[HCIsland]

I've often felt that one of the big differences between Boromir and other members of the Fellowship is one of ego vs. humility. Boromir likely feels he can handle the Ring. He's got the strength to control it. He's wrong of course. His father was much the same in siezing the Palantir. Again he felt he was strong enough to handle it. Faramir on the other hand was under no such illusions and therefore let the Ring go by. He wanted nothing to do with it. Frodo also felt he couldn't handle this burden and would have passed on the Ring if given the opportunity early on. Even Gandalf was humble enough to realize that he had not the strength to manage it. This is in contrast to Saruman who of course felt that controling the Ring (and a Palantir) wouldn't be an issue. I can't remember if it is in Unfinished Tales or Lost Tales, but there is a discription of each of the Istari that came to Middle Earth, the last being Gandalf. In it, Gandalf is certainly described as the most humble of the five, actually being reluctant to go to Middle Earth.

I think Tolkien is trying to tell us something about humility here. It's a very Christian thing.

Just my two cents anyway.

H.C.