Character Analysis Thread

[Nazgûl-king]

Originally Posted by Bêthberry

Sorry to interrupt this Boromir-love-in, but I've had a chance to read this thread from the start and have a few questions about the Nazzies.

Okay, other than having to fight desperately against remembering that it was the Spanish Inquisition who used fear as their greatest weapon, or as one of their greatest weapons, or as among their greatest weapons, I find this trait bloody interesting. It reminds me of course of vampires, who are also trapped between life and death and whose taste for blood is a torment. And I cannot recall there being any discussion here on the Downs of the Wraiths as in any way similar to vampires. (Of course, I haven't read all the threads and so I could have missed it!) The only specific vampire reference I can recall is that of Luthien.

Anyhow, Nazgûl-king, can you give us a more precise reference for this quotation? Much as I love FotR, I don't have time to reread all of it searching for this quotation. And I really would like to see how far to extend this similarity.

It is from the chapter A Knife in the Dark, on page 214 of the version of the book that I have. It is said by Aragorn after Frodo hase been stabbed, and when Merry asks Aragorn if the Black Riders could see. Hope that helps you!

[MatthewM]

skip spence, you are right, Boromir is my favorite character and everything that you explained in your last post is what I have been saying for quite some time now, and I'm glad you feel the same way about him. My whole essay is in defense of Boromir, because all too often people will deem him "evil" because they have no knowledge of his circumstances. Most of which you have pointed out.

I know if I were in Boromir's shoes I would have acted the same way. He was with four little people that he wasn't even sure truly existed until the Council, one ragged guy who claimed his country's rule (in turn supplanting his father), an elf and dwarf (two races Boromir had probably little to no communication with in his life), and this wizard guy who came as he pleased to Gondor to browse their libraries and who tried to tell Denethor how to rule things. So, as Captain General of my country, the most important warrior of Gondor, I would have acted the same exact way as he did. He did what he thought was right, and he did it with responsibility. Indeed, he died with his honor and greatness intact.

I suppose you could be right about the test quote- although it's still going to take awhile to sink that one in my thick skull. I get that Boromir was "overly" proud, and some see that as negative. I don't. You have to be bossy and proud in my opinion to be a strong leader of Man's greatest armies. Look at Ulysses S. Grant- would the Union have won the Civil War if Ulysses didn't push and push regardless of bodies lost? If he did not push for Unconditional Surrender, would the Union still have been united? Doubt it. I get ragged on for my proudness all the time. I care not!

Boro88- Nice comparisons.