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Forum Home » Books Discussion » BC Archive: Lord of the Rings » Quote of the Week- July 12th 2004 (5.vIII. The Houses of Healing)
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PotbellyHairyfoot
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Post Quote of the Week- July 12th 2004 (5.vIII. The Houses of Healing)
on: July 12, 2004 11:04
Gandalf, to Eomer;
'My friend, said Gandalf, 'you had horses, and deeds of arms, and the free fields; but she, born in the body of a maid, had a spirit and courage at least the match of yours. Yet she was doomed to wait upon an old man, whom she loved as a father , and watch him falling into a mean dishonoured dotage; and her part seemed to her more ignoble than that of the staff he leaned on.'...

Even though Eowyn seemingly escaped her fears and managed to fulfill her desire tofight alongside the men, she still suffers the effects of all those years staying home watching the results that Wormtongue's ministrations had on her King and uncle while the men went off to find glory.

[Edited on 13/7/2004 by PotbellyHairyfoot]

[Edited on 19/7/2004 by PotbellyHairyfoot]
PotbellyHairyfoot
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Post RE: Quote of the Week- July 12th 2004 (5.vIII. The Houses of Healing)
on: July 13, 2004 02:50
I find it interesting that one of Eowyn's first comments upon awakening was
At least while there is an empty saddle that Ican fill, and there are deeds to do.

she has apparently decided that even though her cover as Dernhelm as been lifted , she can still fight along side the men. Or perhaps she feels that she has now won the right to stay with the troops?
RubySandybanks
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Post RE: Quote of the Week- July 12th 2004 (5.vIII. The Houses of Healing)
on: July 13, 2004 08:44
What a powerful quote! Gandalf's insight is remarkable. Here again we see him use his awesome powers of understanding. influence and persuasion.

Gandalf is clearly not a chauvinist. How wonderful for Éowyn to have Gandalf stand up for her in a man's world.

I think that Éowyn believes she has won the right to fight along with the troops. She has shown her worth (quality); it would be hard for anyone to deny that.

Her statement upon awakening show how heavily invested she was in the whole idea of being a great fighter.

[Edited on 13/7/2004 by RubySandybanks]

[Edited on 13/7/2004 by RubySandybanks]
Figwit
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Post RE: Quote of the Week- July 12th 2004 (5.vIII. The Houses of Healing)
on: August 04, 2004 04:16
I didn't think of it at the time, but re-reading this it comes to mind all of a sudden that Éowyn must have felt very powerless: she couldn't help Théoden at all! She must have felt very useless, to her uncle but also to her country, which relied on its King to keep it safe. Perhaps she thought that those protecting the land, wielding swords would be more useful for an old man like Théoden - seemingly incapable of doing any battle himself.

*spoiler for later chapters*
Perhaps this is why Éowyn, once she's cured from her deathwish, instantly turns into a healter: because it's what she'd always done, but back then she didn't know how to help. She always just wanted to help, to be useful. The concept of 'usefulness' was then linked to 'fighting' and so she believed she had to fight.
Could that be something?
[/b]*stand down spoiler alert*[/b]
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