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| More Faramir drabbles by Nesta | 8 Review(s) |
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| Rian Steelsheen | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 6/11/2010 |
| "And now comes the worst time of all, when for the first time I must send not only my lord into battle, but also my son" Poor Eowyn... I'm so glad you didn't make Eowyn a silly stubborn girl who would beg Faramir to let her go with him into battle (or who would go without his approval at all)! I wouldn't say women are more courageous than men, but there are many forms of courage, and I don't know how most men will cope if the places were exchanged... Somehow your story made me think of my history professor (a man), who said the birth of a child is just as hard for the father as for the mother, if not harder (of course all the girls protested vividly). It's interesting, since it's the only occasion the woman is the one who suffers physically whereas the man is the one who suffers mentally... Did Turin go to battle? And how did he and they all feel about it if he did? Author Reply: I think there was a touch of the silly stubborn girl about Eowyn in the book - or perhaps it would be better to say 'frustrated'. Evidently JRRT didn't want her to seem 'mannish', just a woman rebelling against the sort of narrow life she saw herself condemned to. Her life with Faramir wouldn't be narrow, and I don't think she'd be discontented if she didn't go to war, because she would have other worthwhile things to do. And she wouldn't have to consider going without his approval, because I don't think he'd forbid her to do things - he'd leave her to work out what was sensible and worthwhile and what wasn't. On the other hand, if there were a dire military crisis and Ithilien got invaded or something, I'm sure Eowyn would take up the sword again and would be as skilful as ever. I can't speak to childbirth, but I can't imagine fathers suffering as much as women do! I read somewhere that women actually are far better at bearing physical pain than men are, because women have to be made that way to have children at all. You know the way many men act as if they're half killed if they suffer a slight injury or illness? I have a half-written story about Turin and his attitude to war - must get it finished some time soon. He saw it all very differently, of course. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 3/24/2009 |
| One I think I have read before, elsewhere. Oh, so true! Too true. Author Reply: You can't help thinking about it that way, to my mind. A woman who cheerfully waves her man off to war, and really *is* cheerful, would not be a very loving one, would she? | |
| Linda Hoyland | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/23/2007 |
| This is so true and very touching. Author Reply: Awful being a woman, isn't it? Not much better being a fighting man really. Always the chance of getting skewered. | |
| AspenJules | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/21/2007 |
| Yes, Eowyn grows and learns what true courage is in her role of wife and mother. I don't see this as bitter at the end, but as her recognizing the different kinds of bravery, and that as unrecognized as it may be, the strength of the women who send their men (husbands *and* sons) is the greater. Impatient she may remain, but I *do* like to think of her as finding a happiness and contentment in her new role. Author Reply: I don't think Eowyn is bitter, just recognising what life is like, and what courage you need to face it. When she rode secretly with Theoden's army she felt she had nothing to lose: Ararogn had rejected her and the idea of staying in Rohan and doing nothing was unbearable. As a happily married woman with a child, she has everything to lose and realises that true courage lies in accepting this. | |
| phyloxena | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/21/2007 |
| Eowyn is still above others here. Now she finely found greater courage of women. I love the way you put her love and gratitude in this rather bitter reflection. And thanks for the update. Author Reply: I think Eowyn will always be above others. She's realised now what Aragorn rather clumsily tried to tell her in RoTK: that it can take more courage to stay behind and grit your teeth than to go out and do something heroic. Come to think of it, this is an interesting contrast with Denethor, who seems all too willing to stay behind in MT (despite being all dressed up in armour etc.) and send Faramir out into danger. | |
| Raksha The Demon | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/20/2007 |
A sad commentary on the duties of women. I would have hoped that Eowyn would be happier; but then again, I don't see her as the patient sort. Author Reply: I don't think Eowyn is naturally the patient sort, but she had patience forced on her when she was looking after Theoden and she will need it again as a warrior's wife - because Faramir will have to do a fair bit of fighting in the FA, I'm sure. I've a feeling Faramir encountered quite a lot of 'impatience' from time to time on Eowyn's part, but he wouldn't mind. He wouldn't want her to be spiritless, otherwise he'd never have married her. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/20/2007 |
| The courage and strength of women has seldom been properly fathomed by mere men. A wonderful look at Eowyn's heart and the first time she allows Elboron to follow his father and his king into the horrors and dangers of war. Author Reply: It's very much the vogue just now to discover fighting women all over history. Somebody told me only yesterday that a lot of women joined the cavalry in the English civil war. I'm trying to verify this. However, they could never have been more than a tiny minority, and I doubt if they contributed much, whereas women who stay at home and keep that home safe and decent surely contribute a good deal. Eowyn would be the perfect compromise. If a raiding party attacked Emyn Arnen while Eowyn was in charge and Faramir was away fighting, boy! the raiders wouldn't know what had hit them. | |
| Armariel | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/20/2007 |
| A poignant and powerful observation. Any mother would get choked up at the last sentence, I should think! ~~~{~@ Author Reply: 'Twas ever thus. Think of all the women whose sons (or husbands, or whatever) are in Iraq at the moment. They must never draw an easy breath. | |