Arwen: Difference between revisions

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{{sources}}
{{sources}}
{{half-elf infobox
{{half-elf infobox
| name=Arwen
| image=[[File:John Howe - Arwen.jpg|250px]]
| image=[[File:John Howe - Arwen.jpg|250px]]
| name=Arwen
| caption="Arwen" by [[John Howe]]
| pronun=
| othernames=''Undómiel'' ([[Quenya|Q]], "Evenstar")
| othernames=''Undómiel'' ([[Quenya|Q]], "Evenstar")
| titles=Queen of Gondor
| titles=Queen of Gondor
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| language=Primarily [[Sindarin]]<ref name="Languages">{{App|Elves}}</ref>
| language=Primarily [[Sindarin]]<ref name="Languages">{{App|Elves}}</ref>
| birth={{TA|241}}
| birth={{TA|241}}
| birthlocation=Rivendell{{fact}}
| birthlocation=
| rule={{TA|3019}} - {{FoA|120}}
| rule={{TA|3019}} - {{FoA|120}}
| death={{FoA|121}}
| death={{FoA|121}}
| deathlocation=[[Cerin Amroth]], [[Lothlórien]]
| deathlocation=[[Cerin Amroth]], [[Lothlórien]]
| age=2,901
| age=2,901
| house=[[Rivendell|House of Elrond]]
| notablefor=
| house=
| heritage=[[Half-elven]] father, [[Elves|Elf]] mother
| heritage=[[Half-elven]] father, [[Elves|Elf]] mother
| parentage=[[Elrond]] and [[Celebrían]]
| parentage=[[Elrond]] and [[Celebrían]]
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| weapons=
| weapons=
| steed=
| steed=
}}{{Pronounce|Arwen Undomiel.mp3|Ardamir}}
}}
{{quote|[[Frodo Baggins|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]]'', [[Many Meetings]]<ref name="Many">{{FR|II1}}</ref>}}
{{quote|[[Frodo Baggins|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]]'', [[Many Meetings]]<ref name="Many">{{FR|II1}}</ref>}}
'''Arwen Undómiel''' (''Arwen'' is [[Sindarin|S]], pron. {{IPA|[ˈarwen]}}; ''Undómiel'' is [[Quenya|Q]], pron. {{IPA|[unˈdoːmi.el]}}), often called '''Arwen Evenstar''', was the betrothed of [[Aragorn|Aragorn II]]. She is the daughter of [[Elrond]] and [[Celebrían]] (and therefore grand-daughter of [[Galadriel]]). She rejects her [[Elves|Elven]] immortality (which she had the ability to do, since she was a [[half-elven|half-elf]], thus having the choice to be counted as an elf or a man) to marry Aragorn and die with him.
'''Arwen Undómiel''' (''Arwen'' is [[Sindarin|S]], pron. {{IPA|[ˈarwen]}}; ''Undómiel'' is [[Quenya|Q]], pron. {{IPA|[unˈdoːmi.el]}}), often called '''Arwen Evenstar''', was the betrothed of [[Aragorn|Aragorn II]]. She is the daughter of [[Elrond]] and [[Celebrían]].
 
She was considered to be the fairest of the [[Children of Ilúvatar]], resembling [[Lúthien]] of the [[First Age]] who would never again appear in [[Middle-earth]]. Her romance with [[Aragorn]] was reminiscent of that between the Man [[Beren]] and the Elf Lúthien.  Few other marriages between Man and Elf were known. Like Lúthien, she rejected her [[Elves|Elven]] immortality to marry Aragorn and die with him.


== History ==
== History ==
The romance between Aragorn and Arwen is reminiscent of that between the Man [[Beren]] and the Elf [[Lúthien]]. Few other marriages between Man and Elf were recorded in the annals.  
[[File:Anna Lee - Evenstar.jpg|thumb|left|Anna Lee - ''Evenstar'']]
Arwen was born in {{TA|241}} and was the younger sister of [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]]. From her mother she inherited the [[Elfstone]].<ref name="CG">{{UT|6}}</ref> As a [[Half-elven]] she shared the right of her father to choose her fate. She lived most of her life in her homestead in [[Imladris]] or [[Lothlórien]] with her grandparents.<ref name="Tale"/>


