Lord of the Vocations: Part I

Much has been said by Lord of the Rings geeks comparing the book to the movie. Most fans, while loving both, have their slight disappointment on how their favorite bits of the book did or didn’t translate onto the big screen. Far be it for me to complain about such things, but there are some interesting things happening when it comes to the duties and vocations of the two celebrated couples: Aragorn and Arwen, and Faramir and Eowyn. This post may not cover all I’m itching to ponder out about it, but maybe I’ll make into two posts...

I might start off by saying that, considering that there are so few women in the story of LOTR, it seems that the movie-makers felt that they couldn’t afford to give them too many faults. Being so few in number, they had to be the epitome of self-sacrifice, wisdom, and not to mention battle prowess (hmm). I kind of wish that the character of Eowyn was portrayed in the fuller and richer range of character as she was in the book. In the book, she is rightly given a place of honor, esteem, nobility, and pity, but the movie somewhat fails to show the dark side of Eowyn– the side that Faramir finally rebukes, calls into light, and ultimately frees her from. The hard job that she has faced in taking care of Theoden in his dotage has caused her anger at the lack of honor that both she and her people are experiencing; then she got her hopes up when Aragorn came along and thought that she loved him, only to be turned down; finally, in her despair and desire for glory, she abandons the charge given her and recklessly enters the battle, which although providentially turns out well, was dangerous, nearly fatal. A rich and complex character.

Now, the movie Eowyn, though tormented by Wormtongue, is shown to be entirely faithful to the king. Sure, there’s a bit of a squabble when she wants to fight the Wargs instead of the equally dangerous task of leading the people to Helm’s Deep (not in the book). But she concedes, which makes her almost justified in the mind of the viewer when she tosses aside the king’s charge to lead the people of Rohan if Theoden and her brother die, riding off to battle instead. She gets more "motivation" to do this when Eomer condescendingly tells her that women and hobbits know nothing of war and would do best to run away. In reality, Eowyn did something terrible by ignoring her duty and calling in order to pursue her own desires. If Theoden, Eomer, and Eowyn had all died in the battle (which seems likely at several points), who would have led Rohan through the troubled times ahead?

Aragorn tries to talk some sense into her in a chapter that deals in length with vocation, The Passing of the Grey Company from The Return of the King:
‘Lord,’ she said, ‘if you must go, then let me ride in your following. For I am weary of skulking in the hills, and wish to face peril and battle.’
‘Your duty is with your people,’ he answered.
‘Too often I have heard of duty,’ she cried. ‘But am I not of the House of Eorl, a shieldmaiden and not a dry-nurse? I have waited on faltering feet long enough. Since they falter no longer, it seems, may I not now spend my life as I will?’
‘Few may do that with honour,’ he answered. ‘But as for you, lady: did you not accept the charge to govern the people until their lord’s return? If you had not been chosen, then some marshal or captain would have been set in the same place, and he could not ride away from his charge, were he weary of it or no.’
‘Shall I always be chosen?’ she said bitterly. ‘Shall I always be left behind when the Riders depart, to mind the house while they win renown, and find food and beds when they return?’
‘A time may come soon,’ said he, ‘when none will return. Then there will be need of valour without renown, for none shall remember the deeds that are done in the last defence of your homes. Yet the deeds will not be less valiant because they are unpraised.’
And she answered: ‘All your words are but to say: you are a woman, and your part is in the house.’ -pg. 794

There’s a lot going on here. First, Aragorn reminds Eowyn of her true vocation. Eowyn is tired of duty, and indeed she has the sympathy of Gandalf and others in this regard. But her duty is still real and may not be ignored. Few may "live their lives as they will" with honor. Aragorn, who has tirelessly fought against Sauron for decades while living in obscurity, though with every right to the throne of Gondor, is the model for true servanthood, humility, and duty. Aragorn is not treating her as a "mere woman" who can never have any fun or do anything important. In the contrary, Aragorn exalts both the leadership role that Eowyn has been given as well as the most seemingly dull and ignoble jobs, such as a mother and homemaker, which are also imbued with honor and dignity despite Eowyn's disdain.

Faramir is the first one who causes Eowyn to realize the problem. From The Houses of Healing:
"... ‘What do you wish?’ [Faramir] asked again. ‘If it lies in my power, I will do it.’
‘I would have you command this Warden, and bid him let me go,’ she said; but though her words were still proud, her heart faltered, and for the first time she doubted herself. She guessed that this tall man, both stern and gentle, might think her merely wayward, like a child that has not the firmness of mind to go on with a dull task to the end.
...‘It is too late, lady, to follow the Captains, even if you had the strength,’ said Faramir. ...‘You and I, we must endure with patience the hours of waiting.’" -pg. 972

Faramir is another truly admirable example of one who has been handed a rough job. His jerkish father scorns him and sends him on impossible missions, while mourning his brother, who succumbed to the temptation of the Ring. He’s had very difficult decisions to make. Yet he is faithful to his calling: "Then all were silent. But at length Faramir said: ‘I do not oppose your will, sire. Since you are robbed of Boromir, I will go and do what I can in his stead–if you command it.’" -pg. 825

And what about Arwen? She’s given loads of extra screen time in the movie, of whom not much is said in the book. You can hardly blame the movie-makers for that. In the book, she is not viewed as doing much more than delivering a hand-sewn banner to Aragorn, and getting married at the end. In the movie, she’s a woman of action: defying her father, even forcing his hand and persuading him to take wiser courses of action; galloping Frodo to safety across the Fords and swinging her sword around; sending comforting visions to Aragorn and refusing to break up with him when he wants to. Being a woman who stays at home, sews a lot, waits patiently in relative obscurity, and gets married isn’t really good enough, vocation-wise, for feminist sensibilities. In reality, I think that Arwen’s patient silence in the background of the book speaks more to her character than pushy movie-Arwen. The characters in the book who are bent on being faithful to their vocations, the ones who learn to wait patiently through hard tasks without rashness and bitterness, are the ones who escape the nets of despair.

‘It is a gift that I bring you from the Lady of Rivendell,’ answereed Halbarad. ‘She wrought it in secret, and long was the making. But she also sends word to you: The days are now short. Either our hope cometh, or all hopes end. Therefore I send thee what I have made for thee. Fare well, Elfstone!’
And Aragorn said: ‘Now I know what you bear. Bear it still for me a while!’ And he turned and looked away to the North under the great stars, and then he fell silent and spoke no more while the night’s journey lasted. -pg. 784

And Aragorn the King Elessar wedded Arwen Undomiel in the City of the Kings upon the day of Midsummer, and the tale of their long waiting and labours was come to fulfilment. -pg. 985