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?