I think we really don’t give Tolkien enough credit for writing passionate male characters. And by passionate, I mean caring, kind, perhaps even emotional.
Like Finrod Felagund, who gave his own life to protect the son of the man that saved his life, and sang to the humans and loved them and wanted to teach them all he knew.
Like Elrond half-Elven, who despite having lost so much and having lived through so much bloodshed, still cares enough to read moon runes to a bunch of stubborn dwarves, and to give Bilbo a place to stay in his old age even if just for a little while.
Like Frodo Baggins and his Samwise Gamgee, who against all odds fought for a noble cause despite personal expense and who truly loved each other, because like Sam said, ‘I love him whether or no.’ And like Bilbo, who had a kind soul and wept when Thorin Oakenshield died.
Like Maedhros and Maglor, who despite their misdeeds, raised Elrond and Elros in an attempt to make up for all the harm they did, and wanted to find Elured and Elurin. And because in the end, their repentance was what decided their fate in the sea and under the earth.
Faramir’s love and mourning for Boromir, Turgon’s love for Hurin and Huor… you could even talk about Melkor’s desire to create. I could keep going on and on but I think the point is clear. Tolkien just didn’t write male characters, he wrote sensible, caring male characters.
The media often makes it so that female characters are seen as more emotional, more passionate about certain things… like Hermione Granger, who was so passionate about domestic elves, or Deanna Troi, the ship’s counselor in Star Trek TNG that tries to help everyone. But how often do we ever see male characters like the ones Tolkien gave us? Male characters that actually cry, mourn and feel openly?
I would just like to thank Professor Tolkien for actually writing real, feeling men. As a guy that feel that he has to repress his emotions to feel manly, these characters mean the world to me.
