I was wtching The Fellowship of the Ring tonight with the kids and was struck by the fall of Boromir near the end. Boromir in many ways represents the brokeness of humanity. He is the natural result of life without hope. Yet, even within his brokeness there is something greater that strains to overcome his darkness – the spark of his creator, the hope of Illuvator and the Valor in him as he realizes his own weakness and seeks to redeem himself in defending Merry and Pippen.

 

Aragorn, on the other hand represents all the potential that humanity has, even in its brokeness, when it trusts in something greater than itself. Aragorn who is able to resist the temptation of the ring where Boromir has failed. Aragorn who is able to offer forgiveness to Boromir and still weep over his death.

 

Tolkien wove much worth studying into his classic tale. A character study of Aragorn and Boromir are worth pursuing . Part of the greatness of Tolkien is that he is able to bring the reader into Aragorn’s grief at Boromir’s death. We do not feel pleasure or a sense of gratification as though justice is being served. We feel only the cold sadness at watching another person torn down by evil.