"You don't have to put a sword in her hands to make her strong"  ~ Liv Tyler on Arwen, The Two Towers Extended Edition DVD ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Some people think that Arwen has no importance in the Lotr books/movies. Some may think she is just a pretty little doll who is famous for her family line and her elven looks. There are many aspects of Arwen we often overlook, or in many cases, do not understand. For example, what is the theme of Arwen? It definately isn't shieldmaiden. Arwen and Eowyn: Is it fair to judge two so very different people? Below, you will find exerts from the Lord of the Rings (Jrr Tolkien), an Arwen or Eowyn 'debate' and the real story behind Arwen Undomiel. :: Arwen in Lord of the Rings by JRR. Tolkien :: In the middle of the table, against the woven cloths upon the wall, there was a chair under a canopy, and there sat a lady fair to look upon, and so like was she in form of womanhood to Elrond that Frodo guessed that she was one of his close kindred. Young she was and yet not so. The braids of her dark hair were touched by no frost; her white arms and clear face were flawless and smooth, and the light of stars were in her bright eyes, grey as a cloudless night; yet queenly she looked, and thought and knowledge were in her glance, as of one who has known many things that the years bring. Above her brow her head was covered with a cap of silver lace netted with small gems, glittering white; but her soft grey raiment had no ornament save a girdle of leaves wrought with silver. - pg 221 So it was that Frodo saw her whom few mortals had yet seen; Arwen, daughter of Elrond in whom it is said that the likeness of Luthien had come on earth again; and she was called Undomiel, for she was the Evenstar of her people. - pg 221 And Frodo when he saw her (Arwen) come glimmering in the evening, with stars on her brow and a sweet frangrance about her, was moved with great wonder, and he said to Gandalf, "At last i understand why we have waited! Now not day only shall be beloved, but night shall be beautiful and blessed and all its fear pass away!". - pg 951 ...And Elrond surrendered the sceptre, and laid the hand of his daughter in the hand of the King, and together they went up into the High City, and all the stars flowered in the night sky. 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 951  “You shall judge” said Eomer “For there are certain rash words concerning the Lady of the Golden Wood that lie still between us. And now I have seen her with my won eyes”. “Well lord” said Gimli “And what you say now?” “Alas!” said Eomer “I will not say that she is the fairest lady that lives”. “Then I must go for my axe” said Gimli. “But first I will plead this excuse” said Eomer “Had I seen her in other company I would have said all that you could wish. But now I will put Queen Arwen first, and I am ready to do battle on my own part with any who deny me. Shall I call for my sword?" Then Gimli bowed low “Nay, you have chosen the Evening; but my love is given to the Morning. And my heart forebodes that soon it will pass away forever”.  – Pg 953 He (Aragorn) gives the Star of the Dunedain to Master Samwise, and Elanor is made a maid of honour to Queen Arwen. - pg 1072 Appendix B ~ ~ ~  Reading those, which one do you think Arwen is? A warrior princess or elven princess? Many today think she's a weaker version of Eowyn, simply because she 'doesn't kick ass' as some put it. Arwen was never that, and never will be. She isn't the female character who goes into war, that is Eowyn. Arwen is the character of hope, faith and sacrifice. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~Arwen's Character Discussed~ Arwen's role is discussed among the Lord of the Rings team along with Tolkien specialists. An interesting read and supports this page's viewpoint perfectly, visit the page here > Arwen's Character Discussed ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Arwen or Eowyn? ~ Before answering the question, read the following article i wrote. Then you tell me. Arwen Undomiel, or, also known as The Evenstar. What is the first thing you think of when you see or hear 'Arwen'? Are you one of those who despise her, because she took up too much of Eowyn's spotlight? Or are you the one who loves her for her beauty and faith? OR, maybe you don't even take any notice of her, and see her as 'just another character'. Whichever one you truely are, or whatever you may think, read this article and tell me if you changed any little bit of your viewpoint at all. For years, especially after the first of the three films were made, there has been the age old debate of 'Arwen or Eowyn'? For those with little LotR wisdom, or those who are just plain ignorant, they would think Eowyn and Arwen are the same, and that one is 'better' than the other. For those of us who actually have researched enough into both characters, we know that we should see both characters seperately. Eowyn leads a totally different life to Arwen. She was a shieldmaiden at heart and was brought up alongside men. She wanted to show what she was capable of and wanted to fight. She gave us the 'girl power' theme through the movies. Her story ends happily, with a love deep and true with Faramir. We can see Eowyn as 'our heroine' in the face of war. But, Arwen, on the other hand, was quite the opposite. She has more of a 'behind the scenes' role in the trilogy.She's an elven princess with such faith we have never seen before. Her life was a romantic story, from beginning to end. But her love story was also very sad, yet beautiful. Arwen is really the first character we see who portrays the theme of 'sacrifice'. Arwen gives up her life, for the one she loves. She has fallen in love with Aragorn, a mortal man. It was rare for a mortal to wed an elf, and it was Arwen's legacy to follow in Luthien's path she carved long ago. If you research thoroughly into their lives and their love, you will see how haunting Arwen and Aragorn's love story was. Their love sets the 'romance' part of the trilogy, even the Eowyn - Farimir fans have to admit that! The reason why Aragorn never gave up his hope, was because he knew he would would the battle and finally live he life he had been dreaming of since he first met Arwen in the forest. Arwen, we see, shows great faith in the movies, in her love and for Aragorn. Their last meeting before Aragorn went to war, and had a possibility to never return, was on top of Cerin Amroth. There, they made a vow to each other. Many years after that day, after King Aragorn and Queen Arwen shared many happy years together, and Aragorn soon passed away; Arwen went back to Cerin Amroth, and laid herself there on the green bed. There, passed Arwen Undomiel, Evenstar of her people. I ask you all to read The Tale of Arwen and Aragorn, and you might understand better of what i just wrote. Now that you may know a little more on her life, you must tell me now. Has your viewpoint changed a little at all?  Sometimes, there are really passionate people out there, who really want to announce to the world "Eowyn is better", but unforunately, without research or logic, they make a rather big fool out of themselves. A key example many try to persudae me with is this site: http://www.geocities.com/chibi_auddy_chan/reasonswhy.html . However, i almost feel a little sorry for them - imagine all the humiliation they receive from such weak and shallow 'arguments'...  Eowyn is in an opposite world to Arwen. Both are important in their own ways, one being more 'out there' than the other. We can't stereotype 'more important' as the one who kills or fights most - or we'd end up labelling all the murderers of the world 'heroes'. Can we really compare the two women? ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~The Evenstar Pendant~ Yes, believe it or not, her necklace, also known as the 'Evenstar" has a lot of history in both the movies and books. Go to The Evenstar Pendant for an in depth view of it. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~