I just like my powerful women, damn it. Why not have Galadriel be a diademed battle lord? She's a beast.
The greatest King in Fantasy
09/04/2010 05:18:42 AM
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King Arthur. Hands down.
09/04/2010 06:40:15 AM
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I would argue with you.
09/04/2010 06:54:53 AM
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That's the point, though. Arthur's humanity is what makes him so admirable.
09/04/2010 06:59:07 AM
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I have to agree with Dannymac
09/04/2010 02:04:44 PM
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But he's not in a modern fantasy novel.
09/04/2010 07:37:14 PM
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when I read the actual book...
10/04/2010 12:08:21 AM
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"The actual character"? Which of the countless different ones? *NM*
10/04/2010 12:21:00 AM
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i mean the actual character of Arthur in the actual book.
10/04/2010 12:51:44 AM
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There isn't an "actual book." Le Morte d'Arthur is a relatively early compilation of legends. *NM*
10/04/2010 03:09:40 AM
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I'm going with the most likely historical version of King Arthur
09/04/2010 06:45:26 PM
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My money is still on Aragorn
09/04/2010 12:47:43 PM
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Aragorn is so awesome...
09/04/2010 02:05:42 PM
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Arwen's character is just never fleshed out, though.
09/04/2010 02:18:30 PM
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Re: Arwen's character is just never fleshed out, though.
09/04/2010 02:49:45 PM
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Mostly, yes, but there are a few exceptions - Galadriel, Eowyn, and above all Luthien.
09/04/2010 03:32:00 PM
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Re: Mostly, yes, but there are a few exceptions - Galadriel, Eowyn, and above all Luthien.
09/04/2010 03:45:37 PM
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I can't agree about the goddesses.
09/04/2010 04:34:15 PM
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Re: I can't agree about the goddesses.
09/04/2010 04:55:34 PM
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If Tacitus and Graves were accurate
09/04/2010 05:09:20 PM
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Re: If Tacitus and Graves were accurate
09/04/2010 05:26:43 PM
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I rather liked her depiction in Rome.
09/04/2010 05:34:37 PM
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Re: I can't agree about the goddesses.
09/04/2010 05:02:50 PM
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Eh, the other Vala don't do much of anything either.
09/04/2010 05:31:42 PM
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Re: Eh, the other Vala don't do much of anything either.
09/04/2010 05:44:03 PM
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Nienna, the Valier of Mercy, was single and a wanderer. She's not the most powerful, but...
09/04/2010 06:55:23 PM
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Re: Nienna, the Valier of Mercy, was single and a wanderer. She's not the most powerful, but...
09/04/2010 07:04:37 PM
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thought of a better example: Arien the Maia of the Sun was single and far more powerful than Tilion
09/04/2010 09:17:34 PM
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Re: I can't agree about the goddesses.
09/04/2010 05:06:49 PM
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That was my first assumption too, but evidently not. *NM*
09/04/2010 05:22:39 PM
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I changed it to Livia Augusta
Sheesh, you people-- a guy mistypes one time!! *NM*
09/04/2010 05:29:03 PM
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I call bullshit
09/04/2010 08:09:49 PM
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Re: I call bullshit
09/04/2010 08:31:16 PM
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Re: I call bullshit
10/04/2010 08:04:15 AM
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I didn't realize it was fashionable to call Tolkien sexist.
10/04/2010 05:12:07 PM
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He's good, but then he just doesn't have to face so many things.
09/04/2010 02:22:04 PM
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Doesn't have to face many things?
09/04/2010 07:59:27 PM
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As in, there are many important aspects of being king he doesn't have to face.
09/04/2010 08:07:16 PM
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well technically speaking he WAS the king when he did all those things.
10/04/2010 12:15:26 AM
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Re: Doesn't have to face many things?
09/04/2010 08:38:51 PM
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Re: Doesn't have to face many things?
10/04/2010 08:24:33 AM
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I'm sure there are many, but one coming to mind is Prince Josua from Memory, Sorrow and Thorn
09/04/2010 02:23:57 PM
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I'm going to go with a tie...
09/04/2010 04:22:42 PM
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Rohan was a whiny hypocritical bitch who failed at the only real test of rulership he ever faced.
10/04/2010 02:51:34 AM
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Artur Hawkwing
10/04/2010 03:34:02 AM
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Alexander the Great?
*NM*
10/04/2010 05:08:25 AM
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AH conquered more, did better, & was not a huge d-bag. Alex would have commissioned that big statue *NM*
12/04/2010 03:00:39 PM
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And both managed to have their so-called "empires" crumble within a year of their death. *NM*
12/04/2010 06:12:20 PM
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Which just reinforces how awesome AH was - no one else could do what he did
13/04/2010 11:50:54 AM
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???
10/04/2010 10:30:13 AM
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Ta'veren is not a power, it is an accomodation with what the Pattern demands of certain people
12/04/2010 02:56:57 PM
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What's the name of the Lemur-thing that's the King in "the penguins of madagascar"? He gets my vote! *NM*
14/04/2010 04:46:42 AM
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