What Was Galadriel's Test? Middle-earth Explained

[@Wyrmwould]

Absolute bonus points for not using a single image nor even mentioning the alleged Tolkien show that we're all thinking about! Well done.

[@madambutterfly1997]

How finally some real Lord of the Rings. ❤

[@licmir3663]

Galadriel sincerely loved Middle-Earth and cared for it. No wonder she only left it when Sauron was at last defeated. She could have abandoned all the other races, and even elves, and departed to live in an earthly paradise, protected from all pain and destruction, but she remained behind, just like Celeborn, whom I believe thought the same as she did. Having the One Ring would help her defeat Sauron and bring peace to Middle-Earth, but in time even she would have been corrupted by the Ring, and would have turned into a self righteous dictator like Robespierre, Lenin, Mao… and Daenery Targaryen. Galadriel was made of a different material than those individuals. She had to accept that she wouldn’t be able to stay in Middle-Earth, and that all she could do was to help it get free of Sauron before she left for the Undying Lands, and she accomplished her goal.

[@Makkaru112]

You’ll love my part 1 and 2 comments diving deep into her epic scene from the fellowship of the ring movie. I’d love to hear your thoughts. ❤

[@thebeatles114]

Lenin was a 'self righteous dictator', what a load of anti-communist crap... he was the leader of the Bolshevik party and respected by both socialists and workers the world over.

[@genghisgalahad8465]

Legend has it that Celeborn the Wise is still asking: Where is Gandalf?

[@kevburk1]

Dictators like….Chavez, Trudeau….

[@MoreisMor]

I've spent far too much time on this, knowing why she passed her test, while understanding completely why she was tempted to give in to her desires. When it comes down to it, a life granted in Valinor is better than a life made in Middle-earth. Parallels...

[@jackolantern147]

Seeing content like this is like a breath of fresh air. I applaud you Yoysten for watching Amazons marred content and relaying it to us. Sparing us having to. It is appreciated.

[@istari0]

I always felt Galadriel was free to return to Valinor but it was her own pride and desire for a realm that held her back. When confronted with getting the One Ring, she passed the test by turning it down and realizing it was best for her and the Elves to leave Middle-Earth.

[@paulwagner688]

Galadriel was pretty much equal to Feanor in body and mind. But where Feanor spent his power in pride, Galadriel spent her power in pity. In this she was aided by Lorien, Nienna, and Melian. Yet her close kinship with Feanor compelled her to fall under the Ban. It is worth noting that she alone after the War of Wrath still remained under the Ban. Thus it was only when everything that she had ever desired in her youth came within her grasp did she have to face her final ordeal. And Nerwen/Altariel/Galadriel did finally understand and overcame the Ban.

[@Makkaru112]

She never participated in kinslaying, only protecting her mothers people and made Fëanor back off with her presence, and went to her own way to middle earth.

[@Makkaru112]

You mean Artanis Alatariel was another form of Galadriel I believe by the Sindar.

[@pinkace]

Nah, I don’t think so. Feanor!? The guy that Morgoth feared? Nah. Strong disagree.

[@markstott6689]

Great timing. After eating tea, I was starting to nod off. This will perk me up I'm sure. 😊❤❤❤😊

[@animistchannel]

"...and she's buying a Stairway to Heaven." She saw that her shadow could indeed grow taller than her soul, but instead she chose... wisely.

[@Comicnut64]

Thank you yoystan I’ve wanted this explained to me for a while

[@marionbaggins]

Galadriel got her Graduated High School and got the HS Certificate and Graduated University I know how that is like!!! *Soon to the Latter, 1000% the Former* Thanks for answering a Question that, many of us were wondering when, Reading/Watching LOTR for the First time, Until Morgoth Servant's Spirituality...Marion Baggins Out!!!

[@-Blackberry]

Amazon could never write a character as strong as the true Galadriel.

[@primal1233]

I absolutely love Galadriel. She's an amazing character

[@Etnannarac]

Good to see a none Rings of Prime video in my feed!

[@venkelos6996]

I appreciate that Galadriel and Gandalf get along so well, and she even wanted him to lead the White Council, but I kind of wish that we had gotten more of any interactions between her and Saruman. She had some foresight, and definitely shrewdness. Did the White Wizard need to use his voice to lull the Lady of Lorien, or was he really that convincing? Did the Council just actually meet so little? I still find it hard to imagine Saruman dragging himself up, onto a horse, and riding from Isengard to Rivendell, or Lothlorien; certainly not frequently, so i wonder how long he had her fooled, or if she just let him play his part? She was able to partially pierce even Sauron's charismatic obfuscation, so I wonder how Saruman maintained his ploy, apart from simply being isolated?

[@Makkaru112]

