The Silmarillion ch.5: Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalie - Page 4

***VarnafindÃ«*** · 09-30-2018, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EÃ¤rniel

I never quite noticed but the sex ratio among FinwÃ«'s descendants is dreadfully screwed up. Only two women to what, sixteen men?! I know this is partly due to Tolkien needing a lot of heroes for the roles and fights he was planning. But dude, Galadriel and Aredhel must have been so fed up with their brothers and cousins at times.

Add to this that Galadriel wasn't even with those siblings from the beginning. From the start, Finarfin only had sons. Galadriel was created for LotR. When she was in place, she had to be worked into the old history somehow, and Finarfin finally got a daughter

FÃ«anor never had one, only all those boys

***Valandil*** · 09-30-2018, 09:39 AM

I wonder if some genealogies of JRRT's are only concerned with male descendants. And he may have borrowed this from antiquity. Females might not be mentioned because once they were married off - they were not considered part of the family anymore, as much as they are today. They were part of another family now. It was generally just the patrilineal line which was traced.

Notable females were exceptions and were included, of course - like Galadriel.

***Earniel*** · 10-05-2018, 07:35 AM

I don't know, I didn't get that feeling.

Tolkien used the concept of 'sister-son' often enough that women do not seem to be somebody else's family once they've married. At least not to the Eldar.

And considering in the case of FÃ*riel, the female descent was important enough to argue kingship on.

I like to think that Tolkien may have expanded the female children of FinwÃ«, if he had had more time to complete it. Or maybe he just never considered it odd, seen as he himself had three sons and but one daughter.

09-30-2018, 09:39 AM	#2
*Valandil* High King at Annuminas Administrator Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Wyoming - USA Posts: 10,752	I wonder if some genealogies of JRRT's are only concerned with male descendants. And he may have borrowed this from antiquity. Females might not be mentioned because once they were married off - they were not considered part of the family anymore, as much as they are today. They were part of another family now. It was generally just the patrilineal line which was traced. Notable females were exceptions and were included, of course - like Galadriel. __________________ My Fanfic: Letters of Firiel Tales of Nolduryon Visitors Come to Court Ã‘ Ã¡ Ã« ?* Ã³ Ãº Ã© Ã¤ Ã¯ Ã¶ Ã– Ã± Ã‰ Ãž Ã° ÃŸ Â® â„¢ [Xurl=Xhttp://entmoot.tolkientrail.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=ABCXYZ#postABCXYZ]text[/Xurl] Splitting Threads is SUCH Hard Work!!

10-05-2018, 07:35 AM	#3
*Earniel* The Chocoholic Sea Elf Administrator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: N?n in Eilph (Belgium) Posts: 14,363	I don't know, I didn't get that feeling. Tolkien used the concept of 'sister-son' often enough that women do not seem to be somebody else's family once they've married. At least not to the Eldar. And considering in the case of FÃ*riel, the female descent was important enough to argue kingship on. I like to think that Tolkien may have expanded the female children of FinwÃ«, if he had had more time to complete it. Or maybe he just never considered it odd, seen as he himself had three sons and but one daughter.