I need to apologise to you. I promised you thirty days of countdown to the release of The Hobbit and I have not been very good at keeping my promise. You know how it goes: real life gets in the way: work, important life-changing decisions, busy times, family, etc. So I hope you're still with me and I promise I will make up for the lost time: I will publish all of the thirty blogposts before 12 December when The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey is released in Belgium. Today, on International Men's Day (19 November, by the time I publish this that will be yesterday), I thought I would talk about the women in Tolkien's story, and the Dwarf-women in particular.
Galadriel, as played by Cate Blanchett Image courtesy of www.TheOneRing.net
With the
exception of the Galadriel (who does not appear in the original story), the story
of The Hobbit is quite a ‘boys club’, don’t you think? 13 male dwarves, a wizard, a hobbit, Bard the Bowman, The Master of Laketown, Beorn etc. So much so that Peter
Jackson, Philippa Boyens and Fran Walsh had to invent characters to inject some
female energy into their films. They decided against creating more Dwarves, but
went for Elves instead. That’s how the character Tauriel (played by Evangeline
Lily) was born.
I guess it
was a wise decision not to create female dwarves for the films: they are so
elusive that their existence is even questioned. On page 411 of The Lord of the
Rings - The Return Of the King, Tolkien speaks about female dwarves:
“It was
said by Gimli that there are few dwarf-women, probably no more than a third of
the whole people. They seldom walk abroad except at great need. They are in
voice and appearance, and in garb if they must go on a journey, so like to the
dwarf-men that the eyes and ears of other people cannot tell them apart. This
has given rise to the foolish opinion among Men that there are no dwarf-women,
and that the Dwarves grow out of Stone.”
I don’t
know if she will even be mentioned in the films (she’s only a reference in the
book), but there is one important Dwarf woman – the company of dwarves would
not have been complete without her - she is the One Woman.
The
youngest members of Thorin’s company of dwarves are Fili and Kili, his nephews.
They are the sons of Thorin’s only sister, Dís. In fact, Dís is the only female
dwarf that J.R.R. Tolkien ever mentioned by name.
The last Heirs of Durin's Folk: Fili (Left - Dean O'Gorman), Kili (Right - Aiden Turner) and their uncle Thorin Oakenshield (Middle - Richard Armitage)
Dís (born
Third Age 2760) was the daughter of King Thráin II and sister of Thorin and
Frerin. Like her brothers she was born in the Lonely Mountain and was driven into
exile in T.A. 2770 when the dragon Smaug took control of the kingdom.
The name Dís
was probably derived from Old Norse -dís ("sister of") which is found
in many Nordic names. So Dís is simply named as the sister of her brothers –
not very gender-friendly, Professor Tolkien!
On the other hand, although it is
often believed that the name Frerin came from either the Old Norse Dwarf-name
Frár ("Swift") in the Völuspá, or from the Old Norse word frérinn
("frozen"), to me, it simply sounds like “frère”, the French word for
“brother”. That would mean that both Dís and Frerin were named as the siblings
of the heir of Durin’s Folk, Thorin.
OK, Tolkien, listen up: your stories need more women!! Thank you. That's all.
I manage to name all the dwarves quite easily these days, but I keep putting the wrong name with the wrong picture: for some inexplicable reason, I tend to get Dori & Nori and Oin and Balin mixed up, .
Anyway, what was Peter Jackson thinking when he agreed to make a film that featured a band of 13 dwarves?! They are all very similar in Tolkien's book - he only really gives Thorin a bit more of a personality. So, that's quite a challenge for a filmmaker, but it's also a great opportunity to fill in the blanks and shape the characters to fit the story that you're trying to tell.
As I discussed before, PJ didn't use the different colours that Tolkien assigns to each of the dwarves. He must be colourblind, as that would have been a perfect starting point for their character development.