Saruman never served Sauron nor bent to him at all in the books. The Gandalf locked in the Tower bit is explained ONLY in the Unfinished Tales Book: In [manuscript-C) The Black Riders arrived at the Gate of Isengard while Gandalf was still a prisoner in the tower. In this account, Saruman, in fear & despair, & perceiving the full horror of service to Mordor, resolved suddenly to yield to Gandalf, & to beg for his pardon & help. Temporizing at the Gate, he admitted that he had Gandalf within, & said that he would go & try to discover what he knew; if that were unavailing, he would deliver Gandalf up to them. Then Saruman hastened to the summit of Orthanc - & found Gandalf gone. Away south against the setting moon he saw a great Eagle flying towards Edoras. See, the thing is he was always master of studying the enemy & even being able to think like they do to always know exactly the best ways to handle ever situation and so on, but the thing is he didn't just become the enemy, he at this time in a sense for once actually grew afraid of him, probably Sauron did what Sauron did with Finrod Felagund in the duel of visions, (Galadriel’s elder brother who by the way was the most important in the Legendarium & is the main reason the third age even exists) which basically widdled Saruman with various visions of the past and future until it wore him down, but Saruman(Curumo) was the mostly already becoming weary due to what was called The Long Defeat, magic bleeding out from the lands of middle earth and subsequently certain things become less and less possible and the elves begin to go west. Even the ones who never wished to leave middle earth and many of which were born here by the thousands. So him also being a student and helper of Aulë of the Valar he was going to fight fire with fire and make a bid for the ring just so Sauron could never regain full power and if Saruman found a way to release himself from his power restrictions even by any small margin or worked with Eru in some way it might have worked out in the end if things went differently enough to where such action from him would be needed. Ontop of that he was growing ever jealous of Gandalf for he received the Varya from Círdan and prior to that was chosen by the other Valar, Nienna’s chosen champion to go to middle earth. But Gandalf(Olórin back then) refused over and over and exclaimed his fear of Sauron(Mairon), varya I feel would have kindle the heart of Saruman to stay strong as he had been fighting the evils of the world for a very long time since he had been sent to Middle Earth. And for the is reason Saruman wished to hold the ring at hostage. Keep Sauron from taking back his full strength and basically use it to stave off The Long Defeat. Saruman is very complex. The Hobbit movies actually shows how he was even 60 years ago during Bilbo’s story. He was one of the main forces thwarting Sauron for over 2000 years. The Númenoreans: the high men of the west; gifted Saruman with Orthanc which was of their making. Now known as Isengard. [[Correction given to me recently to which I’ll need to double check for myself regardless: The Númenoreans didn't give Isengard to Saruman, after Helm Hammerhand died, Saruman returned from his journeys in the far east, and sort of "occupied it by friendly force", Fréaláf (the new King of Rohan) told Saruman to contact Beren (Gondor's Steward), which gladly gave Orthanc's key to the wizard (grave mistake). ]] - Saruman is actually trying to doublecross sauron and wanted Gandalf to simply help him subdue toe rings evil so they could use it to defeat Sauron together as a single duo-unit. He wants the ring for himself for what was still a noble reason. He thinks he can control it. The little orcs around saruman are from mordor - sauron's orcs sent to help saruman but also to spy on him. The big fighting orcs - the uruk hai - are loyal only to Saruman. Orcs are like that. But it’s why Saruman’s orders are a bit vague - to avoid sauron's orcs knowing what Saruman is doing. The movies dont make this bit of the story very clear. But notice that, while Saruman knows where the fellowship is he never lets Sauron Know.

[@VanasTari]

A beautiful presentation of this subtle moral-conflict Galadriel briefly endured. She did not outright reject the Ring, for a fleeting moment, she was seduced. Yet she endured, and refocused, and so Galadriel remained, instead of a darker Self. Passing the test. Such a high-intelligent and Human (Elf) story.

[@geviesanta3631]

Honestly, whenever I watch the film, the Fellowship of the Ring, sometimes I, too, find myself asking about what kind of test Gladrial was referring to in what she passed to go into the west. I'm glad you made the video dedicated to this topic, Yoystan, it was great. 😊🖤🤍

[@jkdbuck7670]

The part in the movie reminds me of when they opened the Ark in Raiders. Even the music. For just a few seconds. Very good scene in the movie and Peter Jackson did well here. Someone once pointed out to me that Galadriel was not a Queen, but the Lady of Lothlorien. That's beautiful because it says she's humble as is Lord Celeborn.

[@Adamadam-zc6pe]

Thanks for not using any images of the supposed “Galadriel” from the show that shall not be named.

[@mtcelticharper]

I'm glad the revisions to her rebellion against the Valar that Tolkien considered in his final days did not really become canon. I like the redemptive arc and character growth she had to go through over the millennia far better - it makes her decision in this moment, and the revoking of her ban by the Valar, so much more poignant.

[@koreanelvis]

Cate Blanchett played this character brilliantly!! This Aussie star didn’t just grace the Elven World, but so many other films!!

[@MC-810]

5:13 Though of course, from the movie, not the book, I do love the discussion from which you took the screen capture. I love that Gandalf admits that he is afraid and that of all beings in Middle Earth, it is a little and unassuming Hobbit who gives him courage.

[@Makkaru112]

