J.R.R. Tolkien was not fond of allegory. To put it mildly. He went on record on the subject multiple times, but this is a pretty clear quote from his introduction to the second edition of LOTR: “As for any inner meaning or ‘message,’ it has in the intention of the author none. It is neither allegorical nor topical. ...I cordially dislike allegory in all its manifestations, and always have done so since I grew old and wary enough to detect its presence."
At the same time, his Christian faith was the core of his being and he said: “(The Lord of the Rings) is of course a fundamentally religious and Catholic work; unconsciously so at first, but consciously in the revision. That is why I have not put in, or have cut out practically all references to anything like 'religion,' to cults or practices, in the imaginary world. For the religious element is absorbed into the story and symbolism.”
God made the world a certain way, His fingerprints are all over it. He’s weaving the magnificent tapestry of redemption and if an author is being honest and writing what is true -- writing the way things are -- certain themes and patterns are also going to emerge (cue my fascination with Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, but that’s a discussion for another day). And this is all especially true when we get down to deep myth. Which, of course, is Tolkien’s specialty.
Ok, with that understanding, the Christological imagery in LOTR of Prophet, Priest, and King (which generally pair most prominently with Gandalf, Frodo, and Aragorn respectively) is well established. And Tolkien’s devotion to the Roman Catholic Mariology doctrines and how it might relate to the lady figures of LOTR (with, apparently, some debate as to how exactly it would all parcel out) is fairly well known in certain circles. But when I was looking into this (while finding lots of quotes from Tolkien on Mary and lots of writing from other people linking it with LOTR), I couldn’t find anything (online anyway) from Tolkien himself directly tying the two together. (Which, y’know, we wouldn’t expect anyway given what he said above.)
A lot of people have also put forth a lot of details on character
pairing. If you look it up at all, there are differing levels of
far-fetchedness, illumination, and/or simplicity to them (i.e. Galadriel
v. Shelob etc., which I ran across while researching this). Part of the
trouble (or rather the wonder of it) is that Tolkien did such a
masterful job embodying the themes in each and every character --
exploring different facets and angles (and EVERYTHING ties back, without
being redundant, but adding further depth and complexity) -- so that
you can contrast pretty much any character with another character.
Thinking
about the prophet, priest, and king roles, though, I’ve been pondering a
lot about the possible pairing reflections of Gandalf / Galadriel,
Aragorn / Arwen, and Frodo / Éowyn.
It has also been posited that Tolkien tied in the Greek (and indeed
widespread ancient) understanding of the elements (fire, earth,
air/wind, and water, and which were often closely tied with various
gods) in the personas of (from what I can piece together) Arwen (fire),
Galadriel (earth), Éowyn (air/wind), and Goldberry (water). Deep myth
and imagery-wise + with Tolkien’s background in ancient and medieval
history, there might be something to this, but here I’ll be focusing
more on the first theory (or rather, because I’m Protestant, tendering
my own thoughts on it).
Ok, so here’s where we get into a little choppy water, but it seems necessary. As a Protestant, I deeply respect and look up to Mary as a faithful saint who was the recipient of great and incredible blessing and honor, but I do take serious issue with Tolkien in this regard. That said... I'm actually not going there today. We'll stay in Middle Earth. (I only mention it at all in hopes of showing I've been carefully studying what Tolkien himself says on the subject in order the better to respect his thought process and avoid jumping to conclusions willy nilly.)
For the sake of this post and brevity, I'll just say we would put the emphasis on Mother Kirk, the church, who -- saved and washed down through the ages by the blood of Christ -- will one day stand beside Him, crowned in all glory and honor, and in dazzling white for all the world to see.
Following all of which, if we believe certain Biblical themes and truths run through creation and if the Bible has much to say (also in types and shadows by times) on the labor and rejoicing of queenly women, then there’s a vast depth here to think about. (Clarification: I've included a few verses in the following, but
I'm *not* expounding them, merely including them to highlight the deep
alliteration of ideas and imagery.)
Which brings us AT LAST, to the grace, strength, and beauty of Galadriel, Arwen, and Éowyn. <3
“She girds herself with strength, and strengthens her arms. … her lamp does not go out by night. She extends her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy. Strength and honor are her clothing; she shall rejoice in time to come.” Proverbs 31
~ Galadriel ~
“…Sam was now standing beside him, looking round with a puzzled expression, and rubbing his eyes as if he was not sure that he was awake. 'It’s sunlight and bright day, right enough,’ he said. 'I thought that Elves were all for moon and stars: but this is more elvish than anything I ever heard tell of. I feel as if I was inside a song, if you take my meaning.’ Haldir looked at them, and he seemed indeed to take the meaning of both thought and word. He smiled. ‘You feel the power of the Lady of the Galadhrim,’ he said.” The Fellowship of the Ring
Galadriel // striving against the Enemy and holding back the darkness // dispensing good and precious gifts for the road ahead
A glorious golden light beyond the ken of mere mortals. Fierce and mysterious yet a
refuge, a city set on a hill. A lofty lady of long ages.
