Throughout his life, Eomer is faced with hardships and rather than seeking more power to right the wrongs done to him, he strategically uses the power he has to achieve his goals. As a result of his focus and humble power, he is often rewarded.
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There are a few essential details from his life that highlight the importance of his character’s symbolism in the story, beginning with his name. Eomer Eadig is his full name. The first part means “Horse-famous” and the last part means “the blessed” because under his rule, Rohan flourished.
He and his sister, Eowyn, are the children of Theodwyn, the sister of Theoden, the king of Rohan. When both their parents are dead and they are left orphaned, Theoden takes them in as his own children. Theoden loved Eomer and Eowyn like they were his own kids and they loved him like a father, in return.
He was the 18th king of Rohan. After the passing of his uncle, Theoden, and his cousin, Theodred, he assumed the throne. This was one of the many ways that he was rewarded. He was undeniably loyal to his uncle and cousin and never sought to take their power so Theoden didn’t even have to think about his decision in leaving the kingdom to Eomer.
His ability as king came as a result of his wisdom as a warrior. He was practically raised to kill Orcs and fight for his kingdom. His father had been killed by Orcs and he was trained in combat from a young age, making him a very skilled warrior. Most of his experience in fighting is against Orcs, making him a prime leader for the battles that he will take part in.
As a result of his training and experience, he was the third Marshal of Ridermark. Theoden deemed him so after becoming familiar with his nephew’s abilities and courage. This was the exact position that his father once filled, making it a very personal accomplishment for him. He does not, however, become cocky when he assumes this position and serves as a reliable and trustworthy leader to his men.
Much of his success as a soldier is due to his intuitive approach. When the men of Rohan attacked the Orcs and Uruk-hai (who happened to have Merry and Pippin) at Fangorn Forest, it was against the orders of his Uncle, who was under the influence of Grima Wormtongue. Eomer was suspicious of Grima’s control over his uncle and felt compelled to go ahead with the attack, which was a success. There’s also the instance where he leant Aragorn and his party horses, trusting the strangers to return the animals.
Eomer even bonded with the members of the fellowship through battle, proving himself to them as a warrior and an ally. Gimli saved him from Orcs, and he constantly offered Aragorn his counsel and advice. This would prove beneficial to his future relationship with Aragorn and the other members of the fellowship.
He also fights for justice, not duty. He’s not the type of soldier that fights because he’s told to, but because he observes that it needs to happen. A prime example of this is when Theoden passes on the battlefield in front of Eomer, and Eowyn appears to be dead nearby, giving Eomer a jolt of motivation to continue fighting. His spirit cannot be easily broken because he is driven by the right things.
Another great quality that makes him a figure that represents what a leader should be is his ability to give credit where credit is due. He healed Merry and had him knighted as a knight of the Riddermark for his courage in assisting Eowyn in battle. Further, in return for aiding Rohan in battle, he follows the fellowship into their battle. Whenever someone does a favor, he is sure to return it.
Most importantly, he is loyal to those he loves before he’s loyal to himself. On multiple occasions he risks imprisonment, banishment, and even his own life to protect or help others. One of the best examples is how tries to stick around Rohan to look out for Eowyn when he begins to notice Grima watching her.
He was even the reason that his sister, Eowyn, was revived. Her injuries from battle were worsened by her heartbreak over being rejected by Aragorn. Though Aragorn was who healed her, she did not regain consciousness until she heard Eomer’s voice. Her love for her brother was a love that could not waver the same way as romantic love and so it was strong enough to pull her back to reality.
By the end of the Lord of the Rings story, he swore an alliance with Aragorn, creating a union between the people of Rohan and the people of Gondor. This hints to a brighter future for the lands of men in Middle-earth. He also married princess Lothriel, of Dol Amroth, creating another valuable union between the lands of men. They had one son together, named Elfwine, who would take his own turn as ruler after his father.
Though he was not a character that was continually used in the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit stories, the qualities of his character prove that it’s sometimes the smaller characters in a tale that best embody its message. It would, after all, make the story boring if the main character was already a great hero. Nonetheless, the character qualities of Eomer make him a character that stands out in this story, no matter how short his role is.
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