But Sir Peter is smart: together with screenwriter Philippa Boyens and producer Fran Walsh, he has given the dwarves their own way of dressing, their own way of acting and fighting, their own hairstyle (and beard, of course!), their own weapons, their own history, their own reasons for going on this quest etc. And bit by bit, piece by piece, they have been feeding us these details. For the last year or so, we have had the time to get to know everything about these dwarves, so when we finally get to see the first film, we will be able to step right into the story without being distracted or confused by 'who was that again?'.
This is the official description of Thorin Oakenshield: (thanks to www.theonering.net)
Name: Thorin Alias: Oakenshield, King under the Mountain, King of Durin's Folk in Exile Date of Birth: T.A. 2746 Race: Dwarf, House of Durin Date of Death: T.A. 2941 Alignment: Good Parents: Thráin II (father) Spouse: None Children: None
"As a young Dwarf prince, Thorin witnessed the destruction and terror wrought when a great fire-breathing Dragon attacked the Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor. After slaughtering many of Thorin’s kin, the great serpent, Smaug, entered The Lonely Mountain and took possession of its vast store of gold and jewels. No-one came to the aid of the surviving Dwarves, and thus, a once proud and noble race was forced into exile. Through long years of hardship, Thorin grew to be a strong and fearless fighter and revered leader. In his heart a fierce desire grew; a desire to reclaim his homeland and destroy the beast that had brought such misery upon his people. So when fate offers him an unusual ally, he seizes the chance for revenge."
"We will seize this chance to take back Erebor!" Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) prepares his company of dwarves for the difficult task that lies ahead.
As I type this, the last minute of 12 November 2012 is officially over. In exactly 30 days, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, the first film from a new trilogy by director Peter Jackson will officially be released in Belgium.
I'm good at countdowns, apparently, so here's another one. For the next 30 days, I will be writing about The Hobbit, the film(s), the book and especially about Thorin Oakenshield and Richard Armitage (of course!) every day. Join me in counting down to the moment that we have all been waiting for for so very long.
Before I start, let me just warn you that this countdown may contain spoilers about the original story by J.R.R. Tolkien and about the film(s). It's quite impossible to talk about both without giving away any details from the storyline. So, if you haven't read the story and don't want to know what happens before you see the film, please don't read any further.
Even though the title of J.R.R. Tolkien's story is The Hobbit, or There and Back Again, it could just as well have been called Thorin Oakenshield, the King Under the Mountain. It's Thorin Oakenshield who goes on a quest to reclaim Erebor, the kingdom in the Lonely Mountain and vanquish the dragon Smaug. He's the character that goes on a journey of redemption, to liberate his homeland and claim his heritage. He's the character in the story that goes on the most profound, life altering journey. To me, he's the real hero of the story (although I admit that my judgement may be slightly blurred by the fact that RA is portraying him.)
It's over 2 years ago now that I first learned that Richard Armitage was going to be playing the role of Thorin Oakenshield in Peter Jackson's film(s). I was so very happy for him, but at the same time couldn't really wrap my head around the idea that this tall man (He's 6 foot 2 inches - and a half! - or 189.23cm) would be playing a 5'2" dwarf - that's about 157.5cm. How would this man, who was used to towering over people and having others look up at him, cope with being short? Wasn't PJ just complicating things too much? So many things to worry about! I'll write more in the coming days about how I slowly started to believe that this was actually a good decision.
The first thing that set my mind at ease was this picture of Richard as Thorin. I hate to admit it, but I've had a huge crush on this dwarf ever since! *blushes*
Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield, the King Under the Mountain
Question: Can you name all 13 dwarves that take Bilbo Baggins on this adventure? No cheating allowed!
Start practicing now and I'll see you tomorrow... :-)
Today, on
Remembrance Sunday, I would like to pay my respects to those who sacrificed
their lives, their future and their freedom for future generations. I have
always been especially interested in the stories behind World War I and II,
both the grand strategic and political decisions and the personal stories of soldiers,
civilians, families and villages. I’ve travelled to places like London, Paris and
Berlin to understand how these cities and their people were affected by the
wars and I’ve visited the important landmarks and memorials in my own country (e.g.