On her tongue wise words, dripping like aged wine.
“Who is she who looks forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, awesome as an army with banners?” The Song of Solomon
“Do not be afraid! But do not think that only by singing amid the trees, nor even by the slender arrows of elven-bows, is this land of Lothlórien maintained and defended against its Enemy. …even as I speak to you, I perceive the Dark Lord and know his mind… And he gropes ever to see me and my thought. But still the door is closed!” She lifted up her white arms, and spread out her hands towards the East in a gesture of rejection and denial.”
“…from the ring that she wore there issued a great light that illumined her alone and left all else dark. She stood before Frodo seeming now tall beyond measurement, and beautiful beyond enduring, terrible and worshipful. Then she let her hand fall, and the light faded, and suddenly she laughed again, and lo! she was shrunken: a slender elf-woman, clad in simple white, whose gentle voice was soft and sad.” The Fellowship of the Ring
~ Arwen ~
“Young she was and yet not so. The braids of her dark hair were touched by no frost… and the light of stars was in her bright eyes, grey as a cloudless night; yet queenly she looked, and thought and knowledge were in her glance, as of one who has known many things that the years bring. Above her brow her head was covered with a cap of silver lace netted with small gems, glittering white; but her soft grey raiment had no ornament save a girdle of leaves wrought in silver. So it was that Frodo saw her whom few mortals had yet seen; Arwen, daughter of Elrond, in whom it was said that the likeness of Lúthien had come on earth again; and she was called Undómiel, for she was the Evenstar of her people.” The Fellowship of the Ring
Arwen // Evenstar
// lady of white gems and starlight
// the reward to be won
Patient and enduring, looking for things not yet seen.
Regal and gracious, standing finally beside her triumphant Lord and King.
Crowned Queen and following him through sacrifice, and the still enduring death that is in the mortal world.
And trusting through long years in the promised one to whom she has pledged herself, while fashioning the standard which will be a banner to the peoples.
“…lo! even as he laughed at despair he looked out again on the black ships, and he lifted up his sword to defy them. And then wonder took him, and a great joy; and he cast his sword up in the sunlight and sang as he caught it. And all eyes followed his gaze, and behold! upon the foremost ship a great standard broke …There flowered a White Tree, and that was for Gondor; but Seven Stars were about it, and a high crown above it, the signs of Elendil that no lord had borne for years beyond count. And the stars flamed in the sunlight, for they were wrought of gems by Arwen daughter of Elrond; and the crown was bright in the morning, for it was wrought of mithril and gold.” The Return of the King
~ Éowyn ~
“Grave and thoughtful was her glance, as she looked on the king with cool pity in her eyes. Very fair was her face, and her long hair was like a river of gold. Slender and tall she was in her white robe girt with silver; but strong she seemed and stern as steel, a daughter of kings. Thus Aragorn for the first time in the full light of day beheld Éowyn, lady of Rohan, and thought her fair, fair and cold, like a morning of pale spring that is not yet come to womanhood.” The Two Towers
Éowyn // the White Lady
// loyal, valorous, and true hearted
// crushing the head of the serpent
“Most blessed among women is Jael… She stretched her hand to the tent peg, her right hand to the workmen’s hammer; she pounded Sisera, she pierced his head… At her feet he sank, he fell; where he sank, there he fell dead.” Judges
Like Frodo, dearly loving her guardian figure, willing to dare all and die in his stead; battling the King’s enemies even when the darkness seems greatest and the gates of hell bar the way; going through the deep shadows, bearing much pain and sorrow and growing despair, yet -- healed by the hand of the King -- emerging at last, triumphant, into the light.
“For you are a lady high and valiant and have yourself won renown that shall not be forgotten; and you are a lady beautiful, I deem, beyond even the words of the Elven-tongue to tell.”
“Then the heart of Éowyn changed, or else at last she understood it. And suddenly her winter passed, and the sun shone on her.
‘I stand in Minas Anor, the Tower of the Sun,’ she said; ‘and behold the Shadow has departed! I will be a shieldmaiden no longer, nor vie with the great Riders, nor take joy only in the songs of slaying. I will be a healer, and love all things that grow and are not barren.” The Return of the King
~
Galadriel, Éowyn, and Arwen each fighting the serpent in their particular corner of the battlefield, laboring in travail, fighting even when hope is dim, and coming out in the end to great victory.
To hearken back to the beginning, we don’t view any of Tolkien’s
characters as cardboard figures (each with a tidy allegorical lesson and
homework for us to apply). No, for deep truth and beauty is far deeper
-- wilder -- uncontained. Dangerous. For in deep story -- true myth --
as we catch flashes and glimpses and reflections of deep truth and
beauty -- that beauty itself can help shape and point us to our one and only
Savior, the Fountainhead of all breathtaking glory and goodness and
beauty and heart-stopping joy.
This was written for Hamlette's
Tolkien Week. I hope you enjoyed and I'd love to hear your thoughts! <3
