Eowyn

Eowyn
Shieldmaiden
from The Lord of the Rings (book) by J.R.R. Tolkien,The Lord of the Rings (movies)
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Eowyn is a fictional character in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings.

Storyline

Niece of King Théoden of Rohan, she chafed at the restrictions placed on women in her society, striving to be a shieldmaiden of reknown, just as her brother Éomer was a doughty warrior.

Éowyn became the nursemaid of her uncle, Théoden, and while serving Théoden, she met Aragorn, the future King, and fell in love with him, unaware that he was betrothed to Arwen.

During the flight to the refuge of Helm's Deep, she was relegated to caring for the women and children, despite her desire to guard the group against attack as the men did.

After Aragorn and his companions took The Paths of the Dead at Dunharrow, she was told to go back to the women while the men rode off to the aid of Gondor. She rebelled against this stricture and disguised herself as a man, Dernhelm, to ride off with the troops. (In the movie, she isn't disguised but somehow escapes the notice of her Uncle and brother.)

In battle with the forces of Sauron, she slew the Witch King (a Nazgûl), fulfilling Glorfindel's prophecy that the Witch King would never die by the hand of man. She was gravely wounded in the fight, and was at death's door until Aragorn healed her in both mind and spirit with an infusion of athelas (a.k.a. kingsfoil). She was still too weak to travel when Aragorn rode off with the Host of Gondor to the final battle with the forces of Sauron.

She rested in the Houses of Healing with Faramir, Steward of Gondor, also recuperating from grievous wounds, and her eyes were opened. She realized that she loved this gentle man and declared to him, "I will be a shieldmaiden no longer, nor vie with the great Riders, nor take joy only in the songs of slaying. I will be a healer, and love all things that grow and are not barren. No longer do I desire to be a queen." (from The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien, Book 6, Chapter 5 - The Steward and the King (c. page 300) Text Copyright © 1955 by George Allen and Unwin Ltd.)

Éowyn is an ambiguous figure, as are many of Tolkien's women, on the one hand courageous and noble, yet willing in the end to give up her previous ambitions in order to take on the more traditionally female roles of healer, wife, and mother.

Eowyn in the movies

Éowyn is played by actress Miranda Otto in the recent movie adaptation of The Lord of the Rings. This adaptation resulted in certain changes to her character.

Among the more amusing conjectures permitted by the ellipses unavoidable in transferring such a huge book to the screen is Éowyn's consequent becoming queen of Rohan. This is because her brother's claims to the throne, which in the book preponderated over hers and ended her temporarily leadership status upon his return, were omitted from the screenplay. In a line invented for the movie, her uncle, King Theoden, leaves the succession to her before departing for battle:

"I have left instruction. The people are to follow your rule in my stead. Take up my seat in the Golden Hall. Long may you defend Edoras if the battle goes ill."

Sources

• Transcript of Return of the King