For the Love of Galadriel (Middle-earth’s Ultimate Muse?)

[Estelyn Telcontar]

This topic is based on the lecture “Galadriel and Her Lovers”, given by Beth Russell during ‘Tolkien 2005’ in Birmingham, England last month. Lalwendë, davem and I heard it and were impressed by the fascinating thoughts she expressed.


Though Galadriel loved and married Celeborn, her beauty, especially that of her hair, attracted others. Three of them are mentioned in Tolkien’s works, and their love for Galadriel had fateful and wide-reaching consequences. She inspired each of them to creative activity, thereby (though unintentionally, perhaps) fulfilling the function of a Muse, in my opinion. (...though Ms. Russell did not agree with that term when I asked her about it.)

We know that Elven marriage was forever, a never-ending union of immortals. So when Galadriel married Celeborn, she became unattainable to others. Their marriage was one of equality, retaining the independence and individuality of each partner, with both using their different abilities and strengths in cooperation, even though they did not always agree.


Interestingly, the first other male who desired Galadriel was her uncle Fëanor, offspring of the only Elven marriage that did not last forever. In the Unfinished Tales, ‘The History of Galadriel and Celeborn’, we read:

Even among the Eldar she was accounted beautiful, and her hair was held a marvel unmatched. It was golden like the hair of her father and of her foremother Indis, but richer and more radiant, for its gold was touched by some memory of the starlike silver of her mother; and the Eldar said that the light of the Two Trees, Laurelin and Telperion, had been snared in her tresses. Many thought that this saying first gave to Fëanor the thought of imprisoning and blending the light of the Trees that later took shape in his hands as the Silmarils. For Fëanor beheld the hair of Galadriel with wonder and delight. He begged three times for a tress, but Galadriel would not give him even one hair.

One can’t help but wonder what would happened – or been prevented – if Galadriel has granted his request, but apparently she was right not to do so. After all, in folklore the possession of a piece of one’s body was thought to give the owner power over the person involved! Fëanor’s possessiveness hints at an admiration that could possibly have been lustful – in that case, an incestuous, adulterous passion, Ms. Russell said. And this possessiveness, whether of his father’s love, the light of the Trees, or Galadriel’s hair, was his downfall.

Later Galadriel herself was creative, reminiscent of Fëanor as he should have been. After all, just before the above passage, we read in UT:

Galadriel was the greatest of the Noldor, except Fëanor maybe, though she was wiser than he, and her wisdom increased with the long years.

Her Phial recaptured the light of a Silmaril, yet she did not keep it for herself possessively, but gave it to Frodo, who would need it to guide and aid him. Her Mirror, like the Palantíri, showed far-off places and events, yet it was not of a hard crystal substance, but moveable, renewable. And her denial of the One Ring showed that she rejected possessiveness, even to the point of renouncing her right to rule in Middle-earth and leaving the realm she so loved.


According to the UT, Celebrimbor, Fëanor’s grandson, was Celeborn’s rival for Galadriel’s hand. His love for her prompted him to make the Elessar, the first of his mighty and creative works (though there are varying accounts of this ‘fact’ ). Here is the relevant passage in UT, ‘The History of Galadriel and Celeborn’:

‘I would have trees and grass about me that do not die…’ (Galadriel)
…you know that I love you (though you turned to Celeborn of the Trees), and for that love I will do what I can, if haply by my art your grief can be lessened.’… (Celebrimbor)
Therefore he took thought, and began a long and delicate labour, and so for Galadriel he made the greatest of his works (save the Three Rings only)…
Wielding the Elessar all things grew fair about Galadriel…

Later, influenced and taught by Sauron, he went on to forge the Rings of Power. One of them, Nenya, he gave to Galadriel, so that she could continue and increase the preservation of her realm in Lórien. Again, these creative works were fraught with perils, being made from a desire for power and under Sauron’s tutelage.

We know of the fatal effects that both the Silmarils and the Rings of Power had in Middle-earth, but what effect did they and the Elves who made them have on Galadriel? Her first fall, rebellion against the Valar and departure from Valinor, resulted from the influence of Fëanor and the Silmarils; the account of this (the first half of her life) is told in the Silmarillion (also in the Unfinished Tales). Ms. Russell said that her relationship to Celebrimbor resulted in her second fall; however, as my notes don’t have a specific reference, I’m not sure what she meant. Perhaps Lal and davem will know, or others can give references with which I’m not familiar.

The creations of both Elves ignited wars in which both died. Not very encouraging for a Muse, is it?!


But there was one more person, very different, whom she inspired to creative activity near the end of her time in Middle-earth – Gimli, the Dwarf. His love for her was the courtly, idealised love that is found in medieval times. It was not possessive, and her fidelity to her husband was unquestionable. It came as a result of her knowledge of his race (she was formerly allied with the Dwarves) and its consequence was his reconciling friendship with Legolas and the honour of being the only Dwarf ever titled “Elf-friend”.

