1. Dwarf Women: Why did they have so few women? Was
it the same in most Dwarf communities?
Maybe that's what happens when amateurs try their hands at creating life. Never
send a Vala to do the Eru's job.
2. Only Dwarf-woman Named: Why would only one be named?
Why name one at all?
This account is basically a chronicle of war and wandering, which apparently
are not activities of Dwarf-women. Dis is probably named to establish Fili and
Kili's connection to the royal line.
3. Walk Abroad: Any speculation on why Dwarf-women would
seldom walk abroad?
Most of Tolkien's societies seem to adhere to rigid gender roles, with males
doing the majority of the warring and conquering and females, with noticeable
exceptions, staying behind and weaving. A society with a scarcity of women
would have even more reason to want to shield them from harm.
4. Like to the Dwarf-men: "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 peoples cannot tell them apart". Do they
disguise themselves as dwarf-men when they travel? Might this be a safety
issue?
I hadn't thought about the disguises, but it's a possibility.
5. "It’s the Beards!": Do Dwarf-women have beards? How do
you know?
I really don't think Tolkien would give women, even Dwarf-women, beards, but if
he did it would be remarkable enough to tell us about. It seems to me that they
just don't have any feminine characteristics that would be obvious to Men, who
would not necessarily think that all Dwarf-men had beards.
6. Contribute to any Story: What would you like to see
Dwarf-women doing in action? What do you think they could contribute to any
story?
Dwarf-women could be healers, architects, lore-masters, just about any role
other than warrior. Perhaps in the Final Stand of the Dwarves, the Dwarf-women
would at last take up arms and go into battle.
7. In Peril: because of the fewness of women among them
that the kind of the Dwarves increases slowly, and is in peril when they have
not secure dwelling" So how much in peril were Durin’s Folk over the past
generations? Was it getting serious? Does that put Thorin’s Quest for Erebor in
a new light? Then, they seemed pretty secure at Ered Lhûn. But then, isn’t it a
good thing for ME that he did!
Dwarves are constantly in peril.
8. Some Desire None: "For not all the women take husbands:
some desire none; some desire one that they cannot get, and so will have no
other. As for the men, very many also do not desire marriage, being engrossed
in their crafts." No questions: Open for thoughts!
I guess it's a good thing "very many" of the men do not desire marriage, given
their demographics. This passage tells us that Dwarves aren't entirely
patriarchal. Apparently Dwarf-women cannot be forced to marry against their
well. Perhaps they were created to resist domination at least as well as their
men.
(Insert wildly creative footer here.)
