Excellent article as always. I kind of find it sad that so many male characters *aren’t* shown to be “settling down” or otherwise drawing strength/reward from a family life at the end of their tales. One notable exception is the Lord of the Rings, where Sam Gamgee concludes his adventures by going home to his wife and family (as does Aragorn, I suppose). In fact, the ones who literally go off into the sunset aren’t doing so to continue their adventures but to go home, seek healing or both. I can’t help thinking that provides a window into Tolkien’s soul, and maybe especially his memories of World War I and the friends who didn’t live to get a homecoming.
You're so right about the men of LOTR--that is a notable exception. Sam especially. And since the women of that epic were for the most part based on troubadour-era women, they don't really have arcs at all, or if they do, not in the same way at all (I'm thinking Eowyn here). But you can see how Eowyn does fall into this category, as does Arwen to a certain extent (though she wasn't really a badass character in the books).
That’s a good point about Eowyn. I also feel like her resolution is a little different than the typical woman in this category - when she’s shown to be gladly giving up the warrior life for the domestic one, it’s not just a “womanly” choice, but one that shows she’s an ideal mate for Faramir, who has already said that “I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend.” One could possibly say that a withdrawal from the battlefield to the home front was his ideal for *both* sexes, fighting from necessity only.
Totally! It is welcomed and loved by both Eowyn and Faramir, but you can see the pattern. I want to find the actual line, but doesn’t the narrator say something to the tune of: her winter melted, and either she changed her mind or her true mind was finally known to her? It’s very lovely, but it’s still this trope.
This trope also exists in popular music- e.g. "Mama Said" (The Shirelles), "Mama Didn't Lie" (Jan Bradley), "Mama Told Me Not To Come" (Three Dog Night), etc.
Excellent article as always. I kind of find it sad that so many male characters *aren’t* shown to be “settling down” or otherwise drawing strength/reward from a family life at the end of their tales. One notable exception is the Lord of the Rings, where Sam Gamgee concludes his adventures by going home to his wife and family (as does Aragorn, I suppose). In fact, the ones who literally go off into the sunset aren’t doing so to continue their adventures but to go home, seek healing or both. I can’t help thinking that provides a window into Tolkien’s soul, and maybe especially his memories of World War I and the friends who didn’t live to get a homecoming.
You're so right about the men of LOTR--that is a notable exception. Sam especially. And since the women of that epic were for the most part based on troubadour-era women, they don't really have arcs at all, or if they do, not in the same way at all (I'm thinking Eowyn here). But you can see how Eowyn does fall into this category, as does Arwen to a certain extent (though she wasn't really a badass character in the books).
That’s a good point about Eowyn. I also feel like her resolution is a little different than the typical woman in this category - when she’s shown to be gladly giving up the warrior life for the domestic one, it’s not just a “womanly” choice, but one that shows she’s an ideal mate for Faramir, who has already said that “I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend.” One could possibly say that a withdrawal from the battlefield to the home front was his ideal for *both* sexes, fighting from necessity only.
Totally! It is welcomed and loved by both Eowyn and Faramir, but you can see the pattern. I want to find the actual line, but doesn’t the narrator say something to the tune of: her winter melted, and either she changed her mind or her true mind was finally known to her? It’s very lovely, but it’s still this trope.
This trope also exists in popular music- e.g. "Mama Said" (The Shirelles), "Mama Didn't Lie" (Jan Bradley), "Mama Told Me Not To Come" (Three Dog Night), etc.
Oh yeah!! Good point.