A very young Aragorn encountered Arwen for the first time at [[Rivendell]], where he had been living; she had been staying with her grandmother in [[Lothlórien|Lórien]]. He fell in love with her when he first saw her, but it was not until they met many years later in Lórien that she fell in love with him.<ref name="Tale"/>
Her father fostered the sons of the [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain]], who were the exiled [[Heir of Isildur|Heirs of Isildur]].<ref>{{App|Eriador}}</ref> It was in {{TA|2952}} when she returned from Lothlórien to Rivendell when she met a young foster-son of her father, [[Aragorn]]. The young [[Dúnadan]] fell in love when he first saw her, but Elrond insisted that Arwen could not marry Aragorn until he became king of both [[Gondor]] and [[Arnor]]. Whatever Arwen's choice, she would be parted from either Elrond or Aragorn for ever.<ref name="Tale"/>
[[File:Stephen Hickman - Aragorn and Arwen.jpg|thumb|left|Stephen Hickman - ''Aragorn and Arwen'']]
It was not until they met many years later in Lórien that she returned in love, and in {{TA|2980}} they plighted their troth on [[Cerin Amroth]]. Aragorn gave her the [[Ring of Barahir]]. After Aragorn left for his travels and deeds, Arwen continually served as inspiration and motivation for him, who had to become King before he could wed her and devoted many long years to this cause.<ref name="Tale"/>


When the [[Hobbits]] arrived at [[Rivendell]], [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] saw Aragorn with her at one point—the first hint of their relationship.<ref name="Many"/> Later, when the [[Fellowship of the Ring|Fellowship]] came to [[Lothlórien]], he remembered their earlier meeting.
When Aragorn brought the [[Hobbits]] to [[Rivendell]], during the [[War of the Ring]], he reunited with Arwen. [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] saw Aragorn with her at one point—the first hint of their relationship.<ref name="Many"/> Later, when the [[Fellowship of the Ring|Fellowship]] came to [[Lothlórien]], Aragorn  remembered their earlier meeting on Cerin Amroth. When the Fellowship departed and [[Galadriel]] offered them [[gifts of Galadriel|her gifts]], Arwen's Elfstone was the gift for Aragorn, which he would wear ever after.<ref>{{FR|II8}}</ref>. This giving held the function of a wedding gift from the family of the bride to the groom, foretelling his marriage to Arwen.<ref>{{MR|Laws}}</ref>


When [[Éowyn]] fell in love with Aragorn it was his fidelity to Arwen that forbade him from reciprocating, thereby motivating Éowyn's subsequent actions during the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] which had major repercussions for the defense of Middle-earth. Arwen continually served as inspiration and motivation for Aragorn, who had to become King before he could wed her; not an insignificant task, considering the many long years he devoted to this cause.<ref name="Tale"/>
When [[Éowyn]] fell in love with Aragorn it was his fidelity to Arwen that forbade him from reciprocating, thereby motivating Éowyn's subsequent actions.<ref>{{RK|Houses}}</ref>


Before taking to the [[Paths of the Dead]], Aragorn was met by a group consisting of [[Dúnedain]], his people, from the North, and Arwen's brothers, [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]].<ref>{{RK|V2}}</ref> They brought to him a banner on black cloth: a gift made by the hands of Arwen, and a sign that encouraged him to take the difficult path. When it was unfurled at the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] to reveal the emblem of [[Elendil]] in ''[[mithril]]'', gems, and gold, it was the first triumphant announcement of the King's return.<ref>{{RK|V6}}</ref>
While Aragorn was out in the War, Arwen made, with her hands, the [[Livery of Elendil]] in [[mithril]], gems and gold on black cloth. This was taken by her brothers and a group of [[Rangers of the North]] to Aragorn before taking the [[Paths of the Dead]], and was an encouraging sign for him to take the difficult path.<ref>{{RK|V2}}</ref> It was unfurled at the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] to triumphantly announce the King's return.<ref>{{RK|V6}}</ref>
[[File:Janka Latečková - King and his Queen.jpg|thumb|right|Janka Latečková - ''King and his Queen'']]
Aragorn wed Arwen after the War of the Ring when he finally became a King of the new [[Reunited Kingdom]]. Arwen chose a fate different from her father's and did not sail to the [[Aman|West]]. As Queen of Gondor, Arwen bore one son, [[Eldarion]], and several daughters. Even after Aragorn's death, Arwen did not repent, and eventually gave up her life in {{FoA|121}}, at [[Cerin Amroth]] in Lórien, and she was buried there.<ref name="Tale"/>


