The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - LotR -- Book 3 - Chapter 01

davem · 11-24-2004, 02:05 PM

I'm not sure that Boromir is boasting on Aragorn's behalf. Its as likely that he is challenging him. If this is the case them we do have a figure who takes a similar part in AS legends - Unferth in Beowulf. It seems to me that Boromir is requiring Aragorn to prove himself worthy of the claims put forward for him/by him.

I can't help feeling that Boromir actually wants Aragorn to be who he claims but can't bring himself to simply accept those claims. Boromir's role is as a stirrer of unrest, forcing the hero to prove himself worthy. Obviously Aragorn is aware that he will have to do exactly that.

Boromir has a long journey to take till he becomes worthy of the funeral he recieves in this chapter - another reason I'm uncomfortable with the idea that he was just made use of as a 'disposable' character so that Tolkien could throw in a 'viking' style funeral. Tolkien held such ancient traditions in too high a regard to just hand one out to the first available character. The very form of his funeral confirms his trancendence of his old self.

We see Boromir's spiritual growth throughout the few chapters he is present, from a negative, proud, demanding, even carping, figure, to a true hero deserving of the end he recieves. In this sense I see it not so much as Boromir representing the 'old' ways being replaced by the new as symbolised by Aragorn, but rather as Boromir himself evolving from the one stage to the other. In many ways he actually symbolises the movement from the mythic 'Middle earth' to the world of Men that will replace it. He begins as a classic hero of legend & ends as a 'Christian', having laid down his life for his friends. In a sense he moves from being an 'Isildur' to an 'Aragorn'.

11-24-2004, 02:05 PM	#30
davem Illustrious Ulair Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the home of lost causes, and forsaken beliefs, and unpopular names,and impossible loyalties Posts: 4,240	I'm not sure that Boromir is boasting on Aragorn's behalf. Its as likely that he is challenging him. If this is the case them we do have a figure who takes a similar part in AS legends - Unferth in Beowulf. It seems to me that Boromir is requiring Aragorn to prove himself worthy of the claims put forward for him/by him. I can't help feeling that Boromir actually wants Aragorn to be who he claims but can't bring himself to simply accept those claims. Boromir's role is as a stirrer of unrest, forcing the hero to prove himself worthy. Obviously Aragorn is aware that he will have to do exactly that. Boromir has a long journey to take till he becomes worthy of the funeral he recieves in this chapter - another reason I'm uncomfortable with the idea that he was just made use of as a 'disposable' character so that Tolkien could throw in a 'viking' style funeral. Tolkien held such ancient traditions in too high a regard to just hand one out to the first available character. The very form of his funeral confirms his trancendence of his old self. We see Boromir's spiritual growth throughout the few chapters he is present, from a negative, proud, demanding, even carping, figure, to a true hero deserving of the end he recieves. In this sense I see it not so much as Boromir representing the 'old' ways being replaced by the new as symbolised by Aragorn, but rather as Boromir himself evolving from the one stage to the other. In many ways he actually symbolises the movement from the mythic 'Middle earth' to the world of Men that will replace it. He begins as a classic hero of legend & ends as a 'Christian', having laid down his life for his friends. In a sense he moves from being an 'Isildur' to an 'Aragorn'. __________________ “Everything was an object. If you killed a dwarf you could use it as a weapon – it was no different to other large heavy objects."