Abstract
The episodic celibacy seen among the Eldar, especially in the House of Finwë, can be read through several contexts relevant to Tolkien’s personal experience and historical period. First, bachelorhood and celibacy as social issues in Britain from the Victorian era through the interwar period provide a possible backdrop against which to analyze the House of Finwë. Second, Finwë’s line can be read through Tolkien’s own views on marriage concerning the unnaturalness of monogamy for men. Analyzing Tolkien’s legendarium through these contexts reveals a complex tension between fecundity and celibacy among male Elves, especially in the line of Finwë, including the High-kings of the Noldor, with the final result that celibacy is perhaps far more common in Tolkien’s Elvish cultures than previous authors have noted. This paper argues that a close reading of Tolkien’s writings on these characters additionally suggests that asexuality could be a reason for some of this celibacy, including among married Elves, as some asexual individuals do marry and reproduce in our Primary World, especially under social pressures to conform to compulsory heteronormative expectations. Indeed, some writings suggest that asexuality is not only a socially accepted orientation among the Elves for much of their lives (in opposition to compulsory heteronormativity), but could be considered the norm.
Recommended Citation
Larsen, Kristine
(2026)
"Chaste Bachelors and Abstaining Husbands: Celibacy and Asexuality in the Line of Finwë,"
Journal of Tolkien Research: Vol. 24:
Iss.
1, Article 4.
Available at:
https://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol24/iss1/4