“I shall NOT be dark, all EVIL will despair” part 2 - All creatures whose flesh are nourished by the matter of Arda have a tendency towards Melkor AKA Morgoth, for greater or lesser. Since Melkor poured his evil power into the very existence and essence of the world(Morgoth’s Ring” book explains a lot including how and when he put a portion of his remaining power into the earth itself. Sure, Galadriel was born in the Undying Lands where there was supposed to be no evil (souls of the Elves are greatly less subject to making faulty decisions), but Galadriel & the rest of her father's kin were directly targeted by the Evil Lord himself. Melkor corrupted a decent portion of the Noldor, basically telling them things along the lines of “My Valarin kin are cooping you all up in Valinor.”, which wasn’t their ancestral homeland to begin with, like Middle Earth was, Some were affected little, most were affected to greater degrees, and Galadriel was the least affected woman by the lies of Melkor, which were “sweet but poisoned honey" as she’d call his words. Her natural pious tendency towards goodness & kindness as shown by her ability to read the hearts of everyone and all living beings around her which aids her to provide what anyone truly needs. Due to the magic bleeding from the world as the ages went on; thanks to Morgoth’s Ring poisoning the earth long ago; lead to a what if scenario in her mind as she’d be the only living creature left with the skills & power to even use the ring. She didn’t need her ring at all to block him out of her realm telepathically as well as read his mind from afar without him knowing. But there is a difference between good people who are a bit morally challenged and the evil people. The evil folk act upon their impulses and unlawful desires, while the good folk overcome such flaws within themselves (and for some not always they can masterfully do this). Galadriel WOULD NEVER listen to Melkor and tread the path of toxic pride and ambition. Galadriel has a Fëa spirit that’s only grown larger as the ages passed on and on. Enough to channel into an effect that threw down fortress walls, without tiring her at all. And with that much Fëa, she is capable of holding her own against Maiar for a good long while, much like her brother Finrod did against Sauron, or her uncle Fëanor did against Balrogs. Fëanor effectively lost all claim to the crown when he rebelled and dragged his entire house to Middle Earth. Where he promptly died a heroic death after slaying several Balrogs at the Dagor-nuin-Giliath; The Elves first encountered Lord Of Balrogs named Gothmog in the Dagor-nuin-Giliath; (meaning “the battle fought under stars”) before the first rising of the Moon. In that battle, Fëanor's fury had caused him to draw forward of the main force of the Noldor, and so he came upon Gothmog with only a small guard left around him that rushed so deep into enemy territory. Fëanor slayed 2 or 3 balrogs at once & Gothmog slayed him after one bound him suddenly with its primordial flame whip when he was supposed to have an uninterrupted “one on one” duel with Gothmog but one wasn’t wanting to play fair. But he was fatally wounded and so his sons and host moved him away to a safe place where his body burned up from the fires of his own spirit. Even with a lesser ring like Nenya, Galadriel had enough of a boost in her Fëa(spirit) , that she could sustain an unassailable magical realm against Maiar and virtually anything on Middle-Earth. Only problem was when Sauron wore the one ring, she had to take off Nenya, and had to lose that Maia level Fëa spirit from the modernly termed “boosted power up” With the one ring, Galadriel would have such a boost in her Fëa spirit, that she’d literally become stronger than the foundations of the Earth. She never once is called queen or desires to be called such a thing, she and her husband Celeborn became the wiseman and wisewoman of that realm; after the previous elven lord Amroth died, (how he died is shown in a wonderful song by Tolkien that was brought to life by Brociliande) and his wife Nimrodel disappeared ontop of the fact Amroth’s Successor later died as well in the “Last Alliance” where Amdir died, (same battle shown in the prologue to Fellowship Of The Ring), All Evil Despairs at her presence let alone hearing her name on the wind. (They even founded Eregion together. she gracefully left after Annatar>Sauron sowed seeds of rebellion against anyone that had any level of lineage connected to the Noldor.) The Nazgûl themselves avoid her realm every chance they get to the point of choosing to go the long way around for over 100 miles just to avoid her. (So she’s definitely scary to foul entities that have turned away from Eru Îlluvatar the one AllFather.) She’s a totally good character. Aragorn even says to the Fellowship as they enter Lothlórien, “There is in her and this land no evil, unless a man bring it hither himself. Then let him beware!” If you’re going by her portrayal in the movies, you might think she has an evil element to her character, but that came from Peter Jackson’s portrayal of the addictive, coercive power of the Ring. When Frodo offered her the Ring, it presented her with visions of herself as the all-powerful Goddess of Middle-Earth. Luckily, she was smart & intuitive enough to realize that the Ring was totally evil, and despite the best of intentions, it would have turned her evil in the end-but she still would have appeared to be beautiful and good. I don’t agree with Jackson’s “drowned Galadriel” portrayal of her being tempted by the Ring-I think she’d have appeared as a supernatural being of divine beauty, and her regular appearance was close to that already, but how do you show that in a movie? Apparently, in her youth in Valinor, she was somewhat of a rebel, but that’s not necessarily evil. She certainly could have fallen into the same trap as her uncle Fëanor did, of thinking that everyone was entitled to her opinion-but she kept her ego in check. (If you’re not sure what I’m referring to there; please read The Silmarillion and “Unfinished Tales”.) No matter how noble her reason was to use the ring as a last resort, especially if said fellowship fell off the “edge of the knife” as she called it. she had a change of heart which happened in the middle of talking to Frodo. Galadriel left Valinor(The Undying Lands) for a reason - and it was different from most of the other elves. She wasn’t with her uncle Fëanor, who wished to make war against Morgoth and retrieve the Silmarils - she was not wishing to go to war, and had no interest in the Silmarils in which Melkor stole from Fëanor which was the surviving light of the two trees of Valinor within them that the only Fëanor; the master of all elven smiths could have accomplished but it could not be done a second time as is any pure creation of one’s heart, especially in regards to the elves and Valar alike. Though she traveled with her other uncle, Fingolfin, her goals were not aligned completely with his either despite her full support of her noble and regal uncle Fingolfin in general. - They both wished to keep an eye on Fëanor and make sure the Noldor were in good hands - Galadriel wasn’t interested in Fëanor and wanted her own realm. After spending some time in Doriath, Galadriel and her husband Celeborn passed to the east out of Beleriand and passed eastward through Eriador and over the Misty Mountains; to where she founded her own realm in what became renamed as Lothlórien. Her motivation and goal was to preserve her realm, possibly at any means necessary. With Sauron’s return in the Third Age, Galadriel was forced to ask herself how far she would go to preserve her realm. If Frodo failed, she must forsake her own ring & her realm. If he succeeds, her ring will lose power and her realm will fade. Would she seize the ring, taking Sauron’s power for her own, to save her realm? She decided she would not. She had decided to “test” the Fellowship, to find some flaw that would allow her to justify seizing the ring, and she did find a flaw - in herself. She stated to Frodo, that by telling her that he would offer her the ring if she asked, that she had come to test his heart, but found that he was testing hers. She had a change of heart, she would pass into the West, and remain Galadriel. Which one is better? Being born completely good and living your whole life without any evil inside, or having a character growth ?

[@WhispyWoods.]

Great video 👍

[@isaacdunn6589]

I really love the way that the 1981 BBC dramatization LotR portrayed this moment.

[@isaacdunn6589]

I would highly recommend giving it a listen. It's a hidden gem within the world of Tolkien. It was produced by Bryan Sibley; a notable name within the Tolkien community.

[@TarMody]

Galadriel's desire to have a kingdom that she can rule as she wishes, which is the basis for her departure from Valinor, is in a way a weakness that requires her to need power in order to achieve this. I believe that the Valar, knowing this ambition within Galadriel, lifted the ban they had placed on her when they saw that she was being tested on whether or not to possess an element of power such as the One Ring. The main theme here is resistance to the corrupting influence of power, and Galadriel was able to do this.

[@Linnir]

A lore video to clear the palate. Thanks

[@awgates85]

I could be mistaken, as I have not read much material past the Silmaril, the Hobbit, and the LotRs, but I had always thought the Valar pardoned all of the Noldor at the end of the first age, Galadriel included, but her proud declining of it is what led to her ban.