He did not covet a possession, being content with the relationship as such, but as a sign of trust was allowed to name his own gift – and his request was both humble and audacious! The gift he was given was greater than he requested – three strands of Galadriel’s hair. He later encased them in crystal as a treasured symbol of friendship between Dwarves and Elves. It’s interesting to speculate whether he made three crystals, one for each hair – that would be a parallel to the Silmarils: not as great, but not perilous either.

Though Galadriel left Middle-earth at the end of the Third Age, some of the creations she inspired stayed on: the Elessar remained with Aragorn (as did her granddaughter Arwen, perhaps ‘inheriting’ her role as Queen?), and Gimli’s crystal(s) with her hair. The Phial, with its last remnant of Silmaril light, left, as did the Rings of Power.


In the light of these thoughts, Galadriel becomes even more important within the context of Tolkien’s Legendarium, having a pivotal role in all Three Ages. How do you see her importance for the history of Middle-earth in the light of this theme? Could we speculate that her creative influence still lingers on in today’s world?

[Lhunardawen]

As I am still held in awe of that post, Esty, I cannot yet express my thoughts. But I have one question:

The Phial, with its last remnant of Silmaril light, left, as did the Rings of Power.

Was it not rescued from Mount Doom along with Sam's box by Gandalf? I don't have the books with me, so I'm not so sure...

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Originally Posted by Lhunardawen

I have one question: Was it not rescued from Mount Doom along with Sam's box by Gandalf? I don't have the books with me, so I'm not so sure...

Yes, the Phial survived Mt. Doom, but Frodo took it with him when he sailed to Valinor. (see 'The Grey Havens', RotK)

[Lhunardawen]

Originally Posted by Estelyn Telcontar

Yes, the Phial survived Mt. Doom, but Frodo took it with him when he sailed to Valinor. (see 'The Grey Havens', RotK)

Oh. Right. Thanks.

[davem]

Its interesting that Feanor requests a lock of Galadriel's hair but as far as we are told he does not offer anything in return. Celebrimbor, out of love, makes for her the Elessar & later Nenya. Gimli also requests a hair of her head, but only after she has offered him a gift & asked him to name it.

It seems that in the first two cases it is Galadriel who is approached by others & asked for something (probably in Feanor's case it was as much a 'demand' as a request), while in the case of Gimli he has come before her initially asking, & expecting, nothing. His love for her is entirely selfless & he gets more than he asks for (or expects).

I think its also important that when asked what he would do with her gift he tells her that it is to be a symbol of friendship between his people & hers, not a personal possession which he will keep only to himself - as Feanor did with the Silmarils.

One thing does strike me - in many ways what she herself creates (Mirror, Phial) is 'merely' a version of what Feanor created (Palatiri, Silmaril). She is less possessive of 'her' things - being more like Aule & the other Noldor in that, but the things she creates seem less 'permanent', & have as a principal element water, something which has no real 'form' & can be poured away.

Perhaps this choice of substance is reflective of the personalities of her lovers & her own. They seek to produce things which will be hard, solid, weighty & enduring, things that they can (hopefully) count on being around as long as they are (or longer in Gimli's case). She creates things which are about as transitory as possible (ok the Phial is pretty solid as an object, but that is merely the container for her actual creation - the water bearing light of Earendel). I can't help feeling that this reflects her spiritual 'state' by the end of the Third Age. She no longer seeks the permanence of things around her. She has learned to 'let go'. Her giving up of the Elessar to Aragorn seems to me just as significant as her refusing the One Ring - both are symbolic of her knowledge that the desire for permanence is a mistake.

I strongly suspect that if Gimli had told her (or if she had felt) that he wanted her hair in a possessive way - as did Feanor, or that his love for her involved any element of desire - as with Celebrimbor, she would have refused him outright.

[Mithalwen]

[QUOTE=davem]
It seems that in the first two cases it is Galadriel who is approached by others & asked for something (probably in Feanor's case it was as much a 'demand' as a request), QUOTE]

Beg, does not to me imply "demand".... irritating persistence maybe.

[Bêthberry]

An excellent topic for discussion, Estelyn! What really intrigues me for starters is something you suggest about the difference between your approach/view and that of Beth Russell.

Originally Posted by Estelyn Telcontar

This topic is based on the lecture “Galadriel and Her Lovers”, given by Beth Russell during ‘Tolkien 2005’ in Birmingham, England last month. Lalwendë, davem and I heard it and were impressed by the fascinating thoughts she expressed.


