The Bookish End: Lightsabers, Elves, and Why God Created us the Way He Did

I remember the first time that I was presented with the concept of strong female characters. I saw a link to a post written a few months past the time that The Force Awakens came out. A picture of Rey, looking rather bristly was the header. I didn’t click on the link, but the thought stuck in my head. Strong female characters? What’s wrong with Rey being super cool? That is what I thought at the time. As I have thought about this, I discovered a real void in our stories today. We are missing real females. We are given strong female characters instead of real female characters.

What is a strong female character?

Generally, we are thinking of the feministic, fighting, male-slamming gal that doesn’t act at all like a girl. Let’s look at Rey.

Rey from Star Wars: The Force Awakens

In the Force Awakens, Rey starts out not caring about anyone, she’s rather calloused, and can really use that stick of hers. Now, is this a wrong place to start a character? No, it is not. However, where does she go from here?  Well, she meets Finn. Finn becomes her friend, and there seemed to be a bit of a romantic interest here, however, who is the hero in the end with the big epic lightsaber sequence? Well, Kylo Ren came off with a scar on his face, beaten by Rey, and Finn is unconscious.

Finn and Rey

Rey is the strongest, the best, the most amazing. People are singing her praises. Now, let’s look for a minute at the worldview of Star Wars. Was I the only one who saw all the yin-yang looking things? Did you notice that there was an emphasis on how the Force is equal in light and darkness? Remember, in Star Wars, the goal is not to see light conquer, it is to see it balanced. This is a completely off-kilter worldview. Now, when I took the DSST Intro to World Religions, there was one thing about the Yin-Yang that was interesting. One side is associated with feminine, and one with masculine. Do you remember the scene where Kylo and Rey fight over the lightsaber?

Kylo Ren and Rey

What happened? The lightsaber was blown in half. Kylo was not stronger, and Rey is not strong enough yet. Rey has not grown tender or gentler as she has developed. She has gotten stronger, more confident in herself, and in my opinion, harder. The domineering, men-commanding women are the protagonists, and the actual stronger men are the antagonists. The only female that is somewhat male-led was Rose, and she was the dorkiest of the bunch. People didn’t really like her.

So, why am I going into all of this? Because Rey isn’t the only one.

Rey is one among many strong female characters who is female by gender. Nothing of a lady. Now let us contrast her with a very different sort of female character.

Arwen Undomiel, Evenstar of her people. 

Arwen Undomiel

Arwen has only one action scene in the entire three movies. Do you remember the story in the Return of the King? Arwen begins to grow weaker and weaker. Her fate is tied to Aragorn’s victory. If Aragorn loses, Arwen will die. Arwen’s father comes to Aragorn, gives him the sword of his fathers, and tells him to do the impossible and fulfill the prophecy. Aragorn fights, courageously steps up and takes the throne of Gondor after a fight against Mordor itself. I love this scene at the end of the movie.

Here she is. She comes to Aragorn, her father behind her. Feminine, graceful, and beautiful, adorned as a lady. 

Aragorn and Arwen

He comes to her. This is the lady he has fought for, and for a moment, there is a stillness.

And then they rejoice at their reunion. He has won her hand, and this priceless gem, the daughter of Elrond is his. Elrond watches on. If you have read the book, you will know that Elrond set a very high standard telling Aragorn what he must do in order to win his daughter. Now he stands by, giving his daughter to Aragorn.

Notice the difference in their wardrobe. He shows strength and masculinity, and she shows beauty and femininity. Down to their very crowns! She will stand by him as he takes the throne of Gondor.

Let’s compare Arwen and Rey.

First thought, Arwen is so much more gorgeous

Second thought, Arwen gets Aragorn, who is infinitely better than Kylo Ren in every way

My first thought is that Arwen looks like a lady while Rey does not. Now, do our female characters all have to wear the stunning raiment of the elves? No, not by a long shot, but see, this is what I think is key. Rey dresses like the guys pretty much. She just doesn’t really look like she’s that different from them. Furthermore, she takes absolutely no consideration of the fact that she is different from men. Beyond this is the way she carries herself, the way she talks, pushes the guys around, etc. I’m not saying that your character even enjoys or has time to have a perfect manicure or amazing hair, but some distinction in air and dress is refreshing.