Arwen was actually a very distant relative of Aragorn, being his first cousin sixty-three times removed. By their marriage, the long-sundered lines of the [[Half-elven]] were joined. Their union also served to unite and preserve the bloodlines of the Three Kings of the High Elves ([[Ingwë]], [[Finwë]], and brothers [[Olwë]] and [[Elwë]]) as well as the only line with [[Maiar]]in blood through Arwen's great-great-great grandmother, [[Melian]].
== Genealogy ==
 
[[File:Abe Papakhian - Lord of Rivendell.jpg|thumb|Arwen in Rivendell]]
Arwen gave up her life in {{FoA|121}}, at [[Cerin Amroth]] in Lórien, after the death of Aragorn.
Arwen was actually a very distant relative of Aragorn, being his first cousin sixty-three times removed. By their marriage, the long-sundered lines of the [[Half-elven]] were joined.<ref>{{App|A1}}</ref> Their union also served to unite and preserve the bloodlines of the Three Kings of the High Elves ([[Ingwë]], [[Finwë]], and brothers [[Olwë]] and [[Elwë]]) as well as the only line with [[Maiar]]in blood through Arwen's great-great grandmother, [[Melian]].


== Genealogy ==
<div style="overflow-x: scroll; overflow-y: hidden; border: 1px solid #AAAAAA; padding: 3px; background: #EEEEEE;">
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree |EAR|y|ELW| |CEL|y|GAL|EAR=[[Eärendil]]|ELW=[[Elwing]]|CEL=[[Celeborn]]|GAL=[[Galadriel]]}}
{{familytree| FIN |y| EAW | | GLN | | TUO |y| IDR | | DIO |y| NIM | |FIN=[[Finarfin]]</br><small>''b. {{YT|1230}}''</small>|EAW=[[Eärwen]]</br><small>''b. {{YT}}''</small>|GLN=[[Galadhon]]</br><small>''b. {{FA}}''</small>|TUO=[[Tuor]]</br><small>''b. {{FA|472}}''</small>|IDR=[[Idril]]</br><small>''b. {{YT}}''</small>|DIO=[[Dior]]</br><small>''{{FA|470}} - {{FA|506|n}}''</small>|NIM=[[Nimloth]]</br><small>''d. {{FA|506}}''</small>}}
{{familytree | |,|-|^|-|.| | | | | |!| | | |}}
{{familytree| | | |!| | | | | |!| | | | | |!| | | | | | | |!| | | | |}}
{{familytree |ELS| |ELD|~|y|~|CLB| | |ELS=[[Elros]]|ELD=[[Elrond]]|CLB=[[Celebrían]]}}
{{familytree| | | GAL |~|y|~| CEL | | | | EAR |~|~|y|~|~| ELW | | | |GAL=[[Galadriel]]</br><small>''b. {{YT|1362}}''</small>|CEL=[[Celeborn]]</br><small>''b. {{FA}}''</small>|EAR=[[Eärendil]]</br><small>''b. {{FA|503}}''</small>|ELW=[[Elwing]]</br><small>''b. {{FA|503}}''</small>}}
{{familytree | |:| | | |,|-|-|^|v|-|-|-|.| |}}
{{familytree| | | | | | |!| | | | | | | | | |,|-|-|^|-|.| | | | | | | |}}
{{familytree |ARG|~|ARW| |ELR| |ELL|ARG=[[Aragorn|Aragorn II]]|ARW='''ARWEN'''|ELR=[[Elrohir]]|ELL=[[Elladan]]}}
{{familytree| | | | | | CLB |~|~|~|y|~|~|~| ELR | | | ELS | | | | | | |CLB=[[Celebrían]]</br><small>''b. {{SA}}''</small>|ELR=[[Elrond]]</br><small>''b. {{FA|532}}''</small>|ELS=[[Elros]]</br><small>''{{FA|532}} - {{SA|442}}''</small>}}
{{familytree| | | | | | | |,|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|.| | | | | |:| | | | | | | |}}
{{familytree| | | | | | | ELL | | ELO | | ARW |~|y|~| ARA | | | | | | |ELL=[[Elladan]]</br><small>''b. {{TA|130}}''</small>|ELO=[[Elrohir]]</br><small>''b. {{TA|130}}''</small>|ARW='''ARWEN'''</br><small>''{{TA|241}} - {{FoA|121}}''</small>|ARA=[[Aragorn|Aragorn II]]</br><small>''{{TA|2931}} - {{FoA|120}}''</small>}}
{{familytree| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | | | | | | |}}
{{familytree| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | EDN | | DAU | | | | | | | |EDN=[[Eldarion]]</br><small>''b. {{FoA}}''</small>|DAU=''unknown<br/>daughters''}}
{{familytree/end}}
{{familytree/end}}
</div>
== Etymology ==
== Etymology ==
'''''Arwen''''' means "Noble Maiden" in [[Sindarin]] (from ''[[ara]]-'' = "noble" and ''[[gwenn]]'' = "maiden").<ref>[[Wayne G. Hammond]] and [[Christina Scull]] (HarperCollins''Publishers'' 2008), ''[[The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion]]'', p. 205</ref> The [[Quenya]] form of her name is not entirely certain, but as just a name, it is grammatically possible to calque ''Arwen'' to Quenya as '''Aranwen''' (pron. {{IPA|[aˈranwen]}} using ''[[aran]]-'' and ''[[wendë]]'', stem ''Aranwend-''; compare masculine ''[[Aranwë]]''), but '''Arwen''' itself is also coincidentally a valid Quenya synthesis (using ''[[ar]]-'', stem ''Arwend-''), meaning the possibility that Arwen's name is the same in Sindarin and Quenya. Her [[epessë]], '''[[Undómiel]]''', means "Evenstar", from ''[[Undómë]]'' "evening twilight" and ''[[elen|el]]'' "star".
{{Pronounce|Arwen Undomiel.mp3|Ardamir}}
'''''Arwen''''' means "Noble Maiden" in [[Sindarin]] (from ''[[ara]]-'' = "noble" and ''[[gwenn]]'' = "maiden").<ref>{{HM|RC}}, p. 205</ref> Tolkien remarked that it also means "greatly blessed" in Welsh.<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], "[[Letter to Mr Joukes|Letter to S.E.O. Joukes, 28 August 1967]]"</ref>


