Boromir: A Display of Humanity (My Thoughts)

[Aragorn]

Well, where to begin? Forgive me if any of this comes across as not understandable or jumbled, its 1:30 in the morning, and it'll probably be later when I finish. I always was a slow typer, not because I can't hit the keys fast, but it takes me a while to articulate my thoughts.

I've been doing a lot of deep thinking lately. A lot of inner contemplation. I suppose you could call it 'soul searching', if it was my soul that I was examining. But it isn't. My soul is completely uninteresting to me, I've been examining lately the world around me. I've been reading a lot of Kurt Vonnegut, which I suppose is aiding me in questioning the details behind things we've come to know and accept as normal. I've been studying the concepts of 'greed', 'humanity', and most importantly 'love' and 'hate'. All of this, I realize, has given me a greater understanding of the concepts Tolkien represented in Lord of the Rings, as well as the concepts of other authors, poets, and such.

Anyway, I went off on a tangent. The main topic of this thread is Boromir. The man who has slowly become my favorite character Tolkien ever created. I realize that may surprise some people, considering...well...my name. I started out loving Aragorn. The whole dashing, roguish appearance. And later on, the grace and, of course, power of a king. I was drawn to his enigma, but as many people realize as time goes by, enigmas are often much different than the actual person. Aragorn seems the exception to this rule, Boromir is not. Thats why I love Boromir. Boromir is so...human. Aragorn is not. He is 'better', I suppose. Better is not the right word, but I'll use it for lack of a better one. I imagine it comes from Aragorn's heritage, but Boromir doesn't have that gift. Instead, he carries the curse of humanity.

Recently, I stepped back from the whole thing and examined them both. I looked at their enigmas, and then I looked at who they really were. Aragorn's enigma, of course, was at first the mysterious hooded wanderer, and then later on the proud and noble king. Then I examined Aragorn's actual self and I found, to my confusion, that it was the same. Throughout the entire book he did not fault, did not show weakness, and in the end became one of the greatest kings Gondor has ever known. Something about that seemed wrong to me at the time, but it doesn't now. I have a better understanding. I was looking at it from a human perspective, and it took me to a while to realize that Aragorn isn't really human. He was Numenorian.

Boromir, however, was different. As the years had gone by, his ancestors' blood had mingled with that of 'lesser men'. I examined his enigma. He was the fearless leader of the armies of Gondor, son of the Steward, protector of Minas Tirith. And then I examined his actual self, and realized he was no different than you or I. He wanted the ring. He wanted it badly. He wanted to protect his home, his people, his family. And once he got that idea into his head, it stayed there. Glued to his subconscious. Its a trait called stubborness, something that many human beings suffer from as well. But Boromir fought against it, showing that he was a better person than most could even dream to be. At first he cast aside any ideas of abandoning the Fellowship, his reasoning self realizing that destroying the ring was the only possible option.

But the Ring was powerful. It could manipulate peoples' minds, enhance their desires beyond all reasoning. Looking back on it, I am truly amazed and astonished at how long Boromir managed to hold out against the powers of the Ring. He was just like Frodo, who did not fall sway to the Ringwraiths' poison for many days. Boromir tried. I really believe he did. He fought against the Ring for quite a while. But eventually, it consumed him, and his desire to protect his people led to his downfall, in the eyes of Frodo. I cannot express that enough. Any 'weakness' he might have had did not kill him. He tried to take the Ring, but luckily Frodo managed to get away.

And then, when any lesser man would have let the Ring consume him fully and follow blindly in persuit of the hobbit (such as Gollum), Boromir managed to regain control of himself. He redeemed himself, at least in my eyes, fully and completely, when he tried to save Merry and Pippin. And he died attempting to do the thing that the Ring had attempted to corrupt him with. He died trying to protect the ones he loved. He died trying to protect his family.