Tyne Cot cemetery in Paschendaele, Menin Gate in Ypres, the woods of The
Ardennes).
When I
visit a war cemetery, I try to stop at as many graves as I can to read the
name that is on the gravestone out loud. It’s my own personal way of
honouring them and thanking them for their sacrifice.
Last week,
I visited the Commonwealth War Cemetery at Hotton (Belgium), where I found this grave.
Final resting place of Sergeant P.S. Armitage
The text on
the gravestone reads:
1809956
sergeant
P.S.
ARMITAGE
Air Gunner
Royal Air
force
2nd
March 1945 Age 21
The Lord is
my shepherd
I shall not
want
He maketh
me to lie down In green
pastures
The records
of Hotton Cemetery provide the following information:
ARMITAGE
PETER SPACKMAN
VI.A.3. United
Kingdom Sergeant ( Air Gnr. ) 1809956 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
2nd March 1945. Age 21. Son of George Henry and Louise Hilda Ellen Armitage of
East Barnet Hertfordshire. Unit: 622 Sqdn.
The War Cemetery
at Hotton (Belgium) is the final resting place of 665 British and Commonwealth
soldiers killed during WWII and the Battle of the Ardennes. Among them was one
Belgian who fought with the 53rd Welsh Division.
I’ve seen
the name Armitage in these war cemeteries before. I distinctly remember
standing by a grave at the WWI memorial cemetery Tyne Cot near Paschendaele
here in Belgium and I recently found out that the Tyne Cot memorial contains
sculpture by a man named Joseph Armitage.
The Tyne Cot Memorial that surrounds the cemetery (unveiled on 20 June 1927) now
bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known.
“They shall not grow old, as we who are left
grow old
Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We shall remember them”
Lucas North (Richard Armitage) wear the poppy, the symbol of Remembrance, in Episode 1 of Season 7 of Spooks (BBC)
Though they sink through the sea they shall
rise again;
Though lovers be lost love shall not;
And death shall have no dominion.”
(From: And death shall have no dominion by
Dylan Thomas)
If you know
me, you know that I’m not easily impressed. I tolerate a lot of things, I’m
open-minded about changes and new ideas and I always give people the benefit of
the doubt, but once you’ve lost my regard (or my attention, or even my respect),
it’s incredibly hard to get it back.
Imagine
this: My sister and I are at our third Chris Isaak concert. This man’s concerts
are some of the very best live experiences I’ve ever had, apart from *Live* and
maybe Metallica (yes, my taste in music is very diverse). So we usually don’t
really pay attention during the opening act. We simply want whoever it is to
keep it short, stop trying to be funny (nobody’s interested in your jokes, get
over it!), sing a couple of songs while we wait and please do take our polite
applause as an encouragement – for you to get off stage as soon as possible.
On walks
some guy with a guitar… “Hello, my name is Paul Freeman, I’m Welsh.”
Well, the
Chris Isaak concert was brilliant. We had so much fun, there are no words that
would do it the justice that it deserves. The man, the music, the band… even
the silly dance moves – I loved every second of it!
So, I wake
up the day after this brilliant concert and I’m still feeling great about this
wonderful night. I’m singing in the shower and while I’m having breakfast it
suddenly dawns on me: I’m not singing a Chris Isaak song! The song that’s been
in my head all morning is called Tightrope
and it’s by Paul Freeman…
“There's no way back if I let go
You’re where I’ll land
So here I go
Cause I just want to live
And I just wanna feel it”
(From: Tightrope by Paul Freeman)
Yes, I enjoyed
his five-song mini concert, and so did the rest of the crowd, judging from the
louder-than-average applause after, and the attentive silence during the songs.
But only the morning after do I realise exactly how much of an impression this
man has made. I HAVE to know more!
I am
absolutely certain that I had never even heard his name until about 2 weeks
ago. And now, I just want him to come back to Belgium and play for me again – I
feel as if I didn’t pay enough attention the first time and I’d like to
experience it again to see if he can impress me a second time.
