There is no doubt that most people, in particular fantasy fans, will confidently claim that the most famous figures of the people in their field can be seen in the universe of The Lord of the Rings. This is because the tale presented in the books is the very first source most people associate with the fantasy genre. To this end, such characters have become models or templates for developing subsequent ideas and then modifying them. This means they have a timeless quality but even so, one cannot disagree with a position that there are times when, the way these characters are written, feels dated, or stale for lack of a better term.
The archetypal hero may have worked in the past, but advancements in time and the culture of the period causes individuals to seek more complex developments with plot and characters. What is, however, surprising is that J.R.R. Tolkien does this very well in The Lord of the Rings through one of its essential female characters: Éowyn. The story narrates her deeds during the War of the Ring. However who she was and how she lived after the war remains a matter of silence. Faramir’s activities are famous, however there are almost no descriptions of how Éowyn’s last years of life went.
This article was last edited by the author Christopher Raley on October 31, 2024: Éowyn is a character who captured the affection of many who read the famous epic fantasy saga The Lord of the Rings, making her a powerful female character long before such a thing was fashionable. Some biographical data of that period allow to interpret what happened later in life. This article has been modified and more information regarding Éowyn has been added in order to maintain the CBR standards of today.
Éowyn’s Story Begins with Heartbreak
Éowyn and her brother Éomer were the offspring of the Samurai House of Kingdom Théoden, whose mother was Princess Théodwyn and father Éomund of Eastfold. After the death of Éowyn and Éomer’s parents when they were still young, their uncle king Théoden decided to look after the children turning them into his own. Éowyn would later become loved by the people of Rohan and Éomer would come to be the next in line to the throne if there were none other perished before him. The first mention of Éowyn in The Lord of the Rings was in The Two Towers, when she was looking after her uncle at the time he was growing weak before the war.
Though her responsibilities lay with her uncle, a bond existed between them and love was there, as well as affection and respect for Éowyn from the people, who valued her leadership.
It is also worth noting that the crossing of believers is no small achievement for any story, particularly one in the heroism of which men and warriors are most prominently depicted.
In the films, it is not shown that King Théoden intends to march forth with Saruman’s army, however, when Sauron is overcome with Gandalf’s magic, the King seems to make a different decision and rides out to join the Throne Houses’I host, which ends in Helm’s Deep. Knowing that Edoras is not well-defended, he requests Éowyn to instruct the people to go towards Dunharrow.
It is a task she had warmed up to with difficulty that she had initially desired to go alongside her family and ride against the forces of Saruman. Nonetheless, she sets her own desires for the welfare of her people and proves that trust reposed on her is not wrong. Éowyn is everything she is faithful to be as a leader: warm, tempestuous, brave and above all, faithful.
Eowyn Proves Her Fighting Skills In Battle
Later, in The Return of the King, Éowyn is seen in her finest hour. This time, she disregards the King’s thoughts about her staying in Rohan with the people and decides to secretly join her uncle in battle. Nor are you allowed… she puts on a mannish guise and rides forth. Éowyn meets and fights the Witch-King of Angmar, who mortally wounds Théoden in battle, at the Battle of Pelennor Fields. The Witch herself comes to pass on a prophecy that “not by the hand of man” will her son the Witch-King perish.
Feminine charm notwithstanding, it’s clear that women in Rohan are as powerful as their male counterparts as Éowyn goes through the defense surrounding the Witch-King. And of course, Éowyn does not only try, she succeeds in killing the Witch-King. Even more imagery is contained in the chapter named ‘Houses of Healing’ of the Return of the King, where Aragorn expresses his deeper respect to Éowyn.
When I first met her I thought I was looking at a white flower, stood up straight like a blonde down in the lily of the same spelling, at the same time I knew that it was forged of steel, as though made by elven master. Even though she has suffered a great injury and accompanied wounds, she recovered along with Faramir, younger brother of Boromir and who both began their acquaintance there.