Though Galadriel loved and married Celeborn, her beauty, especially that of her hair, attracted others. Three of them are mentioned in Tolkien’s works, and their love for Galadriel had fateful and wide-reaching consequences. She inspired each of them to creative activity, thereby (though unintentionally, perhaps) fulfilling the function of a Muse, in my opinion. (...though Ms. Russell did not agree with that term when I asked her about it.)

What were Ms. Russell's reasons for not accepting the term 'muse'? See, I am all intrigued by the difference between the title of her lecture and the title of your thread.

I wonder if the question doesn't turn on just what a 'muse' is. In Greek mythology, the nine (or three, depending on which age one is reading) were daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne ('memory') who inspired mental activity in men. Two aspects are important. First, it was mental activity they inspired. And second, they themselves were not desired. They were not the loved ones, but their effect was. They provided inspiration for thinking and were channels of thought from the gods.

They were not the only forms of female inspiration in classical mythology. There were for instance sirens ( women who combined human and animal form) who drove mariners to their doom and succubi (demons in female form) who visited men in their sleep. These inspired not mental endeavour but bodily functions with various consequences. And they appear to have been desired for themselves.

This represents the classic split in Western Culture between the body and the mind and it went on, I think, in the tradition of the muse as it developed in at least English literature, which is the one I probably can recall the best. I'm thinking of writers such as Spencer who felt fully confident being able to write glowing prefaces to married women in thanks for their inspiration without any second thoughts about impropriety.

But what Russell seems to be getting at with her word "lovers"--which I note davem has used as well--is that Galadriel was involved in some kind of sexual dynamic. Even Russell's use of "fall" is (I'm betting) significant here with all our connotations of Eve, fall, and sexual doom.

Was this why Russell would reject the use of 'muse', that it is associated so thoroughly with mental aspects solely and sidesteps any sexual implications?

After all, the very negative aspects you yourself point out:

Originally Posted by Estelyn

The creations of both Elves ignited wars in which both died. Not very encouraging for a Muse, is it?!

It's a far step from these sorts of inspirations to the final Marian imagery which Tolkien strove to incorporate in his later years in the Galadriel figure, but I think it is fascinating in terms of various kinds of female figures in mythology.

[davem]

But what Russell seems to be getting at with her word "lovers"--which I note davem has used as well--is that Galadriel was involved in some kind of sexual dynamic. Even Russell's use of "fall" is (I'm betting) significant here with all our connotations of Eve, fall, and sexual doom.

Was this why Russell would reject the use of 'muse', that it is associated so thoroughly with mental aspects solely and sidesteps any sexual implications?

My feeling was that Russell used the term 'lovers' in order to be provocative. As far as we know there was no sexual desire on Feanor's part - & the 'incest' idea is pure speculation - though Galadriel's reaction seems to imply there was more going on there than his simply wanting a lock of hair from her. Celebrimbor's feelings must have had some physical aspect - his mention of Celeborn in their conversation seems pretty much to confirm this. With Gimli, however, I don't get any sense that there was a sexual dimension - which for all its idealisation of the beloved was definitely present in the Courtly Love tradition - witness the 'archetype' of such things, Lancelot & Guinevere. If Galadriel did take on aspects of the Virgin in Tolkien's later writings it was there in potential in Gimli's love for her.

It is only Gimli's creation which is brought into being out of a selfless love -Feanor's love is either for Galadriel or, more probably, for himself, Celebrimbor's love is for Galadriel. What both have in common is that their desire for her is subsumed into their creation of Silmarils/Elessar/rings - their unfulfilled desires lead them to produce their greatest creations, but those things are not what they originally wanted. Its as if the things they create also contain their creator's desire & hence ignite desire in others. Gimli alone creates something which is without any element of personal desire - its purpose is to bring about & sustain peaceful co-existence between his people & the Elves. It is the one Galadriel inspired creation of which she would truly approve. I think this fact may account for the devastation brought about by the creations of Feanor & Celebrimbor

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Esty

Interestingly, the first other male who desired Galadriel was her uncle Fëanor, offspring of the only Elven marriage that did not last forever. In the Unfinished Tales, ‘The History of Galadriel and Celeborn’, we read:

Quote:
Even among the Eldar she was accounted beautiful, and her hair was held a marvel unmatched. It was golden like the hair of her father and of her foremother Indis, but richer and more radiant, for its gold was touched by some memory of the starlike silver of her mother; and the Eldar said that the light of the Two Trees, Laurelin and Telperion, had been snared in her tresses. Many thought that this saying first gave to Fëanor the thought of imprisoning and blending the light of the Trees that later took shape in his hands as the Silmarils. For Fëanor beheld the hair of Galadriel with wonder and delight. He begged three times for a tress, but Galadriel would not give him even one hair.

