Boromirs thread; the high-warden of the white tower

[Boromir88]

Here is a thread of mine that talks about the deadly sins and heavenly virtues. It quickly turns out to be a discussion on Boromir and how he ways in on the deadly sins and heavenly virtues.
7 Deadly sins vs. 7 Heavenly virtues

On for what I think, well Boromir is my favorite character and all, so here it comes.

First, The Fellowship would not have been able to survive without Boromir, because if it wasn't for Boromir the fellowship would have a lack of strength. Aragorn would not have been able to carry all four hobbits down Caradhras in the snow storm. Gimli was too short, Legolas was prancing on top, and Gandalf might break his back, clearly the Fellowship needed Boromir's strength. Also, it was Boromir who first thinks of the hobbits in the storm.

This will be the death of hte halflings, Gandalf," said Boromir. "It is useless to sit here until the snow goes over our heads. We must do something to save ourselves."

I tend to believe (and this may be debated) that Boromir actually helped the quest succeed, by trying to take the Ring. When Frodo went off into the wild, he knew what he had to do, he was just afraid to do it. He knew he had to leave the company, but he didn't want to. I believe if it wasn't for Boromir's temporary madness Frodo would have stayed in the Company, and here's why.

"They'll be hunting for me," he said. "I wonder how long I have been away. Hours I should think." He hesitated. "What can I do?" he muttered. "I must go now or I shall never go. I shan't get a chance again. I hate leaving them, and like this without any explanation. But surely they will understand. Sam will. And what else can I do?

Even after Boromir's attack Frodo has to bring himself to leaving the company. Boromir's attack was the final nudge Frodo needed to get out of the Fellowship. Boromir taught Frodo if he doesn't get out of the Company, the Ring will tear everyone apart, and he must go before another person turns into a "Boromir."

Also, you have to remember, there are orcs about. Aragorn has said it, and Boromir reinforces it in that chapter, yet Frodo is off wondering alone. If Boromir hadn't of been tempted to go after Frodo, Frodo could have been very well captured (again that can be debated).

Lastly, it wasn't like Boromir was corrupt from the beginning. In Lothlorien the Lady Galadriel revealed to him what he's been suppressing, the ring. Galadriel awoke in Boromir the thought of the Ring, and throughout Boromir's ending days he begins to struggle within himself. It's not as if, Boromir planned days ahead to deceive and undermind the company, but by the time the temptation in the Ring had been too strong in Boromir he couldn't resist.

He (Boromir) laid his hand on the hobbit's shoulder in friendly fashion; but Frodo felt the hand trembling with suppressed excitement.

I think the words Tolkien uses are important, he uses "trembling," and "suppressed excitement." This appears to be that even in Boromir's last stages before he falls to the ring he's trying to "suppress" his thoughts, he's trying to "suppress" his excitement. He lays his hand on Frodo in a friendly way, but then his hand trembles, here I think Boromir is still in an internal struggle, within, to do good or evil. Again, it's not like Boromir planned, on the day of February 26th I'm going to take the Ring from Frodo.

And then we see Boromir's repentance, he brings himself back together, and dies nobily (is that a word?) defending the hobbits'. Here's an account from Pippin which I find interesting.

Then Boromir had come leaping through the trees. He had made them fight. He slew many of them and the rest fled. But they had not gone far on the way back when they were attacked again, by a hundred Orcs at least, some of them very large, and they shot a rain of arros: always at Boromir. boromir had blown his great horn till the woods rang, and at first the Orcs had been dismayed and had drawn back; but when no answer but the echoes came they had attacked more fiercely than ever. Pippin did not remember much more. His last memory was of Boromir leaning against a tree, plucking out an arrow; then darkness fell.

Boromir did not stall the Orc attack once, not twice, but THREE times. First time, then Pippin says they retreated. Second time they came back with 100 orcs, Boromir blew his horn and they drew back, third time was when they got him, an impressive swordsman no doubt.

In conclusion I will say it's Boromir's strength and fighting skills that make him the ending tragic hero. But, if it wasn't for his strength, his fighting ability, and if he wasn't born where War was brewing Boromir would seem lost, and would seem even more corrupt. He doesn't fit in a place like Lothlorien, full of history, mystery, and magic. He's fit for the time Gondor is facing now, a time of War, if it wasn't for that Boromir would be out of place.