Eowyn and Aravis

[faeriechylde]

Okay, I know that most people who like CoN also like LotR, so I thought I'd start a thread comparing and contrasting Eowyn and Aravis.
For one thing, Eowyn is my favorite character (or at least one of my favorites) in LotR, and Aravis is my favorite character in CoN, but what do they have in common?
Obviously, they both dress as males in order to run away, but for different reasons. Eowyn wants to go to war, and Aravis wants to escape an arranged marriage.
Does anyone else have any observations?

[DryadofLanternWaste]

I see them both as having emotions that they seek to hide, Eowyn is described as "cold" and "fair," I see Aravis in this same light (fair in the sense of pretty). They seem to long to be understood and treated as equals.
"She[Aravis] was proud and could be hard enough but she was true as steel." Aravis was nearly exilled from her house by her proposed marriage, and her resulting displacement and the loss of her brother, who seems to have been very dear to her, I deem as cause to distance herself from anyone and everyone.
Eowyn is forced to wait upon her fading Uncle as she watches her cousin die and Grima Wormtongue imprision her brother (book). All those she holds dear also seem to have been ripped from her hands.

Both of these women have cause to mistrust others and fear anyone who tries to befriend them.

that's my two cents, if I've misrepresented anything please correct me.

[faeriechylde]

Good job pointing out some similarities, Dryad! I think you represented both characters very well.
I think it's interesting that, not only do Aravis and Eowyn both run away dressed up as male soldiers, but they both ride horses. And not just any horses. Eowyn's is special simply because it's a horse of Rohan, but Aravis' horse Hwin is special because she's a talking horse.
Though both Aravis and Eowyn are from royal families, there are definitely differences in culture. Rohan and Calormen to me seem to be nothing alike... or are they?

[DryadofLanternWaste]

I don't know if I would make such a connection between Windfola and Hwin. Hwin was a faithful mare, wise and careful in her speech, wherein Windfola, who I believe was a stallion, threw his lady and Merry at the Battle of Pellennor(sp?) fields and galloped away.

I'm not sure that their lineage is truly comparable like you said, yet they both married into high houses, Aravis to the King of Archeland (Cor was King by then I think) and Eowyn to the Prince of Ithilien.

[faeriechylde]

Good points, however, one must not judge Windfola as faithless simply because he was "spooked," as they say, by the Nazgul. Apparently the Nazgul had that effect on pretty much everyone, and it took a very loyal hobbit and a very strong (and slightly suicidal) woman to stand up to the Witch King.
Besides, I hadn't meant to draw a direct connection between Windfola and Hwin: they obviously have their differences, especially because Hwin is a talking beast, which makes her infinitely superior. I simply meant to point out the similarities that Eowyn and Aravis were both horsewomen with good steeds.
I think the royal families of Eowyn and Aravis are slightly comparable, though not completely. Eowyn is only Theoden's niece, not his direct descendant, however, she is still a lot closer in relation to him than Aravis is to the Tisroc.
And Calormen and Rohan are certainly very different lands. Calormene culture has the flavor of Arabian Nights, while Rohan seems straight out of Beowulf. They are both warrior cultures, though.

[DryadofLanternWaste]

Another similarity is when each of these characters is in harm's way someone who loves them dearly aids them. In RotK Eowyn is about to be killed when Merry comes and stabs the Witchking beind the knee. As Bree and Hwin run toward the Hermit's house with Aslan chasing them Shasta turns back to help Aravis. Though both of these would be rescuers are weak they seek to help them (Eowyn and Aravis) in any way they can see/devise.

[faeriechylde]

Hear, hear. "Greater love has no one than this..." (John 15:13, NIV)

[DryadofLanternWaste]

Originally Posted by faeriechylde

Hear, hear. "Greater love has no one than this..." (John 15:13, NIV)

good quote, very fitting. There was another one I was thinking of, but I can't remember...

[inkspot]

Wow! You have come up with some good comparisons between two great characters.Would you say this young woman in man's garb is an archetype of literature, or Tolkien and Lewis both arrived at her independently?

[Daughter of Eve]

I was reading through, and was going to say something, only to find a post later on it was already said.

They're both very independant, hot-headed so to speak. Aravis' "so what if I'm a girl". Eowyn's whole thing about she can still fight.

I think, that were they ever to meet, they'd either be best of friends or hate each other.

I'm not sure if it's an archetype. I'm trying to think of some other stories (I know there are, I'm blanking on them right now) where other girls dress up as boys, etc.