Posted: February 13, 2000 at 03:54:54: by Goodgulf
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: : : I believe that somewhere in Letters, Tolkien talks about this and his dislike of the artists giving Legolas blond hair. However, I cannot find the reference.: I have lost my copy of Letters, however, as I recall, it was not that he disliked Legolas being portrayed with blond hair, but rather he disliked Legolas being portrayed in an 'effeminate' manner. He says something to the effect that Legolas is 'strong as a young tree the second tallest of the Fellowship and the most tireless'. If someone could post the exact quote I would be grateful. I don't have the quote, but I too am put off by not only Legolas, but other Elves as being (if not "effeminate") weak looking. Some of that may have originally stemmed from the 1970s and the "flower child" generation. Tolkien was given a different slant in those days. The mystical element in the books, or at least the perception of mysticism, combined with the love and peace pastiche of the times may have influenced some artists to make the Elves less war-like. Perhaps they leaned more toward Elrond the Healer than toward Glorfindel the great lord and warrior. That's only a hunch. Any other ideas?
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