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
2135 Views
King Arthur. Hands down.
- 09/04/2010 06:40:15 AM
1531 Views
I would argue with you.
- 09/04/2010 06:54:53 AM
1474 Views
That's the point, though. Arthur's humanity is what makes him so admirable.
- 09/04/2010 06:59:07 AM
1497 Views
I have to agree with Dannymac
- 09/04/2010 02:04:44 PM
1488 Views
But he's not in a modern fantasy novel.
- 09/04/2010 07:37:14 PM
1541 Views
- 09/04/2010 07:37:14 PM
1541 Views
when I read the actual book...
- 10/04/2010 12:08:21 AM
1516 Views
"The actual character"? Which of the countless different ones? *NM*
- 10/04/2010 12:21:00 AM
723 Views
i mean the actual character of Arthur in the actual book.
- 10/04/2010 12:51:44 AM
1613 Views
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
758 Views
I'm going with the most likely historical version of King Arthur
- 09/04/2010 06:45:26 PM
1571 Views
My money is still on Aragorn
- 09/04/2010 12:47:43 PM
1622 Views
Aragorn is so awesome...
- 09/04/2010 02:05:42 PM
1466 Views
Arwen's character is just never fleshed out, though.
- 09/04/2010 02:18:30 PM
1437 Views
Re: Arwen's character is just never fleshed out, though.
- 09/04/2010 02:49:45 PM
1505 Views
Mostly, yes, but there are a few exceptions - Galadriel, Eowyn, and above all Luthien.
- 09/04/2010 03:32:00 PM
1437 Views
Re: Mostly, yes, but there are a few exceptions - Galadriel, Eowyn, and above all Luthien.
- 09/04/2010 03:45:37 PM
1707 Views
I can't agree about the goddesses.
- 09/04/2010 04:34:15 PM
1564 Views
Re: I can't agree about the goddesses.
- 09/04/2010 04:55:34 PM
1446 Views
If Tacitus and Graves were accurate
- 09/04/2010 05:09:20 PM
1575 Views
Re: If Tacitus and Graves were accurate
- 09/04/2010 05:26:43 PM
1472 Views
I rather liked her depiction in Rome.
- 09/04/2010 05:34:37 PM
1544 Views
Re: I can't agree about the goddesses.
- 09/04/2010 05:02:50 PM
1508 Views
Eh, the other Vala don't do much of anything either.
- 09/04/2010 05:31:42 PM
1492 Views
Re: Eh, the other Vala don't do much of anything either.
- 09/04/2010 05:44:03 PM
1491 Views
Nienna, the Valier of Mercy, was single and a wanderer. She's not the most powerful, but...
- 09/04/2010 06:55:23 PM
1519 Views
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
1524 Views
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
1765 Views
Re: I can't agree about the goddesses.
- 09/04/2010 05:06:49 PM
1625 Views
That was my first assumption too, but evidently not. *NM*
- 09/04/2010 05:22:39 PM
692 Views
I changed it to Livia Augusta
Sheesh, you people-- a guy mistypes one time!! *NM*
- 09/04/2010 05:29:03 PM
764 Views
Sheesh, you people-- a guy mistypes one time!! *NM*
- 09/04/2010 05:29:03 PM
764 Views
I call bullshit
- 09/04/2010 08:09:49 PM
1440 Views
Re: I call bullshit
- 09/04/2010 08:31:16 PM
1451 Views
Re: I call bullshit
- 10/04/2010 08:04:15 AM
1542 Views
I didn't realize it was fashionable to call Tolkien sexist.
- 10/04/2010 05:12:07 PM
1554 Views
He's good, but then he just doesn't have to face so many things.
- 09/04/2010 02:22:04 PM
1765 Views
Doesn't have to face many things?
- 09/04/2010 07:59:27 PM
1521 Views
As in, there are many important aspects of being king he doesn't have to face.
- 09/04/2010 08:07:16 PM
1504 Views
well technically speaking he WAS the king when he did all those things.
- 10/04/2010 12:15:26 AM
1490 Views
Re: Doesn't have to face many things?
- 09/04/2010 08:38:51 PM
1372 Views
Re: Doesn't have to face many things?
- 10/04/2010 08:24:33 AM
1482 Views
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
1463 Views
I'm going to go with a tie...
- 09/04/2010 04:22:42 PM
1457 Views
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
1551 Views
Artur Hawkwing
- 10/04/2010 03:34:02 AM
1626 Views
Alexander the Great?
*NM*
- 10/04/2010 05:08:25 AM
720 Views
*NM*
- 10/04/2010 05:08:25 AM
720 Views
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
699 Views
And both managed to have their so-called "empires" crumble within a year of their death. *NM*
- 12/04/2010 06:12:20 PM
714 Views
Which just reinforces how awesome AH was - no one else could do what he did
- 13/04/2010 11:50:54 AM
1542 Views
???
- 10/04/2010 10:30:13 AM
2053 Views
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
1467 Views
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
759 Views
