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Originally Posted by Boromir88
In these closing chapters Aragorn really begins to struggle about being the "leader," and taking on himself the role of Gandalf. Instead they follow down the Anduin, and as already pointed out, follow too far, bad things can happen. The next two chapters we get to see Aragorn really sort of fall apart, and hit rock bottom, as he seems to break to the pressure of being that "leader" of the company, being a "Gandalf." Maybe he's trying to be too much like Gandalf, and not like himself? Who knows?
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I would go a step further and say that the events of the next few chapters, as set up in this one, serve to refine and galvanize Aragorn. He is reluctant at first to take the mantle upon him, but finally does so as he chases down the Urek-Hai. By the time he reaches Helm's Deep he is ready to lead men without Gandalf (ironic, since Gandalf is back with them at this point, although not at the Deep itself).
I would even say that without the events at the end of FotR and begining of TT, Aragorn would not have been ready to assume his throne in Gondor. His blaming himself for his indecisiveness leading to the capture of Merry and Pippen taught him a valuable lesson that served him well for the rest of his life.