When I took a step back from it all, I realized that the story of Boromir is the ultimate display of redemption. Tolkien was trying to tell us, or at least I believe he was trying to tell us, or at least inadvertently told me by accident, was that there is always hope. We always have the ability to overcome. There is always the opportunity for salvation and redemption.

And when I watch my copy of The Fellowship of the Ring, when it gets to the scene where Boromir confesses what he had done to Aragorn, and when he finally dies, I cry. Everytime I cry. Not because he died, I've come to realize. He died at peace, with himself and the world. I cry because this man did not deserve it. I'm not an irrational or crazy man, I realize its just a book, and that Boromir's death was probably necessary in telling a believable story, but I also realize that if this had actually taken place, Boromir wouldn't have deserved to die.

Anyway, thats my thoughts on the matter. Its close to 2 AM now, and I have no idea why I wrote this post. I guess I just wanted to share my ideas with you all, and have you comment on and point out any flaws in my view on things. This very well might be very embarassing and strange to me in the morning, but for right now at least, thats how I feel on the subject.

Your thoughts?

[Lotesse]

That was a beautiful post, Aragorn. You've made points that I've thought about myself, and your writing is very fluid, and quite well articulated. I've always liked Boromir, as well, and often find he gets the short end of the stick, unfairly. He IS a well-wrought portrait of the truly human spirit.

[CrazySquirrel]

Very interesting indeed, Aragorn. I share your feelings. Somehow I also prefer humans (like Boromir and Eowyn) to all those perfect Elves and too-tough hobbits. Their POV is closer to mine (understandably so .

However, I think you are wrong about Aragorn. He is nobler, yes, but he is human as well. He has no doubts and inner conflict in LOTR, but that is just 2 years in his loooong life. He was raised by elves, schooled by them, so he looks more elvish in mind than Boromir. I think from the age of 20? he was taught and teaching himself to become what he should. All his inner conflicts are long past.

Originally Posted by Aragorn

I was looking at it from a human perspective, and it took me to a while to realize that Aragorn isn't really human. He was Numenorian.

That is not the point, I think. Lots of Numenoreans were corrupted, seeking forbidden knowledge or serving Sauron. Even those from the direct royal line were very human and corruptible, though they were nobler than Aragorn (Tar-Atanamir, Ar-Pharazon and Isildur).

No, the major factors was Aragorn's youth in Rivendell and Elrond's lessons

[Aragorn]

You're probably right. I never did read the Silmarillion or the Appendices. In fact, its been a while since I read LotR itself.

But thanks for your feedback, guys. I don't know what I was expecting so late at night, some half-crazed anti-Boromir lunatic to burst in aflame screaming at me and stabbing me with a stick maybe.

[Wayfarer]

I actually have to agree with the original poster on that point - Aragorn wasn't really a human character. Not really. To some degree or another I think all the characters in Middle Earth are either Super- or Sub-human.

I would say that Aragorn is akin to the elves - the sort of creature that all men (or at least, all good men) wish that they could be. Boromir is closer to what we fear (or know) that we actually are.

[XRogue]

I find Boromir a fascinating character also. We'd all like to think that we would be Faramir, who wouldn't touch the Ring if we found it lying before us on the road, but we're all flawed somewhere. The Ring touched Boromir on a flaw, that he was willing to use any means to reach a good end (i.e., to protect Gondor.) I've never been sure that he truly recognized the pure power of the Ring, or that it is in fact an intelligent entity, right up until the moment it reached out to take him at Parth Galen.

So yah, I see what you're saying. Redemption is a beautiful thing.

[Landroval]

I don't like Boromir, but I will take his defence, since it is an interesting challenge.

Just how different was his situation from that of Frodo?

We must keep in mind his travel intentions:

It is not the way of the Men of Minas Tirith to desert their friends at need,' he said, `and you will need my strength, if ever you are to reach the Tindrock. To the tall isle I will go, but no further. There I shall turn to my home, alone if my help has not earned the reward of any companionship.

