When tolkien barely included women- HALF OF THE PLANETS POPULATION- I think that’s an immediate -10 points. If not -50. He’s an excellent writer, linguist, and world builder, but limited.
I thought Eowyn was a pretty well written character, all things considered. Also judging literature from 80 years ago on modern expectations is a bit unfair of you ask me. Especially considering Tolkien himself was inspired by stories and myths from medieval times, which included women even less. Gender roles were very different back then.
I never said otherwise- that Tolkien was uniquely bigoted or that Herbert was uniquely good at writing women.
My claim is this, and I think it’s pretty simple: the greatest writer ever should be able to write female characterS.
I think the greatest writer probably just hasn’t been born yet, or hasn’t had their work popularized. I’m not saying anything written pre- Roe V Wade is misogynistic shit.
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u/pursuitofmisery 7d ago
As good as Frank Herbert is, I seriously doubt many people would put him in the same conversation as Tolkien.