Boromir, Gollum and Eowyn

[davem]

Originally Posted by Fordim

Can we say that the one thing which concretely differentiates Boromir and Eowyn from Gollum is that B and E willingly sacrifice themselves in defense of people whom they are duty-bound to protect, while Gollum is unwillingly sacrificed by Providence after he harms the person he is duty-bound to protect?

Er, does Boromir willingly 'sacrifice' himself - ie, does he fight the Orcs knowing that he will die as a result? I don't think we can say that he does. He goes into combat against massive odds, but we don't know that he realises he will die. Perhaps, driven by his pride, he believes he will win. Its possible that when he speaks of having 'failed' he is referring to the fact that he lost a fight he thought he could win. Perhaps this is the reason for Aragorn's response - that he hasn't 'failed', he has 'conquered'.

Eowyn, I think, does sacrifice herself - even though she survives - because she clearly believes she has no chance of defeating the WK - but stands against him anyway. Its interesting that in the book, as opposed to the movie, she tells the WK not that she will 'kill' him if he touches Theoden, but merely that she will 'smite' him. She believes she will fall in defence of her Lord & kinsman, not that she will defeat the WK.

So, one could say that Boromir is 'sacrificed' by providence in the way Smeagol is, 'for the greater good, while Eowyn's is possibly the only real self sacrifice in full awareness. Perhaps that's why she survives. Something about 'He who tries to save his life will lose it, but he that gives up his life for my sake will save it'? I don't know....

B & G want to win & live with the fruit of their victories, Eowyn almost wishes to fail - to die - & find a peaceful end.

Of course, this makes all of them seem 'victims' of providence - the old joke about 'How do you make God Laugh? Tell him your plans.' springs to mind.

In Middle earth it seems that many, if not all, are either 'victims of providence', or in a deeper sense, 'characters in a story'. They all have roles to play in the cosmic drama, & those roles will be played out, in spite of their own desires - even in spite of any oaths they might have sworn. Perhaps that's what's behind Elrond's warning to Gimli.