Lothlorien

Lothlorien, also called Lorien, is a city within a forest and the last of the three magical polders which Frodo enters on his mission as a ring-bearer. “Lorien is a sanctuary in the midst of the transient world where not only there is no evil, but time itself appears to be halted” (Aldrich 94). This Eden-like place is also the nearest to Mordor, Sauron’s evil stronghold and there Elves “live now upon an island amid many perils” and their “hands are more often upon the bowstring than upon the harp” (Fellowship 339). Nevertheless, “on the land of Lorien no shadow lay” (Fellowship

340). Stanton indicates that in Rivendell the Elves remember the Blessed Realm, while in Lothlorien they actually preserve it in a small realm. (394) Frodo becomes aware of the magic of the safe haven: “It seemed to him that he had stepped over the bridge of time into a corner of the Elder Days, and was now walking in a world that was no more. In Rivendell there was memory of ancient things; in Lorien the ancient things still lived on in the waking world” (Fellowship 340).

Similar to other safe havens, there is a powerful male-female couple, Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel at the centre of Lothlorien. The Lady appears submissive at the first encounter, giving precedence to her husband the Lord, supportive and silent. It is Celeborn who greets Frodo and the other members of the Fellowship, formally allowing them to stay in Lothlorien: “ ‘Go now!’ said Celeborn. ‘You are worn with sorrow and much toil. Even if Your Quest did not concern us closely, you should have refuge in this City, until you were healed and refreshed. Now you shall rest, and we will not speak of your further road for a while’ ” (Fellowship 348).

However, the most important character for the story is not the Lord but actually the Lady. She is at the centre of this safe haven and she even reprimands her husband when he unthinkingly expresses his attitude to the fall of Gandalf and the deeds of dwarfs:

‘Alas!’ said Celeborn. ‘We long have feared that under Caradhras a terror slept. But had I known that the Dwarves had stirred up this evil in Moria again, I would have forbidden you to pass the northern borders, you and all that went with you. And if it were possible, one would say that at the last Gandalf fell from wisdom into folly, going needlessly into the net of Moria.’

‘He would be rash indeed that said that thing,’ said Galadriel gravely. ‘Needless were none of the deeds of Gandalf in life. […] Do not repent of your welcome to the Dwarf. If our folk had been exiled long and far from Lothlorien, who of the Galadhrim, even Celeborn the Wise, would pass nigh and would not wish to look upon their ancient home, though it had become an abode of dragons?’ (Fellowship 347)

Here Galadriel is presented as wiser, more thoughtful and more knowledgeable of the deeds and purpose of Gandalf and the Fellowship of the Ring than her consort. She also openly criticises her husband in front of the guests. This all implies that she is equal to her husband. In contrast to the other two safe havens, in this one not only is a female at the centre of it, but Galadriel is also the maintainer of it because she is the one who has power and possesses one of the three Rings of Elves, Nenya, the Ring of Adamant (Water). Despite her power she is still a peaceful and caring person. After Celeborn shows hostility towards dwarfs she addresses Gimli “who sat glowering and sad” in his ancient tongue, who sees in Galadriel’s heart “love and understanding” (Fellowship 347). It is not difficult to imagine here a child who is unjustly scolded and a mother who knows how to comfort that child. Gimli’s response is that “the Lady Galadriel is above all the jewels that

lie beneath the earth!” (Fellowship 347). This example also shows that she is tactful and her diplomatic skills are well used to make friends where her husband would make enemies.

To Gimli the departure from Galadriel’s safe haven feels like a wound similar to that felt by children when affected by great loss: “ ‘I have looked the last upon that which was fairest,’ [Gimli] said to Legolas his companion. ‘Henceforward I will call nothing fair, unless it be her gift. He put his hand to his breast. [...] Now I have taken my worst wound in this parting, even if I were to go this night straight to the Dark Lord’ ” (Fellowship 369).

In addition, while staying in Lothlorien, Frodo willingly offers the Ring to Galadriel. This suggests that Frodo finds a strong mother figure in Galadriel, whom he completely trusts. The act shows a child’s trust in a parent’s righteousness, in this case a mother’s. The notion of a mother as centre of a safe haven, an Eden-like oasis, has a parallel with Tolkien’s life, as his mother was his safe haven for several years until she died when he was twelve years old. This could be why the notion of a mother who understands her child perfectly is one of the main themes of LotR.