Why didn't Gandalf or Galadriel warn Aragorn about Boromir ?

[Pitchwife]

Originally Posted by Lindale

Boromir's death is not in vain; without it, the chain of events that are caused by Merry and Pippin would not have happened. Those two might not be given a chance to grow and live up to their potential. The Ents might never have woken up.

Yes it would, yes they would, and yes they would.
Meaning I don't think Merry & Pip would have died if not for Boromir's intervention. Those Orcs had orders to take any halflings alive, hadn't they? And so they did, and all of Boromir's valour couldn't prevent them - all he achieved with his last stand was to atone for his earlier fall for the lure of the Ring and save his own soul, so to speak (which is quite enough for me, don't get me wrong). Otherwise, the story would have gone on just the same if Boromir hadn't crossed swords with a single Orc at Parth Galen - at least until the fall of Isengard. Later in Gondor, of course, things would have got interesting again.

[Galadriel55]

I agree with everything that was said above, and I just want to add that it was probably meant for Boromir to go through that test. Many of the main characters go through it, and even the secondary ones - like Faramir and Denethor.

[Puddleglum]

Originally Posted by Pitchwife

all he achieved with his last stand was to atone for his earlier fall for the lure of the Ring and save his own soul.

Agree he did achieve that, and it was the most immediate (and greatest) good that came from his stand.

But that was not *ALL* that it accomplished. In a strange turn, Boromir's Last Stand ALSO saved the life of his brother !!!

• Because of Boromir's heroic self-sacrifice, Pippin felt a debt of honor and offered his Life's service to Denethor & Gondor in payment of his debt.
• For that reason, AND ONLY FOR THAT REASON, Pippin was at Denethor's side when he commanded that Faramir be burned alive.
• And, thus, he was in position to both encourage Beregond to abandon his post (postponing Faramir's death for a bit) and to seek out Gandalf (in the midst of battle) who was the ONLY one able to save Faramir's life from burning.

[Galadriel55]

There are many significant reason for Boromir's death and the way it happened. However, the question WHY could be interpreted in two diffrent ways - because of what, and what for. The posts above answered the "what for" did Boroir have to die the way he did, but none really explain because of what. I guess that Gandalf decided to let Boromir choose his own path rather then pointing it to him. I know that that stateent is really lame; does anyone have any other ideas?

[Puddleglum]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

I guess that Gandalf decided to let Boromir choose his own path rather then pointing it to him. I know that that statement is really lame; does anyone have any other ideas?

As I recall (books not with me just now), Gandalf's phrasing was "Galadriel warned me he (Boromir) was in danger. I am glad he escaped in the end. Merry & Pippin's coming was GOOD if only for that reason."

Boromir was in danger of losing his soul (as it were). Locking him up (esp on a mere "fear" that he would do evil) would have, I think, made it almost certain that he would become ruled by arrogant pride (and hate).

Consider, by way of contrast, Saruman. He also was in danger, and became ruled by hate and pride (as is described in "The Voice of Saruman"). But EVEN THEN Gandalf and Frodo desired his healing. Gandalf (or Galadriel or Elrond) "could have" clapped him in irons (so to speak) when he overtook Saruman in Dunland - but he didn't.
And Frodo made this desire explicit after Saruman tried to murder him in front of Bag End when he said "He has fallen, and his cure is beyond us. But I would spare him still in hope that he may find it."

I believe Gandalf recognized that, when dealing with incarnates (ie, those with Fea & Hroa, spirit and body) matters are rarely cut and dried.

• The main purpose of the quest was to destroy the ring and defeat Sauron.
• But that was not an "at all costs, even of damming the souls of as many Eruhini as it takes" quest.
• So Gandalf repeatedly (and Frodo too) accepted increased risks to the quest, in hopes of preserving or saving/curing the souls of people (Boromir, Gollum, Saruman, etc).