So Amon Hen was pretty much the parting point of Boromir from the company and from, of course, the ring.

Let us consider another point, his power:

Originally Posted by Letter #181

Frodo was in such a position: an apparently complete trap: a person of greater native power could probably never have resisted the Ring's lure to power so long; a person of less power could not hope to resist it in the final decision.

Boromir is "fearless and strong", "proud"; he also wanted the ring for the good of his people:

Originally Posted by The breaking of the fellowship

Boromir strode up and down, speaking ever more loudly. Almost he seemed to have forgotten Frodo, while his talk dwelt on walls and weapons, and the mustering of men; and he drew plans for great alliances and glorious victories to be; and he cast down Mordor, and became himself a mighty king, benevolent and wise

This is pretty much the same way that Gandalf would have taken:

Originally Posted by Shadow of the past

...With that power I should have power too great and terrible. And over me the Ring would gain a power still greater and more deadly.

His eyes flashed and his face was lit as by a fire within.

- Do not tempt me! For I do not wish to become like the Dark Lord himself. Yet the way of the Ring to my heart is by pity, pity for weakness and the desire of strength to do good.

So, all in all, Boromir was on the point where he had to contemplate the irreversible departure from the ring (the ring going either to destruction, either to the enemy). Just like Frodo, he claims it for himself, one could even say that for less selfish reasons. In judging Boromir, I think it would be necessary to heed Tolkien's words:

Originally Posted by Letter #246

We are finite creatures with absolute limitations upon the powers of our soul-body structure in either action or endurance. Moral failure can only be asserted, I think, when a man's effort or endurance falls short of his limits, and the blame decreases as that limit is closer approached.

Nonetheless, I think it can be observed in history and experience that some individuals seem to be placed in 'sacrificial' positions: situations or tasks that for perfection of solution demand powers beyond their utmost limits, even beyond all possible limits for an incarnate creature in a physical world – in which a body may be destroyed, or so maimed that it affects the mind and will. Judgement upon any such case should then depend on the motives and disposition with which he started out, and should weigh his actions against the utmost possibility of his powers, all along the road to whatever proved the breaking-point.

I would hold Boromir less guilty than Frodo, given that his nature predisposed him highly more to the lure of the ring; and he sure did struggle with it, seeing how he behaved on the boats in the river, where Merry and Pippin were frightened with his behaviour. I could even shift a tiny bit of blame towards Galadriel - in the words of Faramir:

Originally Posted by The window on the west

What did she say to you, the Lady that dies not? What did she see? What woke in your heart then? Why went you ever to Laurelindorenan, and came not by your own road, upon the horses of Rohan riding home in the morning

To return to Tolkien's words on Frodo, tempation and failure:

Originally Posted by Letter #191

"Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

Corinthians may not at first sight seem to fit – unless 'bearing temptation' is taken to mean resisting it while still a free agent in normal command of the will. I think rather of the mysterious last petitions of the Lord's Prayer: Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. A petition against something that cannot happen is unmeaning. There exists the possibility of being placed in positions beyond one's power.

Just like Frodo didn't actually fail, I would say that neither did Boromir - in Aragorn's words:

Originally Posted by The breaking of the fellowship

- Farewell, Aragorn! Go to Minas Tirith and save my people! I have failed.

- No! said Aragorn, taking his hand and kissing his brow. You have conquered. Few have gained such a victory. Be at peace! Minas Tirith shall not fall!

Boromir smiled.

[Jon S.]

Serious alcohol or drug addiction can render a man or woman impervious to almost everything else in the world, including health, safety, and loved ones, but there are also cases in which such persons, if only for a moment, grasped the precariousness of their situations and reached out for the help that ultimately saved them.

I've often wondered how differently the Fellowship would have fared had Boromir, upon being tempted by Galadrial in particular, turned to Gandalf and cried, "Help me - I can no longer resist."