20. She Does It All!

All about Éowyn.

Jared, Oriana and Ned talk about Oriana’s choice of topic: Éowyn. As
likely the most prominent character in The Lord of the Rings who’s a woman—and
certainly the most prominent human woman, hands down—Éowyn and her journey in
the story always has a central position in any discussion of the book, someone
who grapples with any number of personal disasters and wider societal
expectations to end up playing a key role in the book’s epic arc. At the same
time, her final choices after that shattering confrontation with the Lord of
the Nazgûl have led to questioning about whether she should be seen as a
feminist icon, something that Tolkien’s own personal views on women further
indelibly complicate. Were Tolkien’s own stated views on what he thought about
women and society conditional, potentially subject to change possibly even
depending on his perception of his audience? Is Éowyn a total outlier in her
society and world or is what she does something potentially more broadly
understood and accepted? Are the choices she makes towards the end of the book
a return to an expected role for her in a patriarchal world, or are they
reflective of her gaining a deeper understanding of herself and what her own
desires and needs are no matter what others might think? And what do we all
think about that moment when her hair and Faramir’s flow together in the wind
as they stand on Minas Tirith’s walls awaiting the moment of doom? (We love
it, of course.)

Jared’s
doodle,
inspired by Scythian art and fashions.

Now that’s how to win an election!

J. A. Bayona says a half-way
point in filming has been reached.
(Half-way of what specifically, thought?)

New Zealand-based film and TV
production
continues to be on a major roll.

Ismael Cruz Córdova, a talented and sharp fellow, we’d say.

Éowyn’s Tolkien Gateway entry.

That moment in Peter Jackson’s The Return of the King? You know
it.

Tolkien’s Letter 43 to his son
Michael says a lot about his viewpoints on the genders in 1941. Quite a lot.

Our episode on magic, where
(conceptual) space was discussed.

We’re not steeped enough in the scholarship to say what would be good
discussions about Éowyn and feminism—but there sure are a lot of Google
results.

The Rankin-Bass-via-Topcraft Éowyn is
striking,
no lie. Here’s their version of the confrontation
scene.

We didn’t mention it but there’s been recent work on the question of women’s
roles in Viking societies that could be applicable.

The Jackson extended Two Towers scene with the
stew. (Still thinking that looks
like shrimp.)

The art may be rough in this portrayal but that atop the walls moment with the hair and the hands? It’s
lovely.

Twin Peaks: The
Return is very David
Lynch. Freddie Sykes aka
the guy with the glove, that’s a subject of
discussion.

Our Erendis and
Andreth-related episodes.

The Valkyrie are not unknown, to put
it mildly. Neither are Boudica and
Morgan le Fay.

A depiction of Éowyn in front of Meduseld in
armor
as in the book. The Jackson
version of a similar
moment
is different but no less vivid.

Alan Lee’s depiction of
Éowyn and Aragorn and the cup of parting.

“Courage, Merry.” When Jackson
and his team got the interpreting of the material right, they got it
perfectly.

If you are enjoying the show, consider supporting By-The-Bywater and our
network. Thanks!