== Portrayal in Adaptations ==
The [[Quenya]] form of her name is not entirely certain, but in his Quenya greeting, Aragorn refers to her again as "Arwen" (''Arwen vanimelda, namárië!'').<ref>{{FR|Farewell}}</ref> This suggests that the form '''Arwen''' itself is also coincidentally a valid, or at least understandable, Quenya calque (using ''[[ar]]-'', stem ''Arwend-''). 
<center><gallery>
 
File:Arwen viv lotr.JPG|<small><center>''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)]]''</small></center>
Her [[epessë]], '''[[Undómiel]]''', means "Evenstar", from ''[[Undómë]]'' "evening twilight" and ''[[elen|el]]'' "star".
File:The Lord of the Rings - The Motion Picture Trilogy - Arwen 2.jpg|<small><center>[[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]</small></center>
 
File:Arwen-LOTRO.jpg|<small><center>[[Arwen]] in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''.</small></center>
==Portrayal in adaptations==
</gallery></center>
{{Gallery
'''1978: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)]]'':'''
|title=Arwen in adaptations
|height=150
|width=250
|lines=2
|File:Arwen viv lotr.JPG|[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings (film series) - Arwen 3.jpg|[[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]
|File:Arwen-LOTRO.jpg|[[Arwen]] in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
}}
'''1978: [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]:'''
:Arwen does not appear.
:Arwen does not appear.


'''1981: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|BBC Radio's The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
:Arwen is voiced by [[Sonia Fraser]].
:Arwen is voiced by [[Sonia Fraser]].


'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|Vivendi's The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:Arwen appears in Rivendell after the [[Council of Elrond]]. She has a brief dialogue with Aragorn, and recites several lines from the [[The Riddle of Strider|Riddle of Strider]]. No voice actress is specified, but it is likely [[Kath Soucie]].  
:Arwen appears in Rivendell after the [[Council of Elrond]]. She has a brief dialogue with Aragorn, and recites several lines from the [[The Riddle of Strider|Riddle of Strider]]. No voice actress is specified, but it is likely [[Kath Soucie]].  


'''2001-3: [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]:'''
'''2001-03: [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]:'''
{{cleanup}}
:Arwen is played by [[Liv Tyler]]. Various additional scenes pertaining to Arwen are inserted, some of which deviate from the books and some of which seem inspired by ''[[The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen]]''.