[@shanenolan5625]

Thank you

[@Makkaru112]

“I shall NOT be Dark. (All evil) will despair”, The elves (Galadriel especially is one of the few remaining that existed before the sun & moon. They pre-existed day & night.) How utterly, completely terrifying do you think it would be for your whole world to irrevocably change in a matter of an hour? For the thousands of years of (what you would come to know as twilight to be abruptly ended in a profundity of genuinely painful light and an infinity of colour? Of the joy, wonder and terror of distinguishing the difference between green and blue for the very first time in your whole life?) She is talking about the immediate, majestic sublimity of reality that one experiences in it's totality for the very first time. How on earth could that not be so terrifying as to threaten one's sanity? Galadriel with the ring would be exactly as beautiful and horrifying. I personally would not know whether to weep bitterly and perfectly, or claw my eyes out through the sheer, unutterable terror of her being in such a circumstance. But know this: she was showing Frodo what would happen if someone else got the ring. She wasn’t tempted at all. Gandalf tells. Galadriel shows. See the difference now. Two sides of the same coin. Both were needed. (But yes there was a more fluid beauty full of colour before the rise of the sun. Her uncle, Fingolfin, whilst in middle earth beheld the first rising of the sun and to see this wide field before him in even more definition than before while he was in Middle Earth. This was also the beginning of the dominion of men.) - • “Beautiful & Terrible as the dawn” Galadriel was quite correct to call the morning and night both “beautiful and terrible…”. In truth the physical and metaphysical natures of morning and night were both by turns beautiful and terrible. First the morning. Physically the morning is the result of the golden fruit of Laurëlin, transformed into a vessel by Aulë’s craftsmen, hallowed by Varda and piloted by the fiery Maiarin spirit Arien. The sun was so terrifyingly powerful that its radiance instilled fear even into Melkor’s heart and defied the assault of his minions. She literally gave up her physical form to take her original form and enveloped the sun; becoming its flames we see today. Physically the sun is a beautiful golden orb yet it is simultaneously terrifying in its intensity and cannot be observed directly for more than an instant without pain. Metaphysically the morning is beautiful because it diminishes the evil power of those creatures who haunt the night, gives strength to the righteous and because it illuminates the serene loveliness of Valinor and Middle-earth. Metaphysically the morning is terrible because it obscures the light of the stars and sheds light on the ugly reality of Arda Marred, whose very substance is corrupted by the power of Melkor. Last the night. The night is the Void surrounding the globe of Arda, which existed even before the creation of the Ainur at the beginning of time itself. Physically the beauty of the night lies in the fact . Physically the terror of the night is that it conceals the beauty of Arda and limits the senses of the elves and gives strength to the creatures of evil such as orcs, trolls and the Ringwraiths. Metaphysically the night is beautiful because it is during the hours of darkness that the stars of Varda, the most beloved creations for the elves, shine most brightly. Metaphysically the terror of the night for elves, who are irretrievably bound to the world of Arda, is that the Void represents the interstellar coldness which is the prison of Morgoth. Terrible in its more original archaic form didn’t always mean “bad” (the sun stuff was to move it into a place where Melkor couldn’t go by virtue of how the Valar and Maiar are bound to the world until it’s ending; (which isn’t the true end either. It’s deep stuff. There ends up another song of creation which all kindreds take part in and working with the powers of that long ago past of our world to rebuild everything. Even the Mountains too, healing it after Dagor Dagorath, Also known as the final battle, the worlds ending. Becoming the greater version of the original form before Melkor’s discord into the first music and so forth which dictated eventually what all ended up ensuing when they entered the world the first time which also was interesting because when they entered it after seeing the complete version it hadn’t been done yet so that was millions of years of work which lead to Middle Earth and the other lands being the remnants of it. Including Valinor being the only remnant of an even older world. At that time of building and tending to the world when the world was young.)

[@Ahmed_helmy81]

Hey there, can you make a playlist for people who would like to start the history of middle earth from scratch? Thanks

[@MenoftheWest]

Already have one! Should be on our playlist part of the channel. Thanks!

[@Ahmed_helmy81]

@@MenoftheWest thank you, found it :)

[@Dr_Cole]

It shows how broad Tolkien’s story had developed already to think of an extensive background for Galadriel while writing LotR.

[@jacobshore5115]

I guess I do wonder if she knew for sure whether the Valar would forgive her. I mean, sure, she passed the test, but I dunno if there was a guarantee that the Valar would have accepted that.

[@Makkaru112]

She literally saved the world in many ways. And had been offered to return and she stayed yet again especially to not abandon mankind to Sauron who was always the business of the elves and especially the ainur which he is their kin anyway.

[@ghostdreamer7272]

I think she just felt it in her bones. Also, I know in some versions Galadriel was never specifically banned, and just chose to remain, after the end of the First Stage. In yet another version, Galadriel was already in the process of leaving Valinor and with the Valar’s acceptance before The Two Trees died.

[@radagast7200]

Bilbo had his own test when he left the shire the second and last time.

[@onepcwhiz6847]

Try not to kiss her son-in-law. She failed.

[@Etnannarac]

SAD!

[@lincolngravemann682]

I was hoping this was a joke and horrified that it wasn't

[@Jay-ql4gp]

@@lincolngravemann682 I don't think anything in The Rings of Power actually count.

[@DarthAchilles88]

*banjo music from Deliverance

[@daniels7907]

Stacey's Mom Has Got It Going On! (Well, Celebrien's Mom)

[@danielamckee5435]

I wonder what happened with all of them, when they did return to Valinor. I mean, King Turgon, Galadriel, and all the others that were kings in Middle Earth. Did they preserved their followers when they return to Valinor? How were they received when they returned? Did the elves who never rebelled accepted them like nothing ever happened? Was there any discrimination because of all that happened? What did they do as far as earning a living?

[@Makkaru112]

Heck. Even Fingolfin and Fëanor reconciled together while they were in halls of Mandos Together.

[@Makkaru112]

Earning a living? They don’t have day jobs in Valanor (as it’s called by the elves.)

