"My friends, you bow to no one"

[William Cloud Hicklin]

Originally Posted by Morthoron

I don't think Aragorn should have had a beard, canonically speaking

While arguing from First Principles would mandate that no descendant of Elros would have a beard, Tolkien either had a more complex view of the matter or simply goofed, since the statue of the old King at the cross-roads above Osgiliath is bearded.

[Morthoron]

Originally Posted by William Cloud Hicklin

While arguing from First Principles would mandate that no descendant of Elros would have a beard, Tolkien either had a more complex view of the matter or simply goofed, since the statue of the old King at the cross-roads above Osgiliath is bearded.

Yes, I do realize that; however, I never felt while reading the trilogy that Aragorn had a beard, particularly the metrosexual one from the movies.

[William Cloud Hicklin]

Well, while I realize that the dog that didn't bark is always a dangerous line to take, Holmes notwithstanding, it might be postulated that Tolkien was of a generation whose men simply did not wear beards (ancient Victorians like Joe Wright might sport grey ones); it was something so unusual that, like long hair, it would have been remarked upon. Tolkien makes a point of telling us that Boromir's hair was "shorn about his shoulders," but mentions no facial hair; Wizards, Theoden, Beorn and all Dwarves (and Cirdan!) are expressly bearded, but elsewhere he is silent and, just maybe, we can "read" that silence.

Certainly in Tolkien's real world even those few men who had beards had genuine beards, not a week's stubble! (Query- how did Aragorn out in the wild for months on end maintain that 7 days' growth look?)

But "canonically speaking" I fear we're on no firmer ground than we are with Legolas' hair color.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by William Cloud Hicklin

Tolkien makes a point of telling us that Boromir's hair was "shorn about his shoulders," but mentions no facial hair; Wizards, Theoden, Beorn and all Dwarves (and Cirdan!) are expressly bearded, but elsewhere he is silent and, just maybe, we can "read" that silence.

In the LOTR Prologue, it is noted that among the distinctions of the Hobbits in the Eastfarthing was that

...they were well known to be Stoors in a large part of their blood, as indeed was shown by the down that many grew on their chins. No Harfoot or Fallohide had any trace of a beard.

The Stoors being the most "mannish" of the Hobbits, would that presuppose a general beardedness of Men, at least those of non-Númenórean descent?

Originally Posted by William Cloud Hicklin

(Query- how did Aragorn out in the wild for months on end maintain that 7 days' growth look?)

You only think that was hair. Strider just didn't wash up very much.