In The Lord of the Rings, there aren’t nearly as many female characters as there are male characters. In the books, this is also the case. While this is a shame, the movies did at least try to include more women and give them more moments and important scenes. And, even in the books, there are some pretty iconic and powerful lines and scenes that are given to characters such as Eowyn and Galadriel.
Some of the most loved scenes from the movies feature women from Middle-Earth. So, we’ve collected a list of the best quotes from women in both The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films.
“WHAT’S THIS? A RANGER, CAUGHT OFF HIS GUARD?”
This line is the very first one that Arwen says, and it’s when audiences are first introduced to her. While in the books she isn’t the one to help save Frodo from the Nazgul, this addition to the movies was a good one.
It helped features a woman in a more complex role and gave her more screen time, and it also showed how Arwen would be extremely powerful as an elf. When we first see her interact with Aragorn, it shows that she is equal to him and also portrays a playful side to her and their relationship.
“IN PLACE OF A DARK LORD, YOU WOULD HAVE A QUEEN.”
When Frodo offers the ring to Galadriel, she has somewhat of a similar reaction as Gandalf does just more extreme. This leads to quite the iconic moment as some of her power and strength is shown to Frodo. The rest of the quote continues, “Not dark but beautiful and terrible as the Morn! Treacherous as the Seas! Stronger than the foundations of the Earth!”
Given the fact that Galadriel is one of the most powerful elves from the books, it’s understandable why the temptation of the Rin was very strong for her.
“YOUR WORDS ARE POISON.”
When audiences are first introduced to Eowyn, she is somewhat of a tragic damsel. So, seeing her journey to find her own strength is quite empowering.
She is being watched and manipulated by Grima Wormtongue, but, even as he tries to do so, she is able to see through him in many ways. This quote is definitely an example of her claiming her own independence and power, and it’s a subtle but powerful moment that many women can relate to.
“THE WORLD IS CHANGED. I FEEL IT IN THE WATER. I FEEL IT IN THE EARTH.”
Galadriel is the character who presents the monologue during the opening scenes of The Fellowship of the Ring. So, for all fans of these movies, her voice is quite familiar as she tells the story of the history of the Ring.
As an elf who has lived for thousands of years and has seen history unfold before her very eyes, she has seen much of the events she is talking about. Using her as the narrative voice was definitely a great choice for the movies.
“DO NOT LET YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED.”
When the Fellowship first comes to Lothlorien, they are unsure of what to make of Galadriel. She is extremely old and wise, and the kingdom of Lorien isn’t like other places in Middle-Earth.
While she definitely has somewhat of an edge to her, she is overall a kind and gracious being. After losing Gandalf, she offers the Fellowship a place to rest and tries to provide some comfort to them.
“TAKE HEART, MERRY. IT WILL SOON BE OVER.”
One of the best things about The Return of the King is seeing Eowyn join the battle of the Pelennor Fields along with Merry. Although she is told not to by Eomer, she breaks the gender roles of her home and people to try and help do the right thing.
It’s clear that both she and Merry are people who are seen as less capable and less strong because they aren’t human men, and it’s definitely empowering to see Eowyn take her life into her own hands and follow her heart.
“ARE WE NOT PART OF THIS WORLD?”
While most of the female characters in the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies are characters from the books, Tauriel was an original character who was made exclusively for the movies. As such, she’s the most controversial of any of the women in these stories.
But, whether you agree with her addition or not, she does have a couple of great moments and quotes. This question is one of them, and she poses it to Legolas and convinces him to join in the fight against evil despite Thranduil’s orders.
“IF YOU WANT HIM, COME AND CLAIM HIM!”
This is another Arwen quote that she says when she is taking Frodo to Rivendell. She is chased by the Nazgul, and this chase sequence is a great moment that allows Arwen to shine.
It’s clear that she has a connection to nature and a sort of magic that all elves have. This line is also quite fierce, and it’s one of her best lines from the films.
“FOR THE TIME WILL SOON COME WHEN HOBBITS WILL SHAPE THE FORTUNES OF ALL.”
This is another line that’s part of the monologue that Galadriel gives at the start of The Fellowship of the Ring. This specific line is definitely important as it gives an idea of what the movies are all about and tells audiences about what’s about to happen.
As one of the oldest and wisest beings in Middle-Earth, it makes sense that Galadriel is given this voiceover.
“I AM NO MAN.”
Of all of the lines from the women of Middle-Earth, this quote is the most well-known and most beloved. It’s truly legendary, and it’s one of the most feminist moments from the entire series.
While it’s said that the Witch-King can’t be killed by a man, Eowyn is able to kill him because she isn’t one. This is definitely a rallying cry and one that many people loved seeing on screen.
