Stupid, quick question about Malbeth - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Elianna · 08-04-2004, 10:42 AM

Do you guys think Malbeth the Seer is a girl or a boy?

I always envisioned a old woman like from Macbeth, but then I looked at the Malbeth entry in Foster's "Complete guide to M-E" and it said Malbeth was a 'he', Encyclopedia of Arda has him as a him too.

I checked RotK and the Appen., and I didn't find any 'he's or 'him's or anything to really denote a gender. My mom said 'seers' are usually men, but I haven't heard that anywhere else.

So is there some other text of Tolkien's that tells a definite gender, or is it really possible that Malbeth was a girl?

Eomer of the Rohirrim · 08-04-2004, 11:04 AM

I had always thought he was a Man. Maybe an expert in the languages can point out the most likely answer.

Calathanien · 08-04-2004, 02:09 PM

hmmm well i always thought malbeth was a woman because the name just came across as female. but then i havent a vivid imagination and think "she" looks like mystic meg

Son of Númenor · 08-04-2004, 02:10 PM

Malbeth is a man.

Isowen · 08-04-2004, 02:15 PM

Yes, I always thought Malbeth was a female because of the name and the fact that it has "beth" at the end of it, which is obviously a girls name! I watch a TV programme called Charmed and its about magic etc and there is a seer on that, and its a female. So, I just get the image of a woman rather than a man.

Elianna · 08-05-2004, 09:54 AM

Interesting that the girls think Malbeth's a girl and the guys think Malbeth's a guy (if I'm inferring correctly from your screen-names)...

Son of Númenor: Got a reference?

Morsul the Dark · 08-05-2004, 10:00 AM

Indeed Malbeth sounds like a women but I always thought if it were a man it would look like john edwards but otherwise I envisioned an old women that looks like the psycic from "Shadow of Destiny"(a game for PS2 that's really fun)

davem · 08-05-2004, 10:38 AM

Seers are male, the female equivalent is seeress, like prince/princess

Amanaduial the archer · 08-05-2004, 11:39 AM

Seeress? Hmm, somehow not so...catchy.

I imaged Malbeth as being a sort of mysterious, ancient wizard type - somewhat like Merlin, I suppose.

08-04-2004, 10:42 AM	#1
Elianna Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Ad finem itineris Posts: 384	Stupid, quick question about Malbeth Do you guys think Malbeth the Seer is a girl or a boy? I always envisioned a old woman like from Macbeth, but then I looked at the Malbeth entry in Foster's "Complete guide to M-E" and it said Malbeth was a 'he', Encyclopedia of Arda has him as a him too. I checked RotK and the Appen., and I didn't find any 'he's or 'him's or anything to really denote a gender. My mom said 'seers' are usually men, but I haven't heard that anywhere else. So is there some other text of Tolkien's that tells a definite gender, or is it really possible that Malbeth was a girl? __________________ Enyale cuilenya, ú-enyale mandenya.

08-04-2004, 11:04 AM	#2
Eomer of the Rohirrim Auspicious Wraith Join Date: May 2002 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 4,859	I had always thought he was a Man. Maybe an expert in the languages can point out the most likely answer. __________________ Los Ingobernables de Harlond

08-04-2004, 02:09 PM	#3
Calathanien Pile O'Bones Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Gondolin Posts: 25	hmmm well i always thought malbeth was a woman because the name just came across as female. but then i havent a vivid imagination and think "she" looks like mystic meg __________________ "Reading between the lines, I'd say she thinks you're a bit concieted mate,"

08-04-2004, 02:15 PM	#5
Isowen Haunting Spirit Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: The blackened depths Posts: 86	Odd question but not at all stupid Yes, I always thought Malbeth was a female because of the name and the fact that it has "beth" at the end of it, which is obviously a girls name! I watch a TV programme called Charmed and its about magic etc and there is a seer on that, and its a female. So, I just get the image of a woman rather than a man. __________________ I hope Butterbur sends this promptly. A worthy man, but his memory is like a lumber -room: Thing wanted always burried, If he forgets, I shall roast him.

08-05-2004, 09:54 AM	#6
Elianna Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Ad finem itineris Posts: 384	Interesting that the girls think Malbeth's a girl and the guys think Malbeth's a guy (if I'm inferring correctly from your screen-names)... Son of Númenor: Got a reference? __________________ Enyale cuilenya, ú-enyale mandenya.

08-04-2004, 02:10 PM	#4
Son of Númenor A Shade of Westernesse Join Date: May 2004 Location: The last wave over Atalantë Posts: 515	Malbeth is a man.

08-05-2004, 10:00 AM	#7
Morsul the Dark Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 3,448	Indeed Malbeth sounds like a women but I always thought if it were a man it would look like john edwards but otherwise I envisioned an old women that looks like the psycic from "Shadow of Destiny"(a game for PS2 that's really fun) __________________ Morsul the Resurrected

08-05-2004, 10:38 AM	#8
davem Illustrious Ulair Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the home of lost causes, and forsaken beliefs, and unpopular names,and impossible loyalties Posts: 4,240	Seers are male, the female equivalent is seeress, like prince/princess __________________ “Everything was an object. If you killed a dwarf you could use it as a weapon – it was no different to other large heavy objects."

08-05-2004, 11:39 AM	#9
Amanaduial the archer Shadow of Starlight Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: dancing among the ledgerlines... Posts: 2,347	Seeress? Hmm, somehow not so...catchy. I imaged Malbeth as being a sort of mysterious, ancient wizard type - somewhat like Merlin, I suppose. __________________ I am what I was, a harmless little devil