:In the first film, she sneaks up to find Aragorn and single-handedly rescues [[Frodo Baggins]] from the [[Nazgûl|Black Riders]] at [[Bruinen]], thwarting them with a sudden flood, summoned by an incantation. In the book, it was [[Glorfindel]] who put Frodo on horseback and sent him alone to flee the Black Riders, and Elrond and [[Gandalf]] who arranged the flood. Also, in the book, Frodo makes his own stand against the Black Riders; in the movie Arwen defends him. During this flight, Arwen wields the sword [[Hadhafang]], stated to have once been wielded by her father in film merchandise. This sword, however, does not appear in the books at all; in fact, in the books, Arwen is never mentioned as armed but she ''could'' have armed and defended herself as needed; see below.
Arwen is played by [[Liv Tyler]]. Various additional scenes pertaining to Arwen are inserted, some of which deviate from the books and some of which seem inspired by ''[[The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen]]''.  


:Following the aforementioned scenes, the deviations include a scene in which Aragorn has a dream about Arwen in which they kiss, a scene where Arwen has an argument with her father about leaving for [[Valinor]], and a scene where she actually departs for Valinor and then suddenly returns when she sees an image of her future son, Eldarion. In the books, it can hardly have been surprising to Arwen that she and Aragorn might have children together, since she herself is the descendant of two similar unions.
In the first film, she rescues [[Frodo Baggins]] from the [[Nazgûl|Black Riders]] at [[Bruinen]], thwarting them with a sudden flood, summoned by an incantation. In the book, it was [[Glorfindel]] who put Frodo on horseback and sent him alone to flee the Black Riders, and Elrond and [[Gandalf]] arranged the flood. Also, in the book, Frodo defends himself against the Black Riders, whereas in the movie Arwen defends him.  Arwen wields the sword [[Hadhafang]],a non-canonical sword that belonged to her father.  


:Also, and perhaps most importantly, she apparently becomes sick with grief in the film version of ''The Return of the King'' — possibly over Aragorn's seemingly hopeless cause and his impending death — soon after she rides back from the road to the [[Grey Havens]]. Elrond takes the reforged [[Narsil]], now [[Andúril]], to Aragorn at Dunharrow, and tells him that her fate has become bound with [[the One Ring]], and that she is dying. However, no explanation is ever given for these statements, not even in the Extended Editions. Later, after the Ring is destroyed, Arwen shows up at Aragorn's coronation without any signs of illness.
There are  scene in which Aragorn has a dream about Arwen in which they kiss, a scene where Arwen has an argument with her father about leaving for [[Valinor]], and a scene where she actually departs for Valinor and then changes her mind and returns when she sees a vision of her future son, Eldarion.
 
In addition, towards the end of the cinematic trilogy she apparently becomes sick with grief possibly over Aragorn's seemingly hopeless cause and his impending death. Elrond takes the reforged [[Narsil]], now [[Andúril]], to Aragorn at Dunharrow, and tells him that her fate has become bound with [[the One Ring]], and that she is dying. However, no explanation is ever given for these statements. Later, after the Ring is destroyed, Arwen is present at Aragorn's coronation without any signs of illness.


'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
Line 87: Line 112:


'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'':'''
'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'':'''
:Arwen resides in Rivendell, where players can discuss with her both historical and present subjects. While spotting appearance of [[Liv Tyler]], her role is closer to the book that in the movie: for example, she provides Halbarad and the Grey Company the banner she had made for Aragorn, an event omitted from movie adaptation.
:Arwen resides in Rivendell, where players can discuss with her both historical and present subjects. While spotting appearance of [[Liv Tyler]], her role is closer to the book that in the movie: for example, she provides Halbarad and the Grey Company the banner she had made for Aragorn, an event omitted from movie adaptation. She is voiced by [[Courtenay Taylor]].
 
==Reaction to Jackson's portrayal==
{{sources}}
{{cleanup}}
[[File:Gregor Roffalski - Arwen.jpg|thumb|Arwen Evenstar]]
Arwen had a very small visible role in the books outside of the [[The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen|Appendix]] (due to Tolkien conceiving the character late in the writing; Aragorn was originally supposed to marry Éowyn, as related in ''[[The History of Middle-earth]]''). In addition to making Arwen a more visible character, the change employs the principle of "economy of characters". Characters like [[Glorfindel]] (the Elf who helps Frodo by lending him his horse and later aiding his companions in driving the Ringwraiths into the water in the book), who appear once and perform only a few tasks, are often excised from film interpretations.
 
