I wasn’t really expecting this post to turn into one giant thing on Galadriel, but I’m not really surprised that’s how things worked out. She’s a hell of an interesting character. Of the three kindreds of the High Elves, she’s granddaughter to both Finwë, the original High King of the Noldor, and Olwë, High King of the Teleri in Valinor, as well as being (probably) closely related to Ingwë, High King of the Vanyar and accounted as High King of all the Elves.
Her “All shall love me and despair!” moment needs some explanation, because even book readers aren’t that clear on what was going on with that. Going back to the Silmarillion, when Fëanor led the Noldor in rebellion against the Valar and led them to Middle-Earth, Galadriel was one of the leaders of the rebellion. Not out of any loyalty to Fëanor - she really didn’t like him at all, and wasn’t interested in his war to reclaim the Silmarils from Morgoth - but because of her own ambitions. She wanted to rule a realm of her own, to order it as she chose, and that wasn’t going to happen in Valinor under the dominion of the Valar.
The Silmarillion happens, the Noldor ask for forgiveness from the Valar, and are welcomed back to the Undying Lands. Except for one - Galadriel herself. Out of pride she alone refused the pardon of the Valar, and she alone among the Noldor is a true exile, unable to return to Valinor. Her exile could only be ended, she was told, when she had the choice to obtain all that she had ever wanted, and turned her back on it.
And then along comes Frodo, and literally offers her dominion over all of Middle-earth. Galadriel was certainly strong enough to do it: if she obtained the One Ring, Sauron would have been overthrown, and as she said, in the place of the Dark Lord we would have a Queen. This moment was in many ways the climax of a very long and very interesting life. This was the thing she’d wanted since literally before the Sun was a thing. But she passed the test, and diminished, and remained Galadriel.
She’s also worth discussing in the context of Tolkien’s relative lack of female characters. It’s true he doesn’t have many, but those he does generally kick butt - and Galadriel is no exception. She’s not subservient to Celeborn: they are co-rulers of Lothlórien together. When Fëanor kicked off the revolt, Galadriel joined in - but for her own reasons, and on her own terms. It was Galadriel who organized the White Council. In short, she is an amazing person and an amazing leader.
Friday: I talk more about Galadriel and we say bye-bye to Lothlórien.
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