[Lostgaeriel]

I had intended to post this a couple of weeks ago, but forgot. (I write my posts up off-line after I’ve thought them out a bit.) But Kalessin has since touched on what I have to say.

I don’t think that Boromir was a mistake. I think his existence and actions follow logically from the underpinnings of Tolkien's story. The motivations of the characters drive the plot.

Of course, Denethor preferred to send Boromir to Rivendell because he was more 'obedient' and would keep Gondor's needs above those of the Elves. Is it possible, that Denethor understood that the dream was about the Ring and hoped that Boromir might be able to bring it to him? (Of course, he never revealed this to his son. He just trusted him to do 'the right thing'. I don’t recall Boromir saying that he wants to take the Ring for his father to use – it’s for Gondor. It’s ‘his own’ idea.)

Denethor's use of the Palantír had enabled Sauron to 'capture' him. He had probably revealed the contents of the dreams to Sauron. Even while Sauron was convincing Denethor that all was hopeless - that Sauron would regain the Ring and be victorious - he was insidiously putting it into Denethor's head that aquiring the Ring was the key to victory for Gondor.

In this way, Sauron recruited yet another agent to seek for the Ring - one who would bring it near Mordor and possessed by someone too weak to wield it against him and easy enough to defeat by war. Denethor did not have the power that Elrond, Galadriel or Gandalf had and was far too easily manipulated by Sauron. (Saruman is this type of case.)

But even the best plans of Sauron have a tendency to backfire when hobbits are involved. As Jessica Jade said, Boromir's lust for the Ring

forces Frodo to make what his heart tells him is the right decision

Would this not be Tolkien’s underlying logical reasoning for the plot?

It is fun to speculate how the story would differ from the one we know. If Faramir had gone to Rivendell, I don't think he would have been tempted by the Ring. He understood its dangers and agreed with the rationale behind sending it into Mordor to be destroyed. Then what would have happened? Nazgûl Queen has already covered that very well.