Another thought is how Arwen never pushes Aragorn around. She strengthens him, blesses him, encourages him. She uses her femininity to build him up in his masculinity. Rey does not. Rey is competing with them. Whatever they can do, so can she, and maybe even a bit better.

Another is their strengths. This goes a bit more into worldview. Rey finds her strength and confidence within herself. She is her own source of power. Arwen on the other hand has lines like, “What grace is given to me,” “May the grace of the Valar protect you.” She knows that her gifts are not her own. Miracle from The Seventh World Trilogy is a great example of this. She is feminine, beautiful, but she is also very strong, and very gifted. She has a purpose chosen for her by the King. One of my favorite parts of Coming Day is when the three of the others who are gifted by the King come to Miracle, who is now married to Michael O’Roake. When they tell her that the Blackness is trying to destroy them, and they need her help, Michael says he doesn’t want Miracle to be hurt, he doesn’t want to lose her. When they tell Miracle the choice is hers, she responds by saying that she will follow the lead of her husband.Wow. That was super counter cultural. She doesn’t nag, press or push Michael, and the stakes are costly if she doesn’t help. She doesn’t give that amazing one-liner that changes Michael’s perspective. It is the King who changes Michael’s heart.

Arwen is an elf. Let’s just face the fact that elves are really, really amazing. Legolas can walk on top of snow while others plow, run up falling stones, grab a horse in full gallop and throw himself backwards on top of it.

Legolas does this....

Gimli's response

Elves are super, super amazing and are very gifted. So, legitimately, Arwen could defend herself in a tight spot. She's not afraid riding with Frodo, chased by the Nine. Yet, there is not one scene where she takes a stick, sword or otherwise and beats men up with it. Rey irks me in the end of The Force Awakens when Finn cannot beat Kylo Ren, and gets rather banged up, while Rey sends Kylo Ren home with a lovely scar. Does something there seem a little odd to you? Guys who are not as strong as the women are wimps. I’m sorry.

Our pastor was talking about this topic

He said that if you look at the order of creation, God made things more refined and complex every day. First land, then plants, animals, man, and lastly, woman. God created a woman. The pinnacle of his creation! We are very, very special as women. Refined, a cut jewel, special, precious. Our pastor said that for a woman to try to be like a man, it is not a step up, it is a step down. He talked about how woman was made from the rib of a man. We aren’t the head, but without the ribs, what would happen to the heart?

Worldview plays into all of this

What happens in a world where good and evil will continue to battle on and on until the stars go out? They will eventually find that there is nothing worth fighting for. Gender and gender roles are random chance. They don't really matter. In a world created by a sovereign God, with eternity on white shores ahead, and the knowledge that a higher power has willed us to do what we do, at the time it happens, for a purpose, we find that the way we were created is special. With a worldview that says that both good and evil are equal, then no wonder women want to trump men. However, with a worldview that says that God is in control, we find that it is the gift of gender, we find that his word defines us and our purpose as men and women.

There are few things God calls precious, but a meek and quiet spirit in women is one of them

A meek and quiet spirit. God values our femininity, and gives it to us as a gift. (1 Peter 3:4) Masculinity is also a gift. Given to men. Look again at the picture of Arwen and Aragorn. Isn’t it beautiful seeing how they balance each other? Then again in Miracle’s quiet submission when she has so much power within her and a righteous cause to fight for is so beautiful.

Writers, we need more God-defined women in our literature. We need our readers to find strong women, but their strength is in God, and through their femininity. Rey is hardly a jewel or precious gem. She is just another woman trying to compete in a rat race of life in a Sci-Fi world. She is no hero to look up to. Arwen was called Evenstar of her people. She helped bring the masculinity out of the man she loved, not belittling or beating it out of him by competing with him. We need more women like this for readers to look up to. More importantly, we need this in real life. To the girls who read this, get in God’s word, and please don’t despise femininity. We need it badly, just as we need more masculinity. Take the first step by doing your part and embracing your gender. Support feminine women by writing feminine characters in your literature. Am I saying no sword fights, bows and arrows, guns or self-defense? Not by a long shot. I am however saying that I want to see more real feminine strength.

What are your thoughts? I want to know what my readers think about all this. Are you tired of hard female characters?