[@Makkaru112]

Galadriel's rank did rise in Valinor during her absence in Middle Earth.Prior to her departure, she was the youngest daughter of the youngest son of the second wife of High King of the Noldor, Finwë. This put her roughly eighteenth in line for the Noldorin crown behind her father Finarfin, uncles; Fingolfin & Fëanor, aunt, and all other children of Fëanor: Maedhros, Maglor, Celegorm, Curufin, Caranthir, Amrod, Amras(the last two were the youngest that were practically teenagers when they were basically made to go with their father despite Nerdanel pleaing for her two youngest sons to remain in Valinor with her. Fëanor effectively lost all claim to the crown when he rebelled and dragged his entire house to Middle Earth. Where he promptly died a heroic death after slaying several Balrogs at the Dagor-nuin-Giliath; The Elves first encountered Lord Of Balrogs named Gothmog in the Dagor-nuin-Giliath; (meaning “the battle fought under stars”) before the first rising of the Moon. In that battle, Fëanor's fury had caused him to draw forward of the main force of the Noldor, and so he came upon Gothmog with only a small guard left around him that rushed so deep into enemy territory. Fëanor slayed 2 or 3 balrogs at once & Gothmog slayed him after one bound him suddenly with its primordial flame whip when he was supposed to have an uninterrupted “one on one” duel with Gothmog but one wasn’t wanting to play fair. But he was fatally wounded and so his sons and host moved him away to a safe place where his body burned up from the fires of his own spirit. His entire line was extinguished through a series of disastrous choices starting with their high spirited oath to take on Morgoth even if it meant to slight Manwë, “Chieftain Of The Valar” & Eru Îlluvatar; (God). Manwë was the counterpart and brother of Melkor; (now Morgoth). With the possible exception of Maglor; Who may now haunt the shores of Middle Earth as a melancholy wandering shade as self punishment for his many sins. Fëanor’s half brothers; Fingolfin, made the journey to Middle Earth mostly out of concern for the well-being of the Ñoldorin people in exile. His line was also utterly extinguished by war and conflict with Morgoth and Sauron. This leaves Galadriel's father Finarfin. Finarfin heeded the warnings of Mandos(Namò); and turned back, Returning to Valinor. Assuming the crown of High King of the Noldor in Valinor. At first, the position was somewhat ad hoc because higher ranking Noldor technically existed in exile. However, ALL of them died and fell into the Halls of Mandos. This warning wasn’t some sort of bossy command or demand to return to Valinor, but instead was foretelling the woe & heartbreak that’d follow those whoever pursue Morgoth at this time in such a fashion no matter how hot the virtuous fire burned within their Fëa(Spirit). Remember. Morgoth killed his father (Finwë, Galadriel’s grandfather.) ontop of the fact his mother being the literal first death to ever occur within Valinor and elven kind. They were supposed to be safe in Valinor after his ancestors made the great journey, ending up settling in Valinor on the behest of the Vala Oromë who found his great ancestors. They were in huge danger at this time, and if they continued their prolonged living on the landmass terrorized by Melkor/Morgoth, they’d not long last if they were left exposed to him any longer so that’s what lead to the great journey. But during that journey several sub clans of elves were born from where other groups decided to settle along the way, other groups never left their original ancestral region. By the end of the Third Age, Finarfin had become the undisputed, rightful High King of the Ñoldor. His living children are therefore at the top of the line of succession. Under normal circumstances, this would mean that Galadriel is the heir to the crown. However, her eldest brother Finrod Felegund was such a super good dude that the powers that be gave him a free pass on the whole remaining dead thing(as for many reasons it took a long time before an elf can reembody again and begin to live in those lands. He was allowed to reincarnate almost as soon as his soul returned to the Undying Lands(Valinor). Depending on how they died and the current state of their spirit ontop of their own self imposed shackles they may remain in Mandos for quite a long time. Other lengths of time are due to the level of trauma they had before death etc. Still. Galadriel has little room to complain. When she left Valinor, she was last in line behind her father, and all of her uncles, siblings and cousins. As well as an ever growing list of their children. When she returned, she was second in line behind only her older brother. Besides. The high kingship went hugely deserving to the third king who ruled with Finwë equally: Ingwë himself.

[@Makkaru112]

Galadriel’s rank did rise part 2 - Her other two brothers are still in the Halls Of Mandos, one might have been able to earn a new body but the other essentially wished to never take a body again until the ending of this world whilst he closely held the spirit of a human lady that was his lover he was betrothed to wed and probably have children of his own. But both Aegnor and Angrod(Galadriel’s elder brothers); had to take part in what became The War Of Wrath. Both died at some point during that 80 year long war within the great ancestral lands of Beleriand. Mankind cannot persist in Mandos for their spirit ventures beyond the circles of the world (The Gift Of Men; Death. This was essentially so Morgoth couldn’t kidnap and lure all of the spirits of mankind and bent them to his own devices. Genius thing really, because Valar & Maiar are bound to this world equally as much as the Eldar were as well, The Elves. This is why one of Galadriel’s elder brothers named Aegnor and his love love Andreth was such a unique thing because his love for her transcended the very rules of the world as they currently stood, until what has become known as the final battle where Morgoth frees himself from the Void, gets defeated at the final battle, “end of the world”, and the world is remade afterwards, becoming greater than the original design of the world ontop of all the wisdom gained through the hardships and romances of Arda-marred. Where living in true peace could be truly appreciated.

[@ghostdreamer7272]

@@Makkaru112succession shouldn’t even exist, never mind mean anything, when the people are immortal. Neither does rulership when under governance of the Valar directly. The society in Valinor seems closer to a a peaceful anarchist way of being.

[@maxmercer1931]

I guess Galadriel saw Frodo heel-turning in the Cracks of Doom and starting a HomeOwners Association in the Shire

[@Jakblade]

The test was to not run off with her crazy EX Sauron again lol Halbrand rizz so hard to resist 😂😂😂

[@vdimasteremeritus]

The test is whether she could resist the ring. All people - with the exception of Frodo - who could not resist the ring died. The test was about pursuing power - which she passed.

[@AlexisLopez-pb8ms]

I wish Amazon would watch your videos. AHHH It’s too late at this point 😢

[@aurinrakkun8589]

One of the most disappointing cuts made to the theatrical LOTR movies was the part at the Mirror where she showed Nenya to Frodo. It really would’ve shown why Frodo was moved to wake up and find her, instead of people thinking he was called because he bore the One. In the movie-verse, Gandalf told her Bilbo gave him courage, and here’s another hobbit, Bilbo’s nephew, with the same ring. I like to think she remembered what Gandalf said all those years ago, and it made her rejecting the lure of the Ring just a bit easier.

[@humpadumpathump5918]

What are your thoughts on the Amazon show? I’m seeing a lot of hater comments. You mentioned that Galadriel was prideful and over ambitious when she was younger. She never used to be the way she was due to growth. Isn’t that what we want in any story? A hero’s journey towards something better. The writers were given artistic liberty, not autistic liberty, to make a show that would appeal to a general audience-based on few records written by Tolkien. Kissing Elrond was by far the worst part though, anyone can agree to that.

