Ladies of LOTR: Galadriel

Discussing another lady in Fellowship of the Ring!

Although we are already onto the second book, it would be impossible for me to move forward on this budding series “Ladies of LOTR” without dedicating an entry to the most powerful female character mentioned in The Fellowship of the Ring: Galadriel. She stands out as being an incredibly powerful and beautiful character that leaves the band of travelers in awe. However, similar to Tolkien’s other female characters in The Fellowship of the Ring, Galadriel’s characterization and interactions in the novel align her with medieval womanhood. 

In the end of the first novel, Tolkien introduces us to Galadriel. The most notable part of her entrance into the series is how she approaches the ring. Her refusal to wear or take the ring because she understands the power that it possesses is important for a larger discussion of ambition and power in Lord of the Rings. However, this scene also does something else: it paints Galadriel as morally upstanding like the other female characters in The Fellowship of the Ring. Her character is virtuous and concerned with the greater good as she refuses to take the ring and aids the group by providing them with cloaks for their journey. In this way, she is similar to the ladies of King Authur’s tales. Rather than directly participate in the adventure, she remains as an aid and supporter. 

One of the most interesting examples of Tolkien aligning Galadriel (and his other female characters) with medieval maidenhood is the scene where she presents Gimli with a gift. When Galadriel demands that Gimli receive a gift, he asks for a mere strand of her hair. In Fellowship of the Ring, Tolkien, displays Gimili’s reasoning by stating, “There is nothing, Lady Galadriel’, said Gimli, bowing low and stammering. ‘Nothing, unless it might be – unless it is permitted to ask, nay, to name a single strand of your hair, which surpasses the golf of the earth as the stars surpass the gems of the mine. I do not ask for such a gift. But you commanded me to name my desire” (306-307). Galadriel is so moved by his words that she presents him with three strands of her hair and recounts to the Elves that he has a way with words that is uncharacteristic of dwarves. 

To me, this scene is the most fascinating of the second half of The Fellowship of the Ring. After reading Arthurian literature and other medieval texts for the first half of the semester, it is impossible for me to read this scene and not connect it with Authurian romance. Here, Galadriel abides by a new aspect of women in medieval literature that the reader does not examine in Goldberry or Arwen. Here, she speaks to themes of courtly love by bestowing a lock of her hair upon Gimili for his honorable actions. Galadriel and her interactions with the group show the importance of the court in LOTR that will continue to be a theme. 

As we continue into The Two Towers, I am interested to reread and look at how these female characters relate to medieval womanhood and how they allow Tolkien to emphasize the court in his novels. 

My iced coffee (CFA’s vanilla, you need to try it) is finished so I’ll see y’all next week to discuss LOTR and hopefully introduce a new series on Curiosity Killed the Kat.