July 30, 2002

In Defense of Arwen
Legolas

Even though Arwen did not take Frodo to the Ford in the book, I think they made a wise choice in replacing her with Glofindel.

#1 It gave us more of a chance to get to know Arwen as the type of elve she was. Instead of just being a princess flitting about Rivendell, she searches for Frodo and bravely faces off the Ringwraiths while taking him to the Ford.

#2 If Frodo was stabbed and in the condition he was (turning into a wraith) I do not think he could have ridden all that way to the Ford with out being captured by a Ringwraith. Although he was not in as bad of shape in the book as he was in the movie, the movie made the wound appear more serious and deadlier than it was in the book.

#3 When Arwen reaches the Ford and yells out to the wraiths "If you want him, come and claim him!" I think she is challenging the wraiths more than anything. Although I liked the line in the book that Frodo yelled "You shall have neither the Ring nor me!" Arwen could not have yelled that (seeing as she did not have the ring in HER possesion.)