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DaughterofLaketown
Gondor
Mar 22 2014, 4:28pm
Post #1 of 14
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Thoughts on Galadriel
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I have been doing some thinking lately about Galadriel and her husband Celeborn. The relationship is interesting becuase it is a relatively rare one in literature of this type. In many ways both Galadriel, and to use another example, Melian, are almost more of the rulers than there husbands. It is very clear in FoTR in particular that it is Galadriel who rules the realm and her husband serves little other purpose but to act as a consort, and perhaps prove a point widely held during Tolkien's time that all women should be married. Yet for the time in which the book was written it seems really revolutionary if you look at it. It is often the woman in all these stories who is of higher birth than the man, Melian was a Maiar, Galadriel was a Noldor, and Luthien was the daughter of a Maiar. In most of these stories the theme seems to be a woman marrying below her status. (I think I remember reading a thread remarking on this somewhere but I don't remember where.) But roles of women in the position of leadership in these stories are actually not such a modern idea. Celtic myths in particular are full of strong female heroines. Aoife, the warrior lover of Cuchulain, her sister Skatha, and most importantly queen Maeve. Queen Maeve's relationship with her husband Ailill is very similar to the relationship of Galadriel and Celeborn where the male plays a very secondary role to the more powerful woman.
Just some thoughts I've been having.
(This post was edited by DaughterofLaketown on Mar 22 2014, 4:31pm)
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demnation
Rohan
Mar 22 2014, 4:42pm
Post #2 of 14
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Ah yes, the ever enigmatic Galadriel
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I'll be back soon with a more detailed answer, but here is a very interesting (and exhaustive) discussion we had recently about this fascinating figure.
http://newboards.theonering.net/...;;page=unread#unread
"It is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succour of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in the fields that we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till. What weather they shall have is not ours to rule." Gandalf, "The Last Debate."
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noWizardme
Half-elven
Mar 22 2014, 5:17pm
Post #3 of 14
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Welcome to the Reading Room DaughterofLaketown!
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You might enjoy the discussion of the Unfinished Tales chapter demnation has linked you to. But, I don't recall us discussing the interesting parallel you've raised here, with female leader figures in Celtic myth.
That's not something I know anything about, so I'd be interested to hear people's thoughts!
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"… ever let your aim be to come at truth, not to conquer your opponent. So you never shall be at a loss in losing the argument, and gaining a new discovery.”
Arthur Martine
"nowimë I am in the West, Furincurunir to the Dwarves (or at least, to their best friend) and by other names in other lands. Mostly they just say 'Oh no it's him - look busy!' "
Or "Hold off! unhand me, grey-beard loon!"
(This post was edited by noWizardme on Mar 22 2014, 5:17pm)
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DaughterofLaketown
Gondor
Mar 22 2014, 10:42pm
Post #5 of 14
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is something of a passion of mine so I often can find parallels if I look hard enough. I probably would have been a bard had I lived a long time ago or a traveling performer.
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noWizardme
Half-elven
Mar 23 2014, 9:04am
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When people refer newcomers back to older discussions, I don't think that the intent is ever to imply that we've discussed all that already, and that mire discussion now is unwanted (a reaction one can get on other forums).
No, no, no: we love more discussion now; and every new discussion comes out differently. But sometimes people are loath to repeat stuff they posted earlier, so like to link instead
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"… ever let your aim be to come at truth, not to conquer your opponent. So you never shall be at a loss in losing the argument, and gaining a new discovery.”
Arthur Martine
"nowimë I am in the West, Furincurunir to the Dwarves (or at least, to their best friend) and by other names in other lands. Mostly they just say 'Oh no it's him - look busy!' "
Or "Hold off! unhand me, grey-beard loon!"
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DaughterofLaketown
Gondor
Mar 23 2014, 1:50pm
Post #7 of 14
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 I thought the stories were remarkably similar. I also thing Maeve captured the essence of a lot of the pride Galadriel was originally written to have.
The Cattle Raid of Cooley is one if the greatest works of Irish Literature.
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DaughterofLaketown
Gondor
Mar 23 2014, 5:16pm
Post #9 of 14
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It would be my pleasure!
My favorite version is actually called The Hound of Ulster by Rosemary Sutcliff.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Hound-Ulster-Red-Classics/dp/0099438593/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395594872&sr=8-1&keywords=The+hound+of+ulster
Here is the one I am talking about. It can be hard to find though. It reads very well and the way she tells it is wonderful. She is a great historical fiction writer of a bygone age and she has many wonderful books worth reading. 
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noWizardme
Half-elven
Mar 23 2014, 5:28pm
Post #10 of 14
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Rosemary Sutcliff is a fine author
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I'll check that out. Thanks!
~~~~~~
"… ever let your aim be to come at truth, not to conquer your opponent. So you never shall be at a loss in losing the argument, and gaining a new discovery.”
Arthur Martine
"nowimë I am in the West, Furincurunir to the Dwarves (or at least, to their best friend) and by other names in other lands. Mostly they just say 'Oh no it's him - look busy!' "
Or "Hold off! unhand me, grey-beard loon!"
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Hamfast Gamgee
Tol Eressea
Mar 23 2014, 11:44pm
Post #11 of 14
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Why was no representative of Galadriel present? Of course, I know the real reason but I wonder if there is a literary one!
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Otaku-sempai
Immortal
Mar 24 2014, 1:05pm
Post #13 of 14
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Because the Council of Elrond was not planned in advance.
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Why was no representative of Galadriel present? Of course, I know the real reason but I wonder if there is a literary one!
The Council of Elrond consisted of representatives of various Peoples of Middle-earth who had come to Rivendell on other business.
'There are older and fouler things than Orcs in the deep places of the world.' - Gandalf the Grey, The Fellowship of the Ring
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