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Boromir -character study, thoughts, feels
I was introduced to LOTR by the movies, so I was movie fan first, and my visuals and feelings attached to those characters and places featured will probably always be affixed and informed by those of the movies. Sean Bean will always be my Boromir, I don't think that comes as a big surprise. And while I have yet to read the trilogy (I always start FOTR but never seem to finish it) I am fascinated by Tolkien's intensely intricate legendarium. I came across a comment recently regarding Boromir that called him a 'villain', and that set me to getting my thoughts in order on this character because I had to sound off on that wrong-headed comment, and, as luck would have it, I had just came across a site that so terrifically defined 'my' Boromir I just wanted to comment further on this because I've never seen certain things pointed out quite like this, specifically.
I have long admired Boromir, not just for hisgorgeousness strength and skill, but also for that singular moment we all are familiar with: he'd fallen to the lure of the ring, but, got back up, faced his failure and fought on. For me, though, it goes deeper than just that, because if you've ever hit rock bottom, you know how impossible it can be to come back from that, but in that moment I don't think Boromir was even thinking in those terms. He was being who he was, a good man, a brave man, a fine man that, despite knowing the weight of his mistake, still had to do what was needed. He fought, and lost...but did he?
Ultimately, Boromir possessed the humility of spirit to face his mistake and atone for it. He repented, but not for his own sake did he do this. He was just being true to himself, in this moment. Finally, free of the influence of the ring, he was returned to himself. Many of Tolkien's characters apparently are presented with this opportunity, this choice, to find redemption. Boromir made his choice and used this to the greatest advantage. He faced the worst thing, the darkness within himself and repented and in doing so was victorious. And he paid for this choice, most dearly.
In the book, both Aragorn and Gandalf say it, that few have gained such a 'victory'....that he 'escaped' in the end...but we're not talking about gaining notable death, or racking up a high orc body count, or escaping having to live with the shame of having tried to take the ring. It's much more than that. The victory is that he faced down the darkness of the ring, of Sauron himself, and turned it back. He gained back his redeemed soul. Even the great wizard Saruman could not do this, when presented with his own opportunity.
Boromir's victory was also a brave light shining on the path to kingship for Aragron, showing what the heart of men can be despite their flaws. Boromir is a soldier that gave all, literally, and is worthy of respect and honor. He chose to face the music, defend his friends, lay down his life for them, knowing that he would leave behind a City, a father, a brother, a people that needed him desperately, that he'd spent his life in service to. It must have been a wrenching realization, that he'd have to leave them to stand on their own, knowing what they faced.
Now, I get that Aragorn is the man, the destined King, the chosen one and his blood runs true within the line of kings etc, and I believe in the books it says that Faramir's blood runs 'truer' (than his brother) within this line as well. I get this, and I can buy into this, the Arthurian legend-romance of this, and I love a good prophecy come true story-line but, this is also what makes Boromir my hero, and what chafes me a bit, this notion that he is somehow less.
Boromir is my hero because he was just being true to himself, and yes he was stubborn, sometimes arrogant, but he was also courageous, and selfless, and it was in his humility, in the end, that he triumphed. He should be more honored than he is. i like to think that when I write him, this is how he comes across. I think Sean's portrayal really brought all these things to life, and he was one of the best things about FOTR, and why I'm sad Boromir isn't mentioned more in the TTT and ROTK.
Here is a link to the podcast that I discovered that really laid this all out, a lot more clearly and thoroughly, and that got me thinking in these terms of humility, and not just 'bravery'. I think any Boromir fan movie or book, would enjoy this read!
Boromir's Greatest Victory
I have long admired Boromir, not just for his
Ultimately, Boromir possessed the humility of spirit to face his mistake and atone for it. He repented, but not for his own sake did he do this. He was just being true to himself, in this moment. Finally, free of the influence of the ring, he was returned to himself. Many of Tolkien's characters apparently are presented with this opportunity, this choice, to find redemption. Boromir made his choice and used this to the greatest advantage. He faced the worst thing, the darkness within himself and repented and in doing so was victorious. And he paid for this choice, most dearly.
In the book, both Aragorn and Gandalf say it, that few have gained such a 'victory'....that he 'escaped' in the end...but we're not talking about gaining notable death, or racking up a high orc body count, or escaping having to live with the shame of having tried to take the ring. It's much more than that. The victory is that he faced down the darkness of the ring, of Sauron himself, and turned it back. He gained back his redeemed soul. Even the great wizard Saruman could not do this, when presented with his own opportunity.
Boromir's victory was also a brave light shining on the path to kingship for Aragron, showing what the heart of men can be despite their flaws. Boromir is a soldier that gave all, literally, and is worthy of respect and honor. He chose to face the music, defend his friends, lay down his life for them, knowing that he would leave behind a City, a father, a brother, a people that needed him desperately, that he'd spent his life in service to. It must have been a wrenching realization, that he'd have to leave them to stand on their own, knowing what they faced.
Now, I get that Aragorn is the man, the destined King, the chosen one and his blood runs true within the line of kings etc, and I believe in the books it says that Faramir's blood runs 'truer' (than his brother) within this line as well. I get this, and I can buy into this, the Arthurian legend-romance of this, and I love a good prophecy come true story-line but, this is also what makes Boromir my hero, and what chafes me a bit, this notion that he is somehow less.
Boromir is my hero because he was just being true to himself, and yes he was stubborn, sometimes arrogant, but he was also courageous, and selfless, and it was in his humility, in the end, that he triumphed. He should be more honored than he is. i like to think that when I write him, this is how he comes across. I think Sean's portrayal really brought all these things to life, and he was one of the best things about FOTR, and why I'm sad Boromir isn't mentioned more in the TTT and ROTK.
Here is a link to the podcast that I discovered that really laid this all out, a lot more clearly and thoroughly, and that got me thinking in these terms of humility, and not just 'bravery'. I think any Boromir fan movie or book, would enjoy this read!
Boromir's Greatest Victory