In earlier copies of the script (when the movies were supposed to be filmed in two parts under a different production company), Arwen actually fought in the [[Battle of the Hornburg|Battle of Helm's Deep]] and brought the sword [[Andúril]] to Aragorn. Some attribute the elimination of her character from the sequence to an early script leak. Another story is that [[Liv Tyler]] herself felt that the character's involvement in Helm's Deep was inappropriate, and convinced Jackson and his team to leave her out of the sequence, although the team did film at least part of her planned appearance at Helm's Deep.
 
These changes have met with mixed reactions. Many fans were upset because they seemed to pander to the lowest common denominator — that in order to make Arwen a "worthwhile" or "strong" character, she had to be a warrior — while in the books, her strength stemed from her brave choice to forsake immortality and live a mortal life with Aragorn, which did not involve martial skill. Furthermore, there was already a skilled female warrior present in the story — namely Éowyn, but she first appears in the second part of the film trilogy.  Some fans felt it odd to make it a point to insert a female warrior into a story which already had a prominent one, because this detracted from Éowyn's bravery in riding to battle. Also, her dominance at the Ford scene detracted from Frodo's bravery in the book (though admittedly the film Frodo was barely conscious - a case of Jackson "upping the ante").  However, in the second and third films in which Éowyn appears, Arwen's martial abilities were not shown at all.
 
Some criticize ''The Lord of the Rings'' for including few named female characters (though of course unnamed women were present, along with unnamed men) and thus accuse Tolkien of sexism. However, in the essay ''Laws and Customs among the Eldar'', which appears in ''[[Morgoth's Ring]]'', Tolkien wrote that male and female Elves were in fact viewed in Elven society as equals, save for the fact that only the females were capable of childbearing and were thus viewed as literally holding the future of their people in their hands. It was for this reason that they traditionally refrained from going to war (although they were still trained in all the aspects of combat taught to male Elves), usually occupying themselves during wartime as healers. As the text itself stated:
 
:''In all such things, not concerned with the bringing forth of children, the ''neri'' and ''nissi'' (that is, the men and women) of the Eldar are equal – unless it be in this (as they themselves say) that for the ''nissi'' the making of things new is for the most part shown in the forming of their children, so that invention and change is otherwise mostly brought about by the ''neri''. There are, however, no matters which among the Eldar only a ''nér'' can think or do, or others with which only a ''nís'' is concerned. There are indeed some differences between the natural inclinations of ''neri'' and ''nissi'', and other differences that have been established by custom (varying in place and in time, and in the several races of the Eldar). For instance, the arts of healing, and all that touches on the care of the body, are among the Eldar most practised by the ''nissi''; whereas it was the elven-men who bore arms at need. And the Eldar deemed that the dealing of death, even when lawful or under necessity, diminished the power of healing, and that the virtue of the ''nissi'' in this matter was due rather to their abstaining from hunting or war than to any special power that went with their womanhood. Indeed in dire straits or desperate defence, the ''nissi'' fought valiantly, and there was less difference in strength in speed between elven-men and elven-women that had not borne child that is seen among mortals. On the other hand many elven-men were great healers and skilled in the lore of living bodies, though such men abstained from hunting, and went not to war until the last need.'' '''''(Morgoth's Ring, The Second Phase, Laws and Customs Among the Eldar)'''''


== See Also ==
== See Also ==
Line 107: Line 118:


{{references}}
{{references}}
[[Category:House of Elrond]]
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Feminine names]]
[[Category:Fourth Age characters]]
[[Category:Half-elven]]
[[Category:House of Finarfin]]
[[Category:House of Finarfin]]
[[Category:House of Olwë]]
[[Category:Gondorians]]
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Noldor]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]
[[Category:Quenya names]]
[[Category:Quenya names]]
[[Category:Feminine names]]
[[de:Arwen]]
[[de:Arwen]]
[[fr:encyclo:personnages:elfes:semi-elfes:arwen]]
[[fr:encyclo:personnages:elfes:semi-elfes:arwen]]
[[fi:Arwen]]
[[fi:Arwen]]

