seems like old times,eh?
Sass wrote:to fulfill that Romance absolutely requires the further mingling of noble Elvish blood with that of one of the last remaining 'true' Numenoreans. So that a stronger strain of elvish blood may continue into the fourth age.
Ath wrote:
But isn't the child, in essence, just a personification of the "grand plan"? A stronger strain of elvish blood continuing into the Fourth Age is pretty much about Arwen and Aragorn making babies together.
Indeed yes, of course it is ...... I am not quibbling with the end result because the film is essentially the same as the book (Aragorn and Arwen wed and one assumes that the uninitiated among the audience will think they will have a child) .....but ..... my objection is this: As a quintessential elf, Arwen, having been schooled by Elrond and Galadriel, the two greatest Elves remaining in Middle Earth, has the accumulated wisdom of 2,000 years and the knowledge of her forebears ..... but instead of celebrating the steadfastness of the Eldar, as is done in Fellowship where Arwen is portrayed as strong, supportive and full of hope, as the films progress she is increasingly shown as weak by succumbing to the persuasion of foresight (as you put it) by agreeing to leave Middle Earth and Aragorn behind in order to escape certain death ..... and in effect reneging upon the solemn promise given at Cerin Amroth.
..... A progression which, I might add, finally leaves us with the conundrum of ALINTTTFOTR!!
The fact that a vision of Eldarion is necessary for her to change her mind and accept her doom is what rankles with me. I do not believe that Arwen would ever abandon Aragorn (even if she suspected, or knew, she might prove barren) As I said before, IMO that particular story arc is thoroughly un-Tolkien ..... it is the antithesis of his morality where an oath is an absolute. It is without compromise and is utterly binding.
Laws and Customs: Betrothal
......for the Eldar do not err lightly in such choice. They are not easily deceived by their own kind; and their spirits being masters of their body, they are seldom swayed by the desires of the body only, but are by nature continent and steadfast,
But IMO, that's not the whole point of the Tale of Arwen and Aragorn. I think Arwen's main purpose, really, is to personify the burden of mortality as no mortal character could. One of the "Deathless" accepting death as her fate only to discover that in the end, she cannot face "the loss and the silence" with estel, and instead, succumbs to grief and despair despite the wisdom gained in the long ages of her life.
I agree.
This is the essential theme that I think the screenwriters captured with their version of her tale, except they actually allow her to rise from that despair, and renew her trust in the path she originally chose to tread, even knowing that it will end in death.
Disagree.
It is a lovely, poignant, and visually stunning piece of cinema but ..... it is just another example of the scriptwriters overwrought (and overused) lamentable penchant for reversal........ much like Pippin tricking Treebeard in rousing the Ents to war on Isengard (which I can tolerate) or Frodo sending Sam away
![Mad :x](./images/smilies/77angry.gif)
( which I cannot).