Lord of the Rings: Lessons from the Men of Rohan

The Lord of the Rings is a story filled with brave deeds and has served as an inspiration to fantasy fans for generations. Whether it’s facing giant spiders or hordes of evil forces on the battlefield, almost every main character answers the call to great acts of heroism.

However, what makes The Lord of the Rings stand apart from other works are the deeply personal journeys many characters go on. These journeys require courageous reflection on their values, exploration of who they are, and a willingness to grow when their lives demand it. Few characters embody this courage better than the main men (and woman) from Rohan.

Éomer Discovers True Loyalty

Despite being the nephew of the king, Éomer’s life was filled with a great deal of loss and responsibility. Éomer lost his father to raiding Orcs when he was a small child, and his mother died of grief shortly thereafter. He was raised by his uncle King Théoden alongside his younger sister Éowyn and his cousin Théodred.

Éomer serves Rohan loyally as Third Marshal of the Mark, leading the Riders of Rohan. In addition to Orcs, Saruman’s deadly Uruk-hai threaten the safety of Edoras and its surrounding lands. However, Saruman’s growing influence over the kingdom proves more deadly than the fighting Uruk-hai. When Saruman takes over Théoden’s mind and the traitorous Gríma Wormtongue becomes the king’s advisor, Éomer continues to do what he can to protect Rohan from falling.

Then, Éomer faces yet another loss when a band of Uruk-hai slays his cousin and heir to the throne, Théodred. Éomer’s suspicions about Saruman are confirmed when he spots the White Hand of Saruman painted on the helmets of their fallen enemies. He brings his wounded cousin back to Meduseld and confronts both Théoden and Wormtongue about Saruman’s betrayal. In this moment, Éomer must make a harrowing judgment call about what fealty means: blind loyalty to his uncle and king or protecting his country.

Éomer’s Difficult Decision

Having lost half of his family, Éomer’s decision to challenge Théoden bears both the practical and personal risk of banishment. Although he did the righteous thing, Wormtongue tells Éomer that he sees too much and forces a mentally weakened Théoden to exile Éomer for treason. Éomer can no longer move through the lands of Rohan freely without risking a death sentence. Beyond that, Éomer lost access to his only living family after already losing many loved ones.

In the films, Éomer is ultimately reunited with Théoden and Éowyn at the Battle of Helm’s Deep. He continues to serve Rohan loyally throughout the War of the Ring, despite dismal odds of victory and survival. Éomer’s greatest strength is perhaps his ability to discern the difference between unquestioning allegiance and loyalty with principles. While many of Théoden’s men refuse to challenge Rohan’s quiet fall into ruin, Éomer fearlessly risks everything to beseech the noble uncle he knew and loved. He continues to fight for Rohan even after the shame of banishment, and when he hears of Rohan’s hour of need, he leads his men to Rohan’s aid without hesitation. Through his unwavering service to Rohan on and off the battlefield, Éomer proved himself a worthy heir to the throne after Théoden’s death.

Théoden Carries Determined Strengh

When viewers first encounter King Théoden of Rohan, he is but a shadow of the man he once was. Saruman the White, once an ally of the kingdom, sides with Sauron and sets his sights on the Rohan. Saruman uses his considerable powers to take over Théoden’s mind. Control of the country ultimately goes to Gríma Wormtongue, who has betrayed Rohan and its people by serving Saruman.

While in Saruman’s trance, Théoden fails to protect his son from death and then unwittingly banishes Éomer. Saruman’s grip on Théoden and Rohan is only released with intervention from Gandalf the White. Through his relief, Théoden expresses a great deal of shame and self-doubt in his ability to lead. As his people prepare to defend Helm’s Deep, Théoden asks, “How did it come to this?” He fights bravely but harbors self-doubt throughout the battle.

By the fifth day, their numbers have plummeted and hope of victory fades. Théoden valiantly leads a charge into the fray believing that it will be a final stand before they are overrun. Time and time again, Théoden demonstrates his stoic strength that epitomizes what it means to be a King of Rohan. Still, he cannot see his worth and courage through his shame and feelings of inadequacy.

