Hi, Kat. Great post here! I particularly liked your point on how Tolkien used a twist on traditional water hags: he gives Goldberry agency. What is interesting is that with her agency, she uses it to become a traditional house wife (something that women are expected to be and often fight against). However, this also makes me think of the quote from the movie Little Women: "Just because my dreams are different than yours, it doesn't mean they're unimportant." I think we can often dismiss female characters when they choose to be in this stereotypical submissive role. But there is also power in that, is there not? Goldberry chooses this life for herself. That should be a feat in itself considering her background. Anyways, nice post!
I'm so glad you were able to write on Goldberry this time around! I know we've had moments of struggle to bring women into the conversation with certain sections of our readings (thanks, Egil's Saga), but you've managed to create such a wonderful image of Goldberry as a dynamic character--and one who subverts medieval tropes, at that. (A subject that I teased at a little bit in my own Substack.)
I think, too, your thoughts about Jackson excluding her could probably be taken further: how did Tolkein envision the role of women in a way that Jackson maybe missed or simply didn't care about? The films are widely regarded as cinematic masterpieces, and like any film/television adaptation of a book, cuts had to be made; but why this character, one who, as you point out, is so rich to Tolkein's worldbuilding and is one of only few female characters? Couldn't Jackson have, for example, at least repurposed her character instead of removing her altogether? Even if the movies are cinematically brilliant, do the movies really capture the heart of LotR?
Thanks for the great post and the food for thought
This post spoke to me because I also love Goldberry. Even though she does not have much text time, we can tell how lovable she is. She is comforting to our friends that are on their journey. Up until this point in the novel, we had only been introduce to one other women, Lobelia. We have to keep our spoons hidden from her, according to Bilbo.
Hello Kat, your post is interesting. I like how you wrote about Goldberry. I found her and the focus on her interesting in the reading. Goldberry and Tom are two of my favorite characters so far. I liked how in the novel we see her being caring to the gang as they travel. You gave them comfort as we see when they are having their nightmares each of them remembers her comforting words. It brings them peace and they go back to sleep. Your post is very good and I'm excited to see what other women you continue to write about.
Kat, this is a great post. I, too, wrote about Goldberry, and I, too, consider the character's appearance to be my favorite aspect of Book I of the Fellowship of the Rings, by far. It is as if the character allowed Tolkien a vehicle for the expression of colorful language and a poetic sensibility that the male characters, plus the otherwise foreboding image of nature, do not. The character provides a much needed balance, and the very existence of the character seems to linger following her appearance due to its stark difference in tone. Thanks for the great post.
I really love how you connected the single woman character (I believe she was the only one so far) to medieval texts. I didn’t think of her being a water hag; I just thought of her as a woodland lady who controls water. I wish she played a bigger part, though.
Hi, Kat. Great post here! I particularly liked your point on how Tolkien used a twist on traditional water hags: he gives Goldberry agency. What is interesting is that with her agency, she uses it to become a traditional house wife (something that women are expected to be and often fight against). However, this also makes me think of the quote from the movie Little Women: "Just because my dreams are different than yours, it doesn't mean they're unimportant." I think we can often dismiss female characters when they choose to be in this stereotypical submissive role. But there is also power in that, is there not? Goldberry chooses this life for herself. That should be a feat in itself considering her background. Anyways, nice post!
I'm so glad you were able to write on Goldberry this time around! I know we've had moments of struggle to bring women into the conversation with certain sections of our readings (thanks, Egil's Saga), but you've managed to create such a wonderful image of Goldberry as a dynamic character--and one who subverts medieval tropes, at that. (A subject that I teased at a little bit in my own Substack.)
I think, too, your thoughts about Jackson excluding her could probably be taken further: how did Tolkein envision the role of women in a way that Jackson maybe missed or simply didn't care about? The films are widely regarded as cinematic masterpieces, and like any film/television adaptation of a book, cuts had to be made; but why this character, one who, as you point out, is so rich to Tolkein's worldbuilding and is one of only few female characters? Couldn't Jackson have, for example, at least repurposed her character instead of removing her altogether? Even if the movies are cinematically brilliant, do the movies really capture the heart of LotR?
Thanks for the great post and the food for thought
Maiden in the mor lay,
In the mor lay,
Sevenyst fulle
Sevenist fulle.
Maiden in the mor lay,
In the mor lay,
Sevenistes fulle ant a day.
Welle was hire mete:
Wat was hire mete?
The primerole ant the,
The primerole ant the,
Welle was hire mete:
Wat was hire mete?
The primerole ant the violet.
Welle was hire dryng:
Wat was hire dryng?
The chelde water of the,
The chelde water of the,
Welle was hire dryng:
What was hire dryng?
The chelde water of the welle spring.
Welle was hire bour:
Wat was hire bour?
The red rose an te,
The red rose an te,
Welle was hire bour:
Wat was hire bour?
The rede rose an te lilie flour.
This post spoke to me because I also love Goldberry. Even though she does not have much text time, we can tell how lovable she is. She is comforting to our friends that are on their journey. Up until this point in the novel, we had only been introduce to one other women, Lobelia. We have to keep our spoons hidden from her, according to Bilbo.
Hello Kat, your post is interesting. I like how you wrote about Goldberry. I found her and the focus on her interesting in the reading. Goldberry and Tom are two of my favorite characters so far. I liked how in the novel we see her being caring to the gang as they travel. You gave them comfort as we see when they are having their nightmares each of them remembers her comforting words. It brings them peace and they go back to sleep. Your post is very good and I'm excited to see what other women you continue to write about.
Kat, this is a great post. I, too, wrote about Goldberry, and I, too, consider the character's appearance to be my favorite aspect of Book I of the Fellowship of the Rings, by far. It is as if the character allowed Tolkien a vehicle for the expression of colorful language and a poetic sensibility that the male characters, plus the otherwise foreboding image of nature, do not. The character provides a much needed balance, and the very existence of the character seems to linger following her appearance due to its stark difference in tone. Thanks for the great post.
I really love how you connected the single woman character (I believe she was the only one so far) to medieval texts. I didn’t think of her being a water hag; I just thought of her as a woodland lady who controls water. I wish she played a bigger part, though.