Introduction to the 'Tolkien and Gender' Series

The idea for this series came to me when I was writing the end of my Éowyn essay. Tolkien faces a lot of criticism from people for supposedly being 'sexist' in his works. Overall, Tolkien's works are not sexist. I agree it is very problematic that only 18% of the characters are female. 

However, Tolkien's works take a very refreshing and nuanced look at sexism, and this has been largely overlooked or dismissed.

Elves and the Unseen Plane

This is all about the Unseen Plane, especially as it relates to Elves. Gandalf's comments in “Many Meetings” makes it clear that the 'wraith-world' and the 'unseen plane' are the same world. What do we know about this Plane, and what do we know about its relation to Elves and Men?

Aragorn and Elrond's Relationship

For me, one of the most heart wrenching parts of LotR is the relationship between Aragorn and Elrond (alright, there are a lot of heart wrenching parts, this is just one of them). I do not agree with comparing Elrond to Thingol, because the situations are completely different. However, I don't believe that everything was alright between them.

Éowyn: The White Lady of Rohan

*This essay is a part of my 'Tolkien and Gender' series. You must read my Intro before reading this essay. This essay is what inspired me to write the series.*

When discussing Tolkien, gender, and feminism, very few characters are as talked about as Éowyn. Understanding her character arc is crucial to understanding the systematic damnation of sexism that is present in the majority of Tolkien's works.

Without further ado, let's start!

Aragorn's Timeline Issue

When reading the Appendixes, Aragorn's timeline gets very messed up.