[@genghisgalahad8465]

The power of a kind of negative visualization and simply allowing it to be what it is without trying to take it on! ⚫️ 🌅 🌊 🌎 😢 (follow-up for those who have yet only seen the films: what exactly tilted him and when did Saruman the Wise abandon reason for madness?)

[@Destroyer94100]

You mention Galadriel is nearly equal to Sauron in power, how is that even possible though? Sauron is a Maia and one of the most powerful of Maiar at that. Surely Sauron is literal tiers above Galadriel.

[@YamiAi]

With the ring, maybe close.

[@jorislemoine1488]

I don’t think we should consider the Doom of Mandos to be a curse. It is not the Valar who put the ardour for dominion in the breasts and minds of the Noldor. They just were that way, of Fëanor awakened the slumbering ember of it in their hearts. Mandos only foretells the future: that those who refuse the gifts of the Valar (which Valinor is) and those who follow that which the Valar consider wrong and prideful: greed and vengeance, will be shut out of Valinor. They shut themselves out. So the Doom is more of a moral condemnation of character than it is a curse, a condemnation that the stipulate the consequences of: if you continue down this road, you will come to ruin. And it is indeed that which Galadriel finally understood, and when tempted, she was finally able to overcome.

[@FireLordJohn3191]

Andy Serkis reads it pretty good.

[@Makkaru112]

Best video about him and the first great reader of the books by Silmarillion Soudtrack Channel.

[@brim5792]

her real test would be to sit through every rings of power episode that has butchered everything we love about her

[@jackolantern147]

Destroying the One Ring would be an easier task.

[@FireLordJohn3191]

I wouldn't force her into that trial. That's just mean.

[@maxmercer1931]

Why wasn't Isildur super powerful when he had the Ring? He was Numenorean after all

[@JohnPopcorn06]

I dont believe you. Her test was jumping out of the ship going to Valinor and swimming back to ME.

[@Makkaru112]

Nice satire

[@madambutterfly1997]

Galadriel. Daughter of Noldor and Telaeri Granddaughter of Vanyar Wife of Sindar

[@Makkaru112]

Teleri

[@Makkaru112]

Her literal father was half Vanyar.

[@risteard11]

Can someone please tell me where and when elves and hobbits had pointy ears? I ask because I have never found if in any part of the Canon. So why does the artwork portray the elves, especially, and hobbits in the films, as having pointy ears?

[@animistchannel]

Tolkien did a painting of an elf in 1928, and those who have seen the original say the elf clearly has pointed ears. The digitized version of it I could find online is not high enough resolution for me to tell for sure. As for hobbits, I have no idea why the movies pointed their ears -- I thought it was a weird choice at the time. Just a way of making them look different from other human types, I guess, but Tolkien seemed to put them in the mannish family, not the elvish. Depicting elves and fairies with pointed ears was a Victorian era art style, and I've never seen a reference to it in old norse sources that I've encountered directly, or heard about from other researchers. Personally, I kinda like it, because it suggests or evokes a feline grace (and perhaps simultaneously a predatory nature) that is otherwise hard to show in a still picture.

[@risteard11]

@@animistchannel Thank you. I was unaware of Professor Tolkien’s art piece. I’ll be on the look out for it in future. And I am aware of the Victorian era influences. That said my own imaginings of elves see them as slightly taller than men but not as broad shouldered. Yet more powerful in both body and mind. (If that makes any sense). And I’ll admit I’ve never imagined them as feline or predatory (some of the elven characters in The Silmarillion certainly are).

[@Makkaru112]

@@risteard11you’re fine as long as the ears are not giant Spock ears like other rip off shows and even from the epic WarHammer or World Of Warcraft.

[@kaidorade1317]

To pass the Mongolian drivers test. If you know, you know;) (it’s brutal)

[@neildaly2635]

Commercial driving test. I saw her pulling a set of doubles not two hours ago.

[@madambutterfly1997]

What if the balrog commander Gothmog was still alive by the time of the third and had survived the fall of Sauron would he become the third dark lord in his own right

[@Jay-ql4gp]

❤

[@madambutterfly1997]

In place of a dark lord you would have a queen

[@g3heathen209]

Beautiful and terrible, all whould love her and despair.

[@Makkaru112]

@@g3heathen209”I shall NOT be dark. All EVIL shall despair.” You’ll love my part one and two comments dicing deep into her iconic line!

[@devfar9727YAK]

This is so refreshing after all of the junk relating to ROP.

[@daniels7907]

Seems obvious, the test was to see if she could control her ambition, or not. The One Ring was the perfect testing tool for this. The temptation of it's power would be great. Galadriel, strong as she was, *could* have outmatched Sauron had she taken it. But she would no longer be Galadriel as she became the ruler of Middle-earth. Besides, her father (and presumably mother) were still alive in Valinor, as was her brother Finrod and likely her other brothers. Also, her daughter. She chose to return to her family instead of becoming a Dark Lady. That said, the test was hypocritical. Eonwe offered freakin' *SAURON* the opportunity to go back to Valinor and repent at the end of the War of Wrath! The Ainur were always more forgiving of their own than they were of the Elves, and most of them seemed to hold Men in outright contempt, perhaps because any rulership they might have over them would be inherently transitory since the Doom of Men meant that they couldn't hold them in Arda indefinitely, not even as spirits.

