Why Arwen Was Dying in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

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In the movie directed by Peter Jackson, titled “: The Return of the King“, Arwen found herself at a crossroads. She had to choose whether to sail with her Elven kin to the Realms of the Blessed (Undying Lands). This idyllic place would grant her eternal peace, but it meant saying goodbye to her beloved Aragorn in Middle-earth forever. Encouraged by her father, Elrond, she embarked on her journey towards the Grey Havens, the departure point for the Undying Lands. Yet, during her voyage, she experienced a vision of their future child, Eldarion. This revelation led Arwen to opt for Middle-earth instead. To solidify her choice, she relinquished her Elven immortality. Speaking to Elrond, she declared, “My decision, Father, stands firm. No ship now can take me away from here.

After Arwen transformed into mortal form, it appeared as though she was succumbing to an ailment, which wasn’t depicted in J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” novel. For the remainder of the movie, she was largely seen lying down in Rivendell, anxiously waiting for Aragorn’s return or her own end. When he returned, he learned that Arwen was near death due to the darkness spreading from Mordor. As Sauron’s power grew, so did the threat to Arwen’s life, as her existence became tied to the fate of the Ring. This intensified Aragorn’s determination to win the War of the Ring, providing him with a deeply personal reason to fight. Furthermore, it was this impending loss that ultimately prompted him to embrace his destiny as the King of Gondor. However, one may wonder why Arwen began to die shortly after making her choice to stay in Middle-earth?

Arwen Was Not as Resistant to Sauron’s Evil as Many Elves in The Lord of the Rings

Screenwriter Philippa Boyens discussed this point in the commentary track of “The Return of the King” and it seemed to revolve around Arwen’s age. According to Boyens, this aspect was a significant focus in the movie.

In relinquishing her eternal life… Arwen grew susceptible to the wickedness of the world as it expanded, particularly the malevolence of Sauron as he increased in power… Given that she was one of the last of her kin, she was inherently more vulnerable… With each passing moment in this realm, she grew increasingly vulnerable… Consequently, she is dying, a literal death, and we aimed to escalate this situation to the point where Aragorn had to vanquish Sauron. The inability of Frodo or Aragorn to confront Sauron or destroy the Ring would result in Arwen’s demise, and this is a fate she was well aware of.

In J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings,” Arwen was already 2,778 years old during the storyline, making her one of the oldest characters in the trilogy. However, by Elven standards, she was still considered young, as Elrond, for instance, was over 6,000 years old. They had experienced numerous eras of Middle-earth and witnessed the decline of many powerful entities. Over the course of their long lives, these Elves developed a resistance to Sauron’s malevolent influence. Unfortunately, Arwen lacked this resistance, especially since she spent most of her life in the secluded sanctuary of Rivendell and Lothlórien. Once she lost her innate Elven magic, the darkness enveloping Middle-earth started to heavily impact her.

The Stress of the War of the Ring Took Its Toll on Arwen

It’s plausible that Arwen’s declining health could be attributed to her emotional distress, as Elves’ emotions in Tolkien’s lore often affected their physical well-being. In “The Silmarillion,” it’s stated that an Elf can only die by sustaining a severe physical injury or wasting away from grief. Arwen, who lost the will to live after her husband’s death, exemplifies this second cause of death. It might be that Arwen’s health deteriorated due to her constant worry about Aragorn, as he was far away, fighting a seemingly impossible war against an incredibly powerful being, and she could only visit him in dreams.

Beyond doubt, Arwen’s choice to become mortal wasn’t taken lightly; the certainty of her own mortality must have been a constant burden on her thoughts. Even though Arwen didn’t succumb to despair, her deep emotions might have affected her health significantly. Thankfully, Middle-earth’s free peoples managed to vanquish Sauron, gradually purging his darkness from the land. Swiftly, Arwen regained her strength, and just a few months later, she wed Aragorn, ascending to the throne of Gondor as its queen. As a mortal, she would still meet her end someday, but not for quite some time. Aragorn lived until [year], with Arwen passing away the following year, granting her over a century with her husband and son by her side. Although Jackson’s portrayal of Arwen’s sickness differed from the book, it remained faithful to Tolkien’s lore and the essence of his work.

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2025-04-24 18:21