So what is
it about Paul Freeman that made him able to wipe away a wonderful Chris Isaak
concert and make his way into my subconscious? His boyish good looks and
radiant smile? Although he definitely has those, it’s the music that impressed
me.
First of
all, it all seems so very genuine. That’s the biggest cliché ever and it could
very well be an act, but his words really spoke to me. His lyrics are smart
without trying to be complicated or clever or heavy-hearted. They are
intelligent without pretending to be the greatest thing ever written. I love
simplicity, but I love intelligence even more!
“It's easier to compromise when everything has
gone
And it's hard to make amends when all the
damages are done
And to everyone I've ever hurt, I'm sorry
But I was wrong”
(From: That’s how it is by Paul Freeman)
When I got
a chance to meet Paul after the concert, he was just as sweet and genuine as he
seemed to be on stage and he’s as intelligent as his lyrics. He won my undying
respect a few days later when I found out that he likes Dylan Thomas. Thomas
was known to be a great admirer of William Blake which almost makes us kindred
spirits. (Hey, can you believe I just found a link between Paul Freeman and
Richard Armitage? I knew there was a reason I liked this man!)
Right back at you, Paul!!
Another
thing that caught my attention is the way Paul sings his songs. Every time he
started playing, it was as if he went into a world of his own. There was such dedication
and joy in the way he performed; it makes me smile to even think about it. But
don’t take my word for it, here’s the proof. This is Paul’s performance of
Tightrope at the concert that I attended in Brussels.
It’s that joy that woke the room up and Paul
managed to grab the attention of people who would usually just see him as the
reason why the main act of the evening wasn’t there yet. By the third song, he’d
won them over. When he finally walked off the stage, I felt a sense of loss…and
the applause continued longer than I have ever seen it last for an unknown
opening act.
So Paul,
when exactly are you coming back to sing for me?
... Gary! For weeks now, we have been wondering whether Richard Armitage’s character in the new film ‘Black Sky’ would be another ‘John’, a name that so many of his most memorable characters have shared: John Thornton in North and South, John Standring in Sparkhouse, John Bateman in Spooks, John Porter in Strike Back, John Mulligan in Moving On…
Todd Garner, producer of the film, has been tweeting pictures of RA on set, in character, making us fans extremely happy. Thank you, Mr. Garner!
Richard Armitage as 'Gary' on the set of Black Sky Picture shared on Twitter by the film's producer, Todd Garner
Today, Mr. Garner also solved the mystery of the character’s name, in answer to a question from fellow blogger Gratiana Lovelace on Twitter. To my extremely great pleasure, it’s not another John. RA’s character in Black Sky is named ‘Gary’. It sounds very American to me, for some reason, but that’s OK as RA will also be rocking an American accent in this film.
But does the name fit the character? Well, let’s have a look at the meaning of the name ‘Gary’:
The masculine given name Gary is derived from the word 'spear' in Germanic (gar = spear), meaning a 'spear bearer' and the name (also spelled Garry) is an "acceptable" Anglicised spelling of the Scottish Gaelic and Irish Gaelic personal name Garaidh which, like Gary, is also pronounced gæri.
In German the meaning of the name Gary is: Gentle. Modest and brave Sir Gareth was a legendary knight of King Arthur's Round Table.
People with this name have a deep inner desire to use their abilities in leadership, and to have personal independence. They would rather focus on large, important issues, and delegate the details.
Well, now you know what to expect! ;-)
I, for one, am very much looking forward to this film (we will have to wait until 2013, unfortunately). It may be ‘just another tornado movie’, but Richard Armitage’s talent will take any old disaster movie to a completely different level (in my own humble opinion, that is). And it’s another chance to see my second favourite man (after my own sweety, of course!) on the silver screen. I’m sure Mr. Armitage is also enjoying the chance to play a ‘normal’ character after going through life as Thorin Oakenshield for The Hobbit for almost 2 years!
Thank you Todd Garner – and please keep sharing those pictures! You can follow Mr. Garner on Twitter @Todd_Garner