[@Makkaru112]

“I shall NOT be Dark. (All evil) will despair”, The elves (Galadriel especially is one of the few remaining that existed before the sun & moon. They pre-existed day & night.) How utterly, completely terrifying do you think it would be for your whole world to irrevocably change in a matter of an hour? For the thousands of years of (what you would come to know as twilight to be abruptly ended in a profundity of genuinely painful light and an infinity of colour? Of the joy, wonder and terror of distinguishing the difference between green and blue for the very first time in your whole life?) She is talking about the immediate, majestic sublimity of reality that one experiences in it's totality for the very first time. How on earth could that not be so terrifying as to threaten one's sanity? Galadriel with the ring would be exactly as beautiful and horrifying. I personally would not know whether to weep bitterly and perfectly, or claw my eyes out through the sheer, unutterable terror of her being in such a circumstance. But know this: she was showing Frodo what would happen if someone else got the ring. She wasn’t tempted at all. Gandalf tells. Galadriel shows. See the difference now. Two sides of the same coin. Both were needed. (But yes there was a more fluid beauty full of colour before the rise of the sun. Her uncle, Fingolfin, whilst in middle earth beheld the first rising of the sun and to see this wide field before him in even more definition than before while he was in Middle Earth. This was also the beginning of the dominion of men.) - • “Beautiful & Terrible as the dawn” Galadriel was quite correct to call the morning and night both “beautiful and terrible…”. In truth the physical and metaphysical natures of morning and night were both by turns beautiful and terrible. First the morning. Physically the morning is the result of the golden fruit of Laurëlin, transformed into a vessel by Aulë’s craftsmen, hallowed by Varda and piloted by the fiery Maiarin spirit Arien. The sun was so terrifyingly powerful that its radiance instilled fear even into Melkor’s heart and defied the assault of his minions. She literally gave up her physical form to take her original form and enveloped the sun; becoming its flames we see today. Physically the sun is a beautiful golden orb yet it is simultaneously terrifying in its intensity and cannot be observed directly for more than an instant without pain. Metaphysically the morning is beautiful because it diminishes the evil power of those creatures who haunt the night, gives strength to the righteous and because it illuminates the serene loveliness of Valinor and Middle-earth. Metaphysically the morning is terrible because it obscures the light of the stars and sheds light on the ugly reality of Arda Marred, whose very substance is corrupted by the power of Melkor. Last the night. The night is the Void surrounding the globe of Arda, which existed even before the creation of the Ainur at the beginning of time itself. Physically the beauty of the night lies in the fact . Physically the terror of the night is that it conceals the beauty of Arda and limits the senses of the elves and gives strength to the creatures of evil such as orcs, trolls and the Ringwraiths. Metaphysically the night is beautiful because it is during the hours of darkness that the stars of Varda, the most beloved creations for the elves, shine most brightly. Metaphysically the terror of the night for elves, who are irretrievably bound to the world of Arda, is that the Void represents the interstellar coldness which is the prison of Morgoth. Terrible in its more original archaic form didn’t always mean “bad” (the sun stuff was to move it into a place where Melkor couldn’t go by virtue of how the Valar and Maiar are bound to the world until it’s ending; (which isn’t the true end either. It’s deep stuff. There ends up another song of creation which all kindreds take part in and working with the powers of that long ago past of our world to rebuild everything. Even the Mountains too, healing it after Dagor Dagorath, Also known as the final battle, the worlds ending. Becoming the greater version of the original form before Melkor’s discord into the first music and so forth which dictated eventually what all ended up ensuing when they entered the world the first time which also was interesting because when they entered it after seeing the complete version it hadn’t been done yet so that was millions of years of work which lead to Middle Earth and the other lands being the remnants of it. Including Valinor being the only remnant of an even older world. At that time of building and tending to the world when the world was young.)

[@Makkaru112]

The Ainur never once tried to rule over or subjugate the Elves. Oromë brought some to that remaining land (because Morgoth was already tormenting the elves ancestors and didn’t want to risk them being fully taken over by Morgoth), from a huge landmass that doesn’t exist anymore long before any elf awoke to the stars eons after those events between Melkor (Now Morgoth) and his clashing with everyone else more and more.

[@Makkaru112]