Théoden’s War Speech

In perhaps the most stirring scene in the entire trilogy, Théoden steps into his power as king at the Pelennor Fields. He delivers a powerful rallying cry, telling the Rohirrim, “Arise! Arise riders of Théoden. Spears shall be shaken, shields shall be splintered, a sword day, a red day ere the sun rises! Ride now, ride now! Ride! Ride for ruin and the world’s ending! DEATH!” His men echo his final cry and follow their king fearlessly, charging and breaking the lines of Mordor.

Throughout the War of the Ring, despite doubt and grief and a deeply personal crisis of self, Théoden acts with outward conviction and a deep sense of duty to Rohan. His courage on the battlefield was great. That valor, however, is far outmatched by the courage he displayed by answering the call to heroism despite his conviction that he was not worthy of renown. Théoden leads his men and fights fearlessly until he and his beloved horse Snowmane are taken down by the Witch-king. He is saved from a brutal death by Éowyn and speaks with her before he passes. He tells her that she saved him, and tells her, “I go to my fathers, in whose mighty company I shall not now feel ashamed.” In his final moments, Théoden sees his value and finally believes himself worthy of the men that came before him.

Éowyn Defies Expectation

War always involves loss, and few characters in The Lord of the Rings face as much loss and pain as Éowyn. Having lost both parents at a young age, she is raised by Théoden alongside Éomer and Théodred. Although the women of Rohan are trained to wield weapons and defend themselves, Éowyn must watch from the sidelines while her country quietly falls into ruin.

Her resentment of the trappings of her gender only grows more profound as Théoden falls to Saruman’s control, Éomer is banished, and Théodred dies. She is left alone and powerless. Her heart does not waver in its strength, but she grows cold and distant as a means to protect herself. Although she feels hope again when her uncle is freed, she finds herself still a bystander in a war that threatens to take everything from her.

Éowyn is charged with guiding the civilians onward when wargs attack during the retreat to Helm’s Deep. She futilely argues with Théoden, desperate to fight instead of being nothing more than a witness to death and loss. Then she has to hide in the Glittering Caves during the attack on Helm’s Deep, once again holding her breath and hoping without acting. When Théoden musters the Rohirrim to ride to Gondor’s aid, Éowyn knows she cannot watch her people go into battle without having any control over the outcome herself. Despite being ordered to stay behind, Éowyn rides out from Dunharrow with the rest of the cavalry disguised as a man.

Éowyn Is No Man

Her presence at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields proves essential as she saves Théoden from a horrible death. Beyond this, the simple fact that she is a woman enables her to kill the Witch-king before Théoden passes peacefully. A familiar pattern repeats, though, as love and loss mingle once more. She finds that even her bravery on the battlefield could not shield her from further loss. The grave injury she received fighting the Witch-king forces her to stay behind as the last stand for Middle-earth takes place at the Black Gate.

She says, “There is no warmth left in the sun. It grows so cold.” Faramir of Gondor walks up beside her, telling her, “It’s just the damp of the first spring rain, I do not believe this darkness with endure.” She sees the enduring heart and the quiet strength in him, recognizing him as a kindred spirit. For her entire life, coldness in her heart and steel in her hands seemed to be the only way to protect herself and those she loves. In a moment of bold vulnerability, she opens her heart to Faramir. In doing so, she understands that the final frontier of true courage is to let her defenses fall and to love without fear.

There is no shortage of courage in The Lord of the Rings, shown by immeasurable sacrifice and legendary feats on the battlefield. But the Men of Rohan’s courage goes far beyond this, demonstrating that courage can also be deeply personal. Éomer risks shame and further loss by doing what is right. Théoden continues to fight despite being plagued by feelings of unworthiness. Éowyn learns that there is a beauty in vulnerability and is brave enough to let her longstanding guard finally come down.