Revision as of 10:49, 8 October 2017

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Arwen
Half-elf
John Howe - Arwen.jpg
"Arwen" by John Howe
Biographical Information
Other namesUndómiel (Q, "Evenstar")
TitlesQueen of Gondor
LocationRivendell, Lothlórien, Reunited Kingdom
LanguagePrimarily Sindarin[1]
BirthT.A. 241
RuleT.A. 3019 - Fo.A. 120
DeathFo.A. 121 (aged 2,901)
Cerin Amroth, Lothlórien
Family
HeritageHalf-elven father, Elf mother
ParentageElrond and Celebrían
SiblingsElladan and Elrohir
SpouseAragorn
ChildrenEldarion and several daughters
Physical Description
GenderFemale
Hair colorDark[2]
Eye colorGrey[2]
ClothingGrey raiment with girdle of silver leaves;[2] silver and blue mantle[3]
GalleryImages of Arwen
"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, Many Meetings[2]

Arwen Undómiel (Arwen is S, pron. [ˈarwen]; Undómiel is Q, pron. [unˈdoːmi.el]), often called Arwen Evenstar, was the betrothed of Aragorn II. She is the daughter of Elrond and Celebrían.

She was considered to be the fairest of the Children of Ilúvatar, resembling Lúthien of the First Age who would never again appear in Middle-earth. Her romance with Aragorn was reminiscent of that between the Man Beren and the Elf Lúthien. Few other marriages between Man and Elf were known. Like Lúthien, she rejected her Elven immortality to marry Aragorn and die with him.

History

Anna Lee - Evenstar

Arwen was born in T.A. 241 and was the younger sister of Elladan and Elrohir. From her mother she inherited the Elfstone.[4] As a Half-elven she shared the right of her father to choose her fate. She lived most of her life in her homestead in Imladris or Lothlórien with her grandparents.[3]

Her father fostered the sons of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, who were the exiled Heirs of Isildur.[5] It was in T.A. 2952 when she returned from Lothlórien to Rivendell when she met a young foster-son of her father, Aragorn. The young Dúnadan fell in love when he first saw her, but Elrond insisted that Arwen could not marry Aragorn until he became king of both Gondor and Arnor. Whatever Arwen's choice, she would be parted from either Elrond or Aragorn for ever.[3]

Stephen Hickman - Aragorn and Arwen

It was not until they met many years later in Lórien that she returned in love, and in T.A. 2980 they plighted their troth on Cerin Amroth. Aragorn gave her the Ring of Barahir. After Aragorn left for his travels and deeds, Arwen continually served as inspiration and motivation for him, who had to become King before he could wed her and devoted many long years to this cause.[3]

When Aragorn brought the Hobbits to Rivendell, during the War of the Ring, he reunited with Arwen. Frodo saw Aragorn with her at one point—the first hint of their relationship.[2] Later, when the Fellowship came to Lothlórien, Aragorn remembered their earlier meeting on Cerin Amroth. When the Fellowship departed and Galadriel offered them her gifts, Arwen's Elfstone was the gift for Aragorn, which he would wear ever after.[6]. This giving held the function of a wedding gift from the family of the bride to the groom, foretelling his marriage to Arwen.[7]

When Éowyn fell in love with Aragorn it was his fidelity to Arwen that forbade him from reciprocating, thereby motivating Éowyn's subsequent actions.[8]

While Aragorn was out in the War, Arwen made, with her hands, the Livery of Elendil in mithril, gems and gold on black cloth. This was taken by her brothers and a group of Rangers of the North to Aragorn before taking the Paths of the Dead, and was an encouraging sign for him to take the difficult path.[9] It was unfurled at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields to triumphantly announce the King's return.[10]

Janka Latečková - King and his Queen

Aragorn wed Arwen after the War of the Ring when he finally became a King of the new Reunited Kingdom. Arwen chose a fate different from her father's and did not sail to the West. As Queen of Gondor, Arwen bore one son, Eldarion, and several daughters. Even after Aragorn's death, Arwen did not repent, and eventually gave up her life in Fo.A. 121, at Cerin Amroth in Lórien, and she was buried there.[3]

Genealogy

Arwen in Rivendell

Arwen was actually a very distant relative of Aragorn, being his first cousin sixty-three times removed. By their marriage, the long-sundered lines of the Half-elven were joined.[11] Their union also served to unite and preserve the bloodlines of the Three Kings of the High Elves (Ingwë, Finwë, and brothers Olwë and Elwë) as well as the only line with Maiarin blood through Arwen's great-great grandmother, Melian.

Finarfin
b. Y.T. 1230
 
Eärwen
b. Y.T.
 
