[MatthewM]

Boromir88, I am a little confused with what you're telling me, because some of the things you critiqued I have already done in my essay.

Originally Posted by Boromir88

First, I'd like to note that I don't think Tolkien was so anti-Boromir as it seems.

But, he doesn't compare them in the sense of being a "bad person." Which I think is what you are trying to argue, I agree, and I think Tolkien would agree. Boromir has his flaws, his struggles, but he is not an "evil/bad person."

Indeed this is what I am arguing.

Originally Posted by Boromir88

The letter you point out where Tolkien compares Boromir to Denethor and Saruman I think are more in these regards. The good vs. evil battle is not black and white it's filled with gray areas. There are characters in the story that are against Sauron (evil) but their way of defeating him are either entirely bad and evil itself (Saruman) or see their way as being the best.

I don't think Tolkien ever thought Boromir was a "bad person", though. He does give Boromir justice. As we see Boromir indeed was saved and redeemed for his actions.

I know, I never said Tolkien thought he was a "bad person". I also never said that his pride was a bad characteristic...I actually said it was one of his shining points. This is all contained in the writing...from my essay:

Fans that have no previous knowledge of his character and the internal struggles with concerns to the Ring and of Gondor may even deem him evil. This is one of the many misconceptions about Boromir that urged me to write this essay.

I said that fans with no previous knowledge may deem him evil, not Tolkien.

Originally Posted by Boromir88

In the earliest drafts he has Boromir and Saruman allied! Now that would make Boromir a 'bad person,' but Tolkien's last thoughts and what's final in LOTR I don't see that same idea about Boromir.

Interesting!

Originally Posted by Boromir88

But, you may also want to add a bit more about him resisting the Ring. Boromir ultimately falls to the Ring's corruption, but it's not like he has some big grand conspiracy from the start of the quest to take the Ring from Frodo.

Boromir never wanted to let the Ring go to Mordor in the hands of Frodo. This we knew from the Council, and this was his thought the whole journey. It was subdued until it awoke ever rapidly in Lorien. He's never really given a chance to resist the Ring before Amon Hen, for he is never alone with Frodo until then (which is after Lorien). Most likely Boromir would not have tried to take the Ring earlier in the quest, as his lust for it was not as strong as after Lorien, and he was always in the company of the Fellowship to keep his mind off of it.

Originally Posted by Boromir88

In fact I think this event changed Boromir even more and made him grow to be a better person than he was before. An interesting point is after the attempt to take the Ring, he goes back. Though he doesn't admit to it here, he does something Boromir usally doesn't do, WILLINGLY TAKE ORDERS!

I covered this part, where Boromir realizes what he does. His pride has been hurt, and he is not quick to forgive himself.

Originally Posted by Boromir88

So, I don't necessarily agree with the fact that Tolkien thought Boromir was a 'bad person.' He was flawed, and like Saruman and Denethor the "good vs. evil" idea wasn't so clear-cut. He didn't agree with the Council and he wanted to use the Ring against Sauron, but I don't know if Tolkien ever said that Boromir was evil as a person. Overall though, a very well done essay and a cogently argued defense of Boromir.

Again, I never once mentioned that Tolkien thought Boromir was evil. There is no doubt that in the Letters Tolkien talks a little negatively on Boromir, but as stated, never as "evil". From my essay:

Here Tolkien speaks of Boromir’s issue within the story as a sort of limbo between Good and Evil. As Tolkien stated “there are treacheries and strife even among the Orcs”, he is most likely talking about strife amongst Men, or strife amongst friendship and promise. He can also be talking of (which is more likely) the inner struggle of Boromir through out the story and how it ultimately plays out in the end. Although trying to steal the Ring was in fact an evil deed, Boromir never fights for the side of the enemy, nor is he ever debating which side is right. Gondor was weakened at the time of the War of the Ring, and such a burden as bringing this Ring of Power back to the halls of Gondor was laid upon him. Tolkien compared the Men of Gondor to the Elves, in the sense of a withering people, perhaps making stressed and hasty decisions. Stressed and hasty decisions indeed, however as you will read, Boromir at least was not viewed as “withering” to most that knew him.



Thanks for reading my work.