“I shall NOT be dark, all EVIL will despair” part 2 - All creatures whose flesh are nourished by the matter of Arda have a tendency towards Melkor AKA Morgoth, for greater or lesser. Since Melkor poured his evil power into the very existence and essence of the world(Morgoth’s Ring” book explains a lot including how and when he put a portion of his remaining power into the earth itself. Sure, Galadriel was born in the Undying Lands where there was supposed to be no evil (souls of the Elves are greatly less subject to making faulty decisions), but Galadriel & the rest of her father's kin were directly targeted by the Evil Lord himself. Melkor corrupted a decent portion of the Noldor, basically telling them things along the lines of “My Valarin kin are cooping you all up in Valinor.”, which wasn’t their ancestral homeland to begin with, like Middle Earth was, Some were affected little, most were affected to greater degrees, and Galadriel was the least affected woman by the lies of Melkor, which were “sweet but poisoned honey" as she’d call his words. Her natural pious tendency towards goodness & kindness as shown by her ability to read the hearts of everyone and all living beings around her which aids her to provide what anyone truly needs. Due to the magic bleeding from the world as the ages went on; thanks to Morgoth’s Ring poisoning the earth long ago; lead to a what if scenario in her mind as she’d be the only living creature left with the skills & power to even use the ring. She didn’t need her ring at all to block him out of her realm telepathically as well as read his mind from afar without him knowing. But there is a difference between good people who are a bit morally challenged and the evil people. The evil folk act upon their impulses and unlawful desires, while the good folk overcome such flaws within themselves (and for some not always they can masterfully do this). Galadriel WOULD NEVER listen to Melkor and tread the path of toxic pride and ambition. Galadriel has a Fëa spirit that’s only grown larger as the ages passed on and on. Enough to channel into an effect that threw down fortress walls, without tiring her at all. And with that much Fëa, she is capable of holding her own against Maiar for a good long while, much like her brother Finrod did against Sauron, or her uncle Fëanor did against Balrogs. Fëanor effectively lost all claim to the crown when he rebelled and dragged his entire house to Middle Earth. Where he promptly died a heroic death after slaying several Balrogs at the Dagor-nuin-Giliath; The Elves first encountered Lord Of Balrogs named Gothmog in the Dagor-nuin-Giliath; (meaning “the battle fought under stars”) before the first rising of the Moon. In that battle, Fëanor's fury had caused him to draw forward of the main force of the Noldor, and so he came upon Gothmog with only a small guard left around him that rushed so deep into enemy territory. Fëanor slayed 2 or 3 balrogs at once & Gothmog slayed him after one bound him suddenly with its primordial flame whip when he was supposed to have an uninterrupted “one on one” duel with Gothmog but one wasn’t wanting to play fair. But he was fatally wounded and so his sons and host moved him away to a safe place where his body burned up from the fires of his own spirit. Even with a lesser ring like Nenya, Galadriel had enough of a boost in her Fëa(spirit) , that she could sustain an unassailable magical realm against Maiar and virtually anything on Middle-Earth. Only problem was when Sauron wore the one ring, she had to take off Nenya, and had to lose that Maia level Fëa spirit from the modernly termed “boosted power up” With the one ring, Galadriel would have such a boost in her Fëa spirit, that she’d literally become stronger than the foundations of the Earth. She never once is called queen or desires to be called such a thing, she and her husband Celeborn became the wiseman and wisewoman of that realm; after the previous elven lord Amroth died, (how he died is shown in a wonderful song by Tolkien that was brought to life by Brociliande) and his wife Nimrodel disappeared ontop of the fact Amroth’s Successor later died as well in the “Last Alliance” where Amdir died, (same battle shown in the prologue to Fellowship Of The Ring), All Evil Despairs at her presence let alone hearing her name on the wind. (They even founded Eregion together. she gracefully left after Annatar>Sauron sowed seeds of rebellion against anyone that had any level of lineage connected to the Noldor.) The Nazgûl themselves avoid her realm every chance they get to the point of choosing to go the long way around for over 100 miles just to avoid her. (So she’s definitely scary to foul entities that have turned away from Eru Îlluvatar the one AllFather.) She’s a totally good character. Aragorn even says to the Fellowship as they enter Lothlórien, “There is in her and this land no evil, unless a man bring it hither himself. Then let him beware!” If you’re going by her portrayal in the movies, you might think she has an evil element to her character, but that came from Peter Jackson’s portrayal of the addictive, coercive power of the Ring. When Frodo offered her the Ring, it presented her with visions of herself as the all-powerful Goddess of Middle-Earth. Luckily, she was smart & intuitive enough to realize that the Ring was totally evil, and despite the best of intentions, it would have turned her evil in the end-but she still would have appeared to be beautiful and good. I don’t agree with Jackson’s “drowned Galadriel” portrayal of her being tempted by the Ring-I think she’d have appeared as a supernatural being of divine beauty, and her regular appearance was close to that already, but how do you show that in a movie? Apparently, in her youth in Valinor, she was somewhat of a rebel, but that’s not necessarily evil. She certainly could have fallen into the same trap as her uncle Fëanor did, of thinking that everyone was entitled to her opinion-but she kept her ego in check. (If you’re not sure what I’m referring to there; please read The Silmarillion and “Unfinished Tales”.) No matter how noble her reason was to use the ring as a last resort, especially if said fellowship fell off the “edge of the knife” as she called it. she had a change of heart which happened in the middle of talking to Frodo. Galadriel left Valinor(The Undying Lands) for a reason - and it was different from most of the other elves. She wasn’t with her uncle Fëanor, who wished to make war against Morgoth and retrieve the Silmarils - she was not wishing to go to war, and had no interest in the Silmarils in which Melkor stole from Fëanor which was the surviving light of the two trees of Valinor within them that the only Fëanor; the master of all elven smiths could have accomplished but it could not be done a second time as is any pure creation of one’s heart, especially in regards to the elves and Valar alike. Though she traveled with her other uncle, Fingolfin, her goals were not aligned completely with his either despite her full support of her noble and regal uncle Fingolfin in general. - They both wished to keep an eye on Fëanor and make sure the Noldor were in good hands - Galadriel wasn’t interested in Fëanor and wanted her own realm. After spending some time in Doriath, Galadriel and her husband Celeborn passed to the east out of Beleriand and passed eastward through Eriador and over the Misty Mountains; to where she founded her own realm in what became renamed as Lothlórien. Her motivation and goal was to preserve her realm, possibly at any means necessary. With Sauron’s return in the Third Age, Galadriel was forced to ask herself how far she would go to preserve her realm. If Frodo failed, she must forsake her own ring & her realm. If he succeeds, her ring will lose power and her realm will fade. Would she seize the ring, taking Sauron’s power for her own, to save her realm? She decided she would not. She had decided to “test” the Fellowship, to find some flaw that would allow her to justify seizing the ring, and she did find a flaw - in herself. She stated to Frodo, that by telling her that he would offer her the ring if she asked, that she had come to test his heart, but found that he was testing hers. She had a change of heart, she would pass into the West, and remain Galadriel. Which one is better? Being born completely good and living your whole life without any evil inside, or having a character growth ?

[@6atlantis]

If Galadriel is related Feanor, is she related to Celebrimbor?

[@Makkaru112]

Yup. And she’s related to Legolas as well

[@Makkaru112]

Celebrimbor is the son of Curufin (I thought Celegorm), one of the seven sons of Fëanor (who was her half uncle).

[@6atlantis]

So why is everyone up in arms about Elrond kissing Galadriel to free her from imprisonment when Celebrimbor had an unrequited love with her for ages?

[@istari0]

@@6atlantis In the Lore, Galadriel is Elrond's mother-in-law. And to have an obvious romantic kiss as a ploy to facilitate the passing of the pin was completely unnecessary. There were also multiple witnesses to easily see Elrond handing Galadriel the pin.

[@6atlantis]

@@istari0 adars chief orc, Revion I believe, was meant to see Elrond give her the pin.

[@flygon117]

Lacking in rings of power. I don’t know what that show is

[@martykitson3442]

🤠👍👍

[@korndog87]

wasnt she part miar as well??? wasnt her granny a full miar

[@pandoraeeris7860]

It was a math test.

[@alanmike6883]

I wonder if elrond ever sung celebrians mum has got it going on 😊😅👍

[@alanmike6883]

To not try And not be the grandmother that Made out with her son in law yoystan. Man celeborn Is so olded 😅 Must be interesting on birthday gatherings 😅👍

[@Selandir]

Im sorry but this video seemed very "read the wiki" for me. Lotr lore channels are getting lazy. Even if you dont have more material... share some insight or thoughts.

[@geovanl]

The nofap tast

[@ProudGooner]

Avoiding Elrond’s kiss but she failed in her task!

[@yodaslovetoy]

She had to pass her G.C.S.E for being EPIC

[@markstott6689]

I think that at this stage, Galadriel has just earned her Ph.D. in humility. 😊❤😊

[@outspokenguy3834]

Thank you for not mention the bastardisation of his works in your vid.