Éowyn’s Later Years Were More Peaceful
Éowyn shone in the battle of Pelennor fields but her story then takes a turn for the worse most of her exploits are overshadowed by character’s perspective. The fact that she was busy aerial repeats of the screen during the final credits Martin may not be a surprise. But what is certain is this: when she was met by Faramir in the Houses of Healing, they both fell in love and became husband and wife.
She posed a strong person even before the war and after it she built a family and gave birth at least to one son: Elboron. In the meantime, she along with Faramir spent time in Ithilien after the war in exaltation of her brother Eomer. With the burden of her uncle’s health and military concerns out of the way, Éowyn was free to pursue what she wished to in life.
Despite her valorous charge into belly, Éowyn learned to accept that with the hope of peace that they had achieved had not to be frought with conflict, but rather enjoyed. Therefore, she dedicated herself to her family and her people, a mission that. Since it is known that through Elboron, Éowyn would bear a grandchild, it can be presumed that she achieved this.
There are two more facts related to her life after the war that are known. In the Return of the King chapter headed ‘Many Partings,’ Éowyn bestows the Horn of Rohan upon a Hobbit called Merry. It was a precious… this horn was used by Merry when he was later leading the hobbits during the Scouring of the Shire against Saruman’s rule over the Shire. When he was already the Master of Buckland, Merry received more gifts from Éomer and Éowyn to commemorate him.
Éowyn Finds a New Purpose For Life
Beyond that which has been established in the canon of the mythology surrounding Éowyn, there is simply wild guesswork, but at least some aspects may be drawn from what little evidence fans have. In the appendage B of the The Return of King’s narrative, both of them, Éowyn and Faramir, disappeared from the list of dates revealing the most significant events. This should annoy certain fans of the couple’s, but in my opinion it is appropriate. Éowyn affirms her desire to be in the limelight, but after beheading the Witch King and claiming a reward for it,
she is still defeated and bitter, just the same as always. While trying to treat her in the Houses of Healing, Aragorn says to Éomer that her illness actually started much earlier than when she got the wound and Gandalf suggests that her heart being dull and black was possibly due to the influence of Wormtongue.
When later on the time reaches that Éowyn is well enough to rise from the bed, she has words for Faramir saying, “I was searching for death in battle. But death did not…” But still some room remains for looking for depression. In the course of time, as they had to deal with their injuries and Eowyn and Faramir were closer together, he starts realizing her properly.
She confesses that she needs love and do not want to be loved out of sympathy. But she claims how Faramir does not feel sorry for her. “For you are a true lady, brave enough, and you have earned glory for yourself which will never be lost in time.” After that, he professes his love for her and assures that it will remain all through her happy or sad times.
Through her interaction with Faramir, she, for instance, “becomes so much in love with him that she wishes to be a shield-maiden no more, nor strive with the great Riders of Rohan, nor take pleasure in the sanguinary songs of war.” Instead, she blocks the grim purpose and looks for something constructive. Éowyn feels, “I will be a healer, and love all things that are not barren and grow.” What is so fine about Éowyn is that her evolution is not impeded by her love for Faramir. She finds a new purpose and focuses all her individuality and strength towards it, which makes her character arc one of the finest in the saga of The Lord of the Rings.
How Did Éowyn’s Life End?
The day of her death is also not known, but that uncertainty suggests that she probably lived a long life. If that is so, then Éowyn may have died out of Middle Earth, achieving her wish for peace and a life as a healer. She shows that a woman, who is predominantly a warrior, can also become a wife and mother without losing her essence.
Éowyns carried out all the attempts to accomplish the happy ending that she desired. By the end of the war, all that she wished to have was peace. However, no news is good news, as the proverb states. If you combine this silence for the remainder of her days with the fact that she had at least one son and later a grandson, it indicates that she achieved the quiet and happy existence that she envisaged for herself. Even if fans are left unhappy that her character did not develop more than she did, they can welcome the fact that her life was worth living.