One can’t help but wonder what would happened – or been prevented – if Galadriel has granted his request, but apparently she was right not to do so. After all, in folklore the possession of a piece of one’s body was thought to give the owner power over the person involved! Fëanor’s possessiveness hints at an admiration that could possibly have been lustful – in that case, an incestuous, adulterous passion, Ms. Russell said. And this possessiveness, whether of his father’s love, the light of the Trees, or Galadriel’s hair, was his downfall.

I think that maybe it was a good thing that Galadriel refused Feanor her hair, as if he had not been refused it, would he have then gone on to create the Silmarils? Yes, their creation, or rather, the desire of them, caused so much conflict, but they also preserved the Light of the Two Trees which were then destroyed. The other instance of the Light being preserved was in the form of the Sun and Moon; the silmarils were therefore an earthly or earthbound version of these.

I note that it is a saying amongst the Eldar that Galadriel's hair held the Light of the Two Trees; that it was a saying, hints that it was not necessarily a fact. Feanor was clearly inspired by the sight of Galadriel's hair and he wanted some of it; that he was refused it may have caused him to go on and create the Silmarils instead. Or perhaps he simply wished to have some of her hair in order to work out exactly how to capture the Light from the Trees?

For myself, I do not see anything sinister or untoward in his desire for a few strands of her hair. He was clearly inspired by the beauty of it, and I can imagine that Galadriel even when young may have wished to be admired for something other than her beauty; her power later in life does not rest on her looks, it rests on what she can do and on her leadership. This makes me think of the Yeats poem:

FOR ANNE GREGORY

``Never shall a young man,
Thrown into despair
By those great honey-colored
Ramparts at your ear,
Love you for yourself alone
And not your yellow hair.''

``But I can get a hair-dye
And set such color there,
Brown, or black, or carrot
That young men in despair
May love me for myself alone
And not my yellow hair.''

``I heard an old religious man
But yesternight declare
That he had found a text to prove
That only God, my dear,
Could love you for yourself alone
And not your yellow hair.''

William Butler Yeats

I note that it is much later in her life that she encounters Gimli. She is now secure in her own strengths and capabilities and has little to 'prove'; she is accepted as incredibly powerful. It is at this stage in her life that she can accept the worship given to her beauty with good grace.

[Formendacil]

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

I note that it is much later in her life that she encounters Gimli. She is now secure in her own strengths and capabilities and has little to 'prove'; she is accepted as incredibly powerful. It is at this stage in her life that she can accept the worship given to her beauty with good grace.

And, going along with your general theme, although Gimli admires Galadriel's beauty, it is NOT the beauty which first made him love her. It was her kind words, and repudiation of the general Elven antipathy towards the Dwarves. Note that we only hear Gimli speaking of her beauty AFTER she wins his heart, so to speak.

[davem]

Originally Posted by Lalwende

they also preserved the Light of the Two Trees which were then destroyed. The other instance of the Light being preserved was in the form of the Sun and Moon; the silmarils were therefore an earthly or earthbound version of these.

And yet the Silmarils were lost forever.

I note that it is a saying amongst the Eldar that Galadriel's hair held the Light of the Two Trees; that it was a saying, hints that it was not necessarily a fact.

I would take it as a fact. In Gimli's crystals the memory of the light of the Two Trees was preserved in Middle-earth forever, & in the White Tree of Gondor & the Mallorn of the Shire, so was their form.

[Bêthberry]

Originally Posted by davem

Perhaps this choice of substance is reflective of the personalities of her lovers & her own.

Originally Posted by davem

My feeling was that Russell used the term 'lovers' in order to be provocative.

Why then did davem use the term 'lover's?


Are all of you saying this love of Galadriel was not a pure thing, could not be a pure thing? Are you saying she couldn't be a muse like the classical muses or those who poets used to personify their inspiration?

What is interesting is that Galadriel herself creates objects--as davem has mentioned--who was her "muse"?

[davem]

Originally Posted by Bêthberry

Why then did davem use the term 'lover's?

'Lovers' doesn't necessarily have to have a sexual connotation. I was using it in the sense of those who loved her.

What is interesting is that Galadriel herself creates objects--as davem has mentioned--who was her "muse"?

Well, she does tell Frodo that the Eye of Sauron that he saw 'is also in my mind.' It seems that all she does is inspired by Sauron - maybe he was her 'muse' in that she would have done little creatively without him. I think it was Lyta on a different thread who questioned the necessity of evil in Middle-earth....

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Originally Posted by Bêthberry

Why then did davem use the term 'lover's?

Originally Posted by davem

'Lovers' doesn't necessarily have to have a sexual connotation. I was using it in the sense of those who loved her.

I am and always have been a staunch advocate of using the word "love" (in this case, "lovers") broadly. It is only our time that has come to restrict it to a purely twosome relationship, including sex, thereby losing its many possibilities in the process.


I'm enjoying the good posts so far!