Galadhon
b. F.A.
 
Tuor
b. F.A. 472
 
Idril
b. Y.T.
 
Dior
F.A. 470 - 506
 
Nimloth
d. F.A. 506
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Galadriel
b. Y.T. 1362
 
 
 
Celeborn
b. F.A.
 
 
 
Eärendil
b. F.A. 503
 
 
 
 
 
Elwing
b. F.A. 503
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Celebrían
b. S.A.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Elrond
b. F.A. 532
 
 
Elros
F.A. 532 - S.A. 442
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Elladan
b. T.A. 130
 
Elrohir
b. T.A. 130
 
ARWEN
T.A. 241 - Fo.A. 121
 
 
 
Aragorn II
T.A. 2931 - Fo.A. 120
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Eldarion
b. Fo.A.
 
unknown
daughters
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Etymology

Arwen means "Noble Maiden" in Sindarin (from ara- = "noble" and gwenn = "maiden").[12] Tolkien remarked that it also means "greatly blessed" in Welsh.[13]

The Quenya form of her name is not entirely certain, but in his Quenya greeting, Aragorn refers to her again as "Arwen" (Arwen vanimelda, namárië!).[14] This suggests that the form Arwen itself is also coincidentally a valid, or at least understandable, Quenya calque (using ar-, stem Arwend-).

Her epessë, Undómiel, means "Evenstar", from Undómë "evening twilight" and el "star".

Portrayal in adaptations

Arwen in adaptations

1978: The Lord of the Rings (1978 film):

Arwen does not appear.

1981: The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series):

Arwen is voiced by Sonia Fraser.

2002: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game):

Arwen appears in Rivendell after the Council of Elrond. She has a brief dialogue with Aragorn, and recites several lines from the Riddle of Strider. No voice actress is specified, but it is likely Kath Soucie.

2001-03: The Lord of the Rings (film series):

Arwen is played by Liv Tyler. Various additional scenes pertaining to Arwen are inserted, some of which deviate from the books and some of which seem inspired by The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen.

In the first film, she rescues Frodo Baggins from the Black Riders at Bruinen, thwarting them with a sudden flood, summoned by an incantation. In the book, it was Glorfindel who put Frodo on horseback and sent him alone to flee the Black Riders, and Elrond and Gandalf arranged the flood. Also, in the book, Frodo defends himself against the Black Riders, whereas in the movie Arwen defends him. Arwen wields the sword Hadhafang,a non-canonical sword that belonged to her father.

There are scene in which Aragorn has a dream about Arwen in which they kiss, a scene where Arwen has an argument with her father about leaving for Valinor, and a scene where she actually departs for Valinor and then changes her mind and returns when she sees a vision of her future son, Eldarion.

In addition, towards the end of the cinematic trilogy she apparently becomes sick with grief possibly over Aragorn's seemingly hopeless cause and his impending death. Elrond takes the reforged Narsil, now Andúril, to Aragorn at Dunharrow, and tells him that her fate has become bound with the One Ring, and that she is dying. However, no explanation is ever given for these statements. Later, after the Ring is destroyed, Arwen is present at Aragorn's coronation without any signs of illness.

2007: The Lord of the Rings Online:

Arwen is a non-playable character and can be found in a gazebo overlooking the path from Rivendell into the Misty Mountains. She was not involved in the main storyline - or any side-quests for that matter - until 2010, when she passed Halbarad the banner she had made for Aragorn during the Epic Book Oath of the Rangers.

2011: The Lord of the Rings: War in the North:

Arwen resides in Rivendell, where players can discuss with her both historical and present subjects. While spotting appearance of Liv Tyler, her role is closer to the book that in the movie: for example, she provides Halbarad and the Grey Company the banner she had made for Aragorn, an event omitted from movie adaptation. She is voiced by Courtenay Taylor.

See Also

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix F, "The Languages and Peoples of the Third Age", "Of the Elves"
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Many Meetings" Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Many" defined multiple times with different content
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen"
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn"
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Eriador, Arnor, and the Heirs of Isildur"
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Farewell to Lórien"
  7. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Three. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: (II) The Second Phase: Laws and Customs among the Eldar"
  8. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Houses of Healing"
  9. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Passing of the Grey Company"
  10. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields"
  11. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings"
  12. Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 205
  13. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Letter to S.E.O. Joukes, 28 August 1967"
  14. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Farewell to Lórien"