[The Saucepan Man]

It seems to me that there are two distinct approaches towards Boromir in this discussion, as there have been in previous discussions. On the one hand, there are those who respond quite warmly to him as a character and praise him first and foremost for his good qualities, while recognising that he is also a flawed character. On the other hand, there are those who focus more intently on his flaws, while acknowledging his redeeming qualities. And it also seems to me that the basis for these two distinct approaches is the same: Boromir is a reflection of ourselves.

As I said before, we are all prone, I think, to be tempted into opting for the quick and easy option, the "short term" solution, that which appears superficially attractive. There are times when this might be a strength, as it would have been for Boromir in conventional battle when there is little time to deliberate and swift instinctive actions are required. And there are also times when the obvious solution may in fact be the best one. But Boromir's situation here shows us that this is not always the case and there are times when we must take the harder road to win the greater victory. Frodo knows this in his heart. And I think that Boromir does too, but (as davem says) he lets his head rule his heart - because it is an easier road to follow. Similarly, there are times when we take the easier option, even if we know in our heart that it is wrong to do so. We can recognise in Boromir's character this aspect of our own nature and this, I think, dictates our reaction towards him. We can respond to him as a very human character, with very human flaws, but we can also feel uncomfortable at what we see reflected in him. Which is the stronger reaction (and therefore which of the approaches outlined above we adopt) depends, I think, on the individual, but both are present in each approach.

Davem, I agree with much what you say, and it accords largely with my own view of Boromir. I do not, however, think that his approach is inappropriate only in the context of a spiritual struggle (although that is certainly the context in which it arises here). And I do not think that rationality alone is the problem. Viewed in the context of a spiritual battle and armed with full knowledge concerning the nature of the Ring, the approach counselled by the Wise can be seen as the most, indeed the only, rational solution. The real problem with Boromir's logic is that it seems superficially attractive, offering a "short term fix", but it does not addressing the underlying problem.

Is it too early, I wonder, to bring up the addicitive nature of the Ring? This does not, I accept, provide a comprehensive answer to the nature of the Ring's power. But, as I think we will see in its effect on Frodo and Smeagol, and also Sam, as they near and, ultimately, enter Mordor, its attraction is in the nature of an addicition. And it seems to me that we can see its nature in this respect in operation here. Boromir has seen the Ring only once, and he has never touched it, and yet he has become corrupted by it. And, as with an addicition, he finds it much easier to give into the temptation and seek it out, rather than to resist it. Frodo too is, to a degree, under the Ring's influence, and yet he recognises that he should not give into it but that he must instead seek to destroy it, however hard that may seem. He is able, for the moment at least, to "beat" the addicition.

Although I still wonder whether he would have been able to do so without Gandalf's intervention at the critical moment.

Apologies that this repeats some of the ideas aired in my earlier post, but I am trying to organise my thoughts and perhaps (hopefully) express them more clearly.