Love and Hope in Arwen’s Character

Women and Romance in Lord of the Rings: Part 2

 

Tauriel’s character in the Hobbit Trilogy was a much needed woman in an otherwise male dominated story, but even though her character was written from scratch to fit into the existing story of the Hobbit, her character was stunted by a shallow love triangle and an almost complete dependence on the love stories to exist as a character. At first glance, Arwen’s character in the Lord of the Rings trilogy seems similar to negative aspects of Tauriel’s character, specifically her character’s dependence on romance to evolve her character. Though she becomes an interesting and meaningful character, for the most part, her love interest in Aragorn and Aragorn’s love for her are her only connections to the rest of the story. Other than her first scene rescuing Frodo, she is never included in the story other than when it is about her connection with Aragorn. Though her character is mostly unable to grow outside of the romance, significantly limiting her ability as a character, her character and her relationship is symbolic of the larger struggle against the darkness and death in Middle Earth. Unlike Tauriel’s shallow and forced romance, Arwen’s story resonates with the entire meaning of the trilogy as the characters fight against death and darkness. Though her character is built only around the romance, her role and the romance’s role is still crucial to the story of the Lord of the Rings.  

In the Lord of the Rings trilogy movie series, Arwen’s role starts out almost completely separate from her romantic relationship with Aragorn. Arwen appears after Frodo is stabbed with the blade of the Nazgul, and she rides Frodo to safety in Rivendell. In the books, this role of Frodo’s savior is played by Elrond, Arwen’s father, but this small change in the movies is a critical step in her character. Her first appearance is not as Aragorn’s love interest, but instead as a woman with incredible bravery, power, and skill. There are minor hints of their deeper connection when Aragorn attempts to take Frodo to Rivendell himself, saying, “The road is too dangerous.” This indicates his desire to protect her, but after Arwen reasserts herself as the faster rider, he only takes a moment more to accept her decision in the role. The scene does not dwell on their romance or Aragorn’s fear for the one he loves; instead, the scene quickly shifts to Arwen as the Nazgul chase her. This flight from the Nazgul demonstrates her courage, persistence, and skill. She is fleeing from nine of the servants of Sauron, some of the more powerful servants in his command, but she presses on, even managing to take all nine of them out temporarily as she calls upon the river. She demonstrates her own power and the power of the elves as the raging river in the form of a herd of galloping horses rises up and crashes down on the Nazgul, taking all nine of them out. Though she did not physically fight them as Aragorn did, she nevertheless demonstrates her power in a way that is completely separate from connection to other male characters. These two short scenes are not much on the general scale of the movie, but they are an important way to introduce and develop Arwen’s character independently from her romantic relationship with Aragorn. If Arwen had more scenes like this, establishing her as more than her romance with Aragorn, her character would be able to move beyond the romance and develop more complexities and nuances.

 After she saves Frodo, we only see Arwen through her romantic connection with Aragorn. The biggest issue with Arwen’s character is not that she is involved in a romance; it is that that is her only role in the story. Aragorn’s character is multifaceted. During the trilogy, we see his character explore his inner struggle with his bloodline and his role as Isildur’s heir. He is a member of the fellowship of the ring, and on his journey, he helps win many battles, even recruiting a hoard of ghosts. He gets amazing fight scenes and action along with wonderful character development throughout the story, and a significant and heartfelt part of this is his love story with Arwen. Arwen, on the other hand, only gets her love story with Aragorn to develop her. Granted, as a main protagonist, it is understandable that Aragorn will have more character development than Arwen, a supporting character, but therein lies the problem; there are no truly main character women since they all seem to be relegated to supporting roles, almost always in some sort of romance which keeps their storyline dependent on their male romance interest. Arwen’s character is part of one of the most heartfelt, sweet romances in fantasy as she sacrifices her immortality for the one she loves, but she is unable to evolve or change outside of the romantic plotline.

Arwen’s dependence on a romantic plot minimizes the potential growth of her character, but despite this flaw, it is still important to address that the romantic storyline should not be undermined. It is meaningful, profound, and extremely touching, and it creates character growth for both Arwen and Aragorn. The scenes involving Arwen and Aragorn’s relationship are powerful and well done, and their love story is one of the most beautiful love stories I have seen. Though it bothers me that her only role in the movie is as a love interest, she couldn’t be part of a more meaningful and wonderful love story. 

