Just a Girl

Why is Eowyn so upset? Most of her sorrows can be linked to one thing; her gender, and the role in society and in life that is imposed on her due to her gender.

From the books and from the movies, you can tell that Eowyn has been oppressed. Obviously, she's known how to fight since a young age, but it seems that she's never had a chance to utilize these skills in battle. It seems that she has "second-son" syndrome; she's usually the one left behind to keep the throne warm while the menfolk are off fighting wars. Which, of course, shouldn't be sneered at [which is where the whole "Eowyn - Hero or Deserter?" debate comes in, but we'll get into that later.] - but it's not what Eowyn wanted to do with her life. Somewhere in her life, Eowyn realized that this was as far as she could go -- that warming the throne was all she had to look forward too.

Her frusteration at being cooped up because of what sexual reproductive organs she had led to depression, and her depression led to despair. She came to the conclusion that the only way she could ever really be happy was to be respected, and the only way to win respect was on the battlefield. She didn't want to be seen as the throne-warmer, or as a pretty piece of decoration for Rohan. She didn't want anyone's pity, which unfortunately, she had in droves. Others sensed her despair, and didn't bother to mask their pity. This made her angry and frusterated, and all the more made her desire to ride out into battle.

When she met Aragorn, that's when she found hope. He seemed like the perfect man; the man who could save her dying kingdom, and the man who would surely understand her plight. She became infatuated with her perfect version of Aragorn; however, her hopes were broken when Aragorn refused to let her ride out with his company to the battle that would shape the fate of Middle-earth. It was at this time that Eowyn entered her darkest hour; with all hopes gone for a happy life, or any life, she disguised herself as a man named Dernhelm and deserted the people she was left behind to lead, no longer caring about then - or anything, for that matter.

Eowyn slayed the Witch-King and didn't expect to live, but she did. This left her, in her mind, lost; she didn't know what to do with her life, or if she even wanted to do anything with her life. It was at this point that she met Faramir, and he taught here that there was more to life that what she thought.