The White Council

Re: Arwen - Was She Active Or A Stay-At-Home?

Tolkien and Inklings Discussion

: Based on what appears in the book, we know very little about Arwen's character. What is the general consensus here about what she was like. Did Tolkien ever mention her in his letters or interviews. I, like so many others, always had a view of Arwen os a do nothing, sit at home and knit a flag woman. But recently I've been re-examining what IS in the book. It seems whenever we see Arwen she has just recently returned to Rivendell. So she wasn't staying at home. But more importantly, WHY was she travelling to Lorien? During these perilous times I'll bet it wasn't just to visit and help can peaches. It would seem to me that she might also be bringing inormation (intelligence reports if you like) about the situation in Rivendell and Lorien. I can't support that based on anything I've read, but I wonder if Elrond would allow her to travel just for a holiday. And of course there's the old question about who went on the other two search parties that Elrond sent out to find Aragorn and the Hobbits. Who were the Elves besides Glorfindel and Elrond himself, that could ride openly against the Nine? Arwen's brothers? Perhaps Arwen? If Elrond was aware of Frodo's "burden", would he risk sending his only daughter on the search? I think he might. But again - no proof. Can anyone help, or set me straight on this matter? Thanks....Goodgulf

Well, Arwen's mother was Celebrian's who's parents were none other than Galadriel and Celeborn. So it wasn't like she didn't know anyone there, she was going to see grandma and grandpa. In all seriousness, she did want to see her mothers people and it is quite possible she relayed messages back and forth between Rivendell and Lórien.

Elladan and Elrohir did go out in those search parties, but I strongly doubt Arwen did. That would be too great of risk, because not only would it hurt Elrond if something happened to her, it would nearly destroy the heart of Aragorn. Sauron would be after her in a minute.

In the movie, she'll take a larger role than the book. Actually, not really, she'll probably just be seen more, I don't think they'll actually make anything up. I've expected they'd do it for months. In a big-time movie you need to have a romantic interest greater than what Tolkien shows in the actual text of the Lord of the Rings. So I imagine they'll have flash-backs to when Aragorn first met her in Rivendell, when Aragorn asks for her hand on top of Cerin Amroth, or her making the banner in Rivendell. It should work out quite nicely and will sure beat some of the rumors that were going around months ago about Sam being made a woman for the movie and having the love interest between Sam and Frodo. Thankfully that never happened.