The Warrior Princess Archetype

Éowyn — Shield Maiden of Rohan

Our Favourite Characters as Archetypes

The term archetype may conjure images of long, dusty theoretical books. But in my work, I find immense joy in exploring how our favourite characters from literature, film, tv series, and mythology resonate with timeless archetypal traits. This connection allows us to tap into our innate ability to relate to stories and makes the exploration of archetypes more immediately accessible and profoundly enriching.

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What do you fear, lady?’ he asked. ‘A cage,’ she said. ‘To stay behind bars, until use and old age accept them, and all chance of doing great deeds is gone beyond recall or desire.’
―J.R.R. Tolkien,The Lord of the Rings

Éowyn

In The Lord of the Rings, Éowyn, the niece of King Théoden of Rohan, is described as “the Shieldmaiden of Rohan”. She epitomizes courage, strength, and resilience. The archetype she embodies is the Warrior Princess.

Éowyn longs to fight in battle and prove her worth, defying all societal expectations and limitations placed upon her gender. In her encounters with Aragorn, who in many ways is her equal, she expresses her inner turmoil and desire for freedom from the constraints of duty and despair. She articulates her fear of being relegated to a life of confinement, expressing her dread of being trapped in a cage, unable to fulfill her potential.

Éowyn transcends these personal struggles as she confronts the Witch-King on the final battlefield of Pelennor Fields. It has been prophesied that no man can ever slay the powerful leader of the Nazgûl. The Witch-King conceitedly declares his inevitable victory since no man can slay him. Éowyn defiantly removes her helmet and declares, "I am no man." With these words, she delivers the fatal blow that symbolizes not only her own liberation but is ultimately what saves Middle-earth.