Arwen is a crucial part of Aragorn’s character development. She is like a blissful dream that he feels forced to leave behind. He even tells her that their love, “was a dream Arwen, nothing more,” as he tries to convince her to accompany the rest of her people out of Middle Earth. He puts her safety above his own interests and love for her. However, though he tries to leave her behind for her own well-being, Arwen still acts as a symbol of happiness and peace for him. In Aragorn’s dream in the Two Towers, Arwen touches the Evenstar necklace and says, “If you trust nothing else trust this, trust us.” Her Evenstar necklace is a symbol of their love and Aragorn’s hope throughout the movie, just as their larger love story is a symbol of how love and hope can prevail even in difficult times. When Aragorn nearly dies after falling off the cliff with the Warg, the necklace is left behind in the hands of the Orc, seeming to indicate that all hope is lost, yet Aragorn survives, awoken by a vision of Arwen as he floats to the rivers shores, and he returns to reclaim the necklace, therein renewing the hope. Even though Arwen was never physically present, their love for one another seems to have brought Aragorn back from life, demonstrating the extreme power that the romance holds for Aragorn. It also demonstrates the power that hope can have over despair and darkness. Near the end of the trilogy, Aragorn is crowned king of Gondor, finally owning up to the inner struggle with his heritage, and it is a symbol of the goodness and purity to come back to the land after all of the darkness. Though the coronation itself is important, the real pinnacle and heart of this scene is when Arwen emerges. They are finally allowed to be together, and both of them show true happiness. This, more than the falling white flower petals and smiling faces of the various ally troops is a symbol that the world will be able to feel happiness after so much bad has happened. Arwen and Aragorn’s relationship are a symbol of hope not just for Aragorn, but for the entire world in this last scene.

Arwen and Aragorn’s love is important to the entire trilogy, but her relationship forces her character to develop as she makes impossible decisions between life and death, immortality without her love or a mortal life with that love. Arwen is pressured by Elrond, her father, and Aragorn to leave Middle Earth so that she can survive safe in the Grey Havens. Elrond tells her to go before it is too late, telling her not to linger “when there is no hope” and she would only be staying doomed to “linger on in darkness and in doubt.” Elrond focuses on the darkness, telling her that “there is nothing for you here. Only death.” He dwells the negative and paints a picture of how even if Arwen and Aragorn’s relationship is able to continue, it is still doomed in death and despair. This scene where Elrond is pleading for Arwen to go to the Grey Havens also introduces another layer of her character. Elrond asks her, “do I not also have your love?” and now Arwen has a consideration separate from her romance with Aragorn. This is not a simple matter for her to decide, instead developing her struggle of immortality and mortality, love for a father and love for a romantic partner. This relationship still develops Arwen through her link to a man, but it creates a new and important layer to her character as it is not a romantic love but instead a familial love. Her character is not all starry eyed for Aragorn with no other considerations, and her struggle is clear as she tries to make a decision.  

At first, she seems to choose Elrond and immortality in the Grey Havens. She seems to give in to the ideas about death and darkness, but this decision is interrupted with a vision of her life with Aragorn and their child. During this vision, the Evenstar necklace is visible on the child, again acting as a symbol of hope and life as it did for Aragorn. Arwen reverses her decision, and through her romance with Aragorn, she sees a larger picture that there is life and hope in the Middle Earth. Arwen’s future may have death in it, but as she says to Elrond, “there is also life.” By choosing a mortal life, Arwen chooses to have hope and life, even if it will be a shorter life. She says to Aragorn, "I would rather share one lifetime with you than face all the ages of this world alone." She chooses her love over eternal life, and she refuses to hide from despair, risking the darkness for the possibility of light and happiness with Aragorn and their child. Arwen’s story, though for her character is focused entirely around her romance, is also symbolic and incredibly meaningful for the rest of the story of Middle Earth. Their romance does not save the world in itself, but it demonstrates that light, life, and hope can remain even in dark times, and that life and hope can prevail over the darkness. When she chooses a mortal life, she actually chooses life and hope instead of fleeing from the evil.

 Arwen is a fascinating character that explores the complications of life and death, different types of love and relationships, and sacrifices made for love, but she is still almost completely reliant on her relationship with Aragorn to explore these ideas. If there were more scenes like her first appearance, her character may have been able to develop more complex layers and ideas beyond the romance. Though I still take issue with her romance being the only developed part of her character, I also want to reiterate how much I adore Arwen and Aragorn’s love for one another. It is symbolic, thoughtful, and heartfelt, and though I wish there was more to Arwen’s character, I am still very glad that we have Arwen and her romance with Aragorn.

This is the second part of a four part post. The other three are Tauriel, Galadriel, and Eowyn. For the full post once completed, click here.