Boromir and the Ring

[The Saucepan Man]

As it happens I agree Boromir is to blame for giving in to the Ring.

He failed miserably with the ring.

I still feel that this is somewhat harsh on Boromir. Yes, he could (in theory) have resisted the pull of the Ring. But its power was such that he (a Man of physical vigour but less strong in mind) was unable to do so. It was simply not possible for him to resist it, just as it is not possible for someone to lift a great weight if they are not physically strong enough to do so. The fact that someone of Galadriel's stature struggled to resist the Ring when exposed to it tells volumes of how difficult it would have been for a Man like Boromir to resist it. He simply did not have the strength of mind to do so.

Now, I am not saying that Boromir did not have his faults. He was proud. He thought that he knew better than those wiser then him and failed properly to heed their warnings concerning the Ring. And, yes, these faults played a large part in him surrendering to the pull of the Ring. As I said earlier, it appealed to his baser instincts. But he was certainly not without his good qualities. He was a brave and proficient warrior. He took care to assist the Hobbits when they were struggling on Caradhras. And let's not forget that his desire to protect his people from the encroaching evil of Mordor played a large part in his motivations concerning the Ring.

In these circumstances, I find myself unable to condemn Boromir for failing to resist the lure of what was a powerful and evil artifact with the power to tempt those of much greater mental fortitude than he. It seems to me that, in Boromir, almost uniquely amongst the Fellowship, we can see the frailties of our own condition. Who among us can say with certainty, hand on heart, that they would definately not have succumbed to the Ring, even though it might have been with the best of intentions?

The fact that he was ultimately able to free himself of the Ring's influence, thereby redeeming himself, does him great credit. This is something that Gollum was never able to do. Nor were the great Kings of Men who became the Nazgul able to acheive such a victory over the Nine (presumably less powerful) Rings.

[ June 10, 2003: Message edited by: The Saucepan Man ]