Éowyn

from The Lord of the Rings books by J. R. R. Tolkien

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“ 'What do you fear, lady?' he asked.
'A cage,' she said.”


'But no living man am I!' "

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Here be spoilers. If you haven't read the books, look away. 

Éowyn is royal. She adores her family and wants to help rid their country of the evil that is threatening to overtake them - which is originating right in her uncle's own court - but because she is a woman, she can't ride into battle and raise her sword against them.

There are very few female characters in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, but thankfully, Éowyn has a chance to shine (and hang out with hobbits!) She takes matters into her own hands and breaks free, and goes into battle, succeeding where others had failed. It is only after her triumph that she has a change of heart, and decides on her own terms that she is through with war. She wishes instead to become a healer.

She doesn't decide, well, I can't have what I want, so I may as well be a healer, that's good. No, she actually fulfills what she's always wanted to do, succeeds, and then decides to turn her focus elsewhere towards something that still helps her land, but in a different way.

(I feel the need to add that today is another literary day - today was the day that Horton heard a Who!)