[Mithadan]

I suspect that the reason some of us are having difficulties in responding to Boromir's initial topic is because there are relatively few examples of a "villain's redemption" or a true "hero's fall" in Tolkien's middle earth writings. Boromir was not a true villain but was overwhelmed by the Ring's influence. Similarly, Thorin was overcome by his lust for the dragon's hoard. Both recovered their wits, perhaps too late, but they did so. In my view, neither is an example of a villain's redemption nor a hero's fall.

The hero's fall that is most clear in LoTR is, of course, Saruman. He was a member of a high and honorable order, was given a specific task in furtherance of the common good, and abandoned that task in favor of self-aggrandizement. One might argue that Morgoth and Sauron similarly fell, perhaps Sauron more so than Melkor, but we see little of either before they were overtaken by the impulse to evil.