It gives this LOTR anime movie a fresh tapestry to play with to paint her from scratch. Interestingly, fans (and admittedly, some haters) saw parallels to another daughter of Rohan centuries later: Éowyn. Quite a few naysayers felt Hèra was copying Éowyn’s arc. However, as The War of the Rohirrim unfolds, the truth is revealed regarding whether she is a pastiche or someone with extra nuance.
What Was Éowyn’s Lord of the Rings Story?
Éowyn Wanted to Fight For Rohan and Marry Aragorn
Éowyn was introduced in The Two Towers. She and her brother, Éomer, lost their father to orcs and mother to the ensuing grief. She remained unfazed, though. Like her brother, she wanted to be in Rohan’s military. King Théoden was protective of his niece, however. She wasn’t put on the frontlines like the shieldmaidens of old. Instead, she had to care for the sickly king at Edoras once Wormtongue started poisoning his mind for the wicked Saruman.
In time, Éowyn fell in love when Aragorn came as part of Gandalf’s rebels. Unfortunately for her, Aragorn had eyes only for Arwen. That lost soulmate arc didn’t deter Éowyn. She eventually overcame the doubters, the patriarchy and everyone who underestimated her by joining the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. She fulfilled a prophecy — no man would kill the Witch-King of Angmar, Lord of the Nazgûl.
With Merry at her side, Éowyn slayed the villain and went down in the history books. She would eventually recover and fall in love with Faramir. In the novels, she would recuse herself from war and focus on healing, love and a more peaceful life. She had a son, Elboron, and felt like this was her true purpose. All in all, Éowyn crafted a powerful feminist story. She endured misogyny and chauvinism from Wormtongue as well, proving to the other royals that she belonged as an elite in the annals of their war chambers.
Christopher Lee posthumously voices Saruman through an archival recording. The actor passed away in 2015 after starring in Jackson’s initial movies as the sinister White Wizard.
Her slaughtering the Witch-King, to this day, remains one of cinema’s best moments. Éowyn actor, Miranda Otto, nailed the strength, resilience and perseverance, vocally and physically, in that sequence. It’s why loyalists were glad she returned as Éowyn — to narrate the years before when Hèra had to overcome her own underdog story.
What Is Hèra’s Lord of the Rings Story?
Hèra has to go on the lam after she and Helm refuse Wulf’s proposal at Edoras. Wulf’s father, Freca, dies at Helm’s hand in the disagreement. A blood feud erupts. Wulf’s legion drives Helm’s people out, killing his two sons along the way. He pursues the Rohirrim to Hornburg, not content until Helm dies for killing Freca, and not until Hèra perishes for spurning his love. This gives Hèra a multidimensional story as another wannabe shieldmaiden.
She has to lead her people, right after the king dies. But it’s not an easy job. Folks are cynical about her within her own camp. Thankfully, she rises to the occasion. Helm sees the very thing Théoden would see years later: a woman who should have been given more agency, control and leadership ranking. Hèra eventually kills Wulf, accepting that this would always have been their destiny. He objectified her way too much and coveted the throne. Therefore, she had to end him to cull his obsession with the crown.
How Is Hèra Different From Éowyn In The Lord of the Rings?
Hèra Had a Tougher War With Diminished Resources
Unlike Éowyn, Hèra refuses to settle down. Nor does she want anything to do with romance. In that sense, Éowyn is more sentimental, soft and endearing. Hèra is a lot more rugged, to the point, she turns rulership over to her cousin, Fréaláf. This life isn’t for her. She’s not about diplomacy and politics. The only policy she wants is to hit the grass running with her horse and explore more adventures. This gives her a bigger arc of liberation and freedom.
Hèra wants to express herself as a wanderer, not just a warrior at home. This drastically differentiates her from Éowyn, although they do have kindred spirit energy. Hèra lost her mother in childbirth, while she watched her father and brothers die. Thus, she has more mourning, grief and agony to unpack. She endures more tragedy and trauma than Éowyn, though, due to how many folks she sees die in her inner-circle. Cleary, her family arc is a lot bleaker than Éowyn. That’s not to discount the pain Éowyn went through. But Hèra had to deal with a lot in a short space of time.
Not to mention, Hèra had a tougher job holed up in Hornburg. She had limited, confined space; she was always forced to defend; and the weather conditions were adverse. Éowyn, though, had sprawling fields, more warriors and favorable conditions to fight in. So, as much as there are commonalities, their stories are different. What is for sure is that they both share the same fire, spunk, grit and determination. They won’t ever give up, making them some of the franchise’s most emotive, welcomed heroes ever.
Hèra’s Story Has More Expansive Potential Than Éowyn’s
Hèra’s Path Isnt About Being a Housewife
Notably, in The War of the Rohirrim’s ending, Hèra races off to find Gandalf. She has information on orcs looking for rings. They are Sauron’s agents who want to locate the One Ring. This makes Hèra’s story a prequel to The Fellowship of the Ring. Éowyn’s, conversely, was wrapped and had closure. Hèra’s is only just beginning. Fighting for Rohan is but the tip of the iceberg.
Had The War of the Rohirrim done well with critics and at the box office, The War of the Rohirrim’s sequel could have shown more of Hèra’s journey. She could have hunted orcs, been a pseudo-Frodo Baggins to Gandalf, and had subverted stories added in: maybe sussing out information on Smaug. She does love monsters, after all. This would have separated her from Éowyn’s feminist theme even more, given her more of an identity, and showed that (personality differences not withstanding) these ladies couldn’t be farther apart.
Éowyn was timid until the battlefield. Hèra had to be vociferous throughout so she wouldn’t be married off and treated like a pawn. This creates the potential for Hèra to continue being that way. And, who knows, maybe she would have found love down that road. In the end, both suffered from a lack of support in the early stages, but they saw the job through. They learned more about themselves.
And about life. But while Éowyn had a personal, streamlined story about wanting something for herself, Hèra’s legend is about craving something bigger for the rest of Middle-earth. Ultimately, Hèra’s story may never be finished under the director, Kenji Kamiyama, but maybe someday, the demand will be there to slake the cravings of those who want to see more of Hèra as a symbol outside her homeland.
