Hello and Boromir

[Panther2112]

Hello everyone. I am new to the board. Have lurked alot in the past though. Just a quick question. How many Boromir fans are out there. He is my favorite character of the trilogy and I always hate it when he buys it in the beginning of the Two Towers. I guess I just identify with him more than the other characters. He is honerable and noble, yet flawed. His defense of Merry and Pippen, as he was struck by Orc arrows, moved me to tears. Yes he may have lusted for the ring, but in the end he saw the error of his ways. Just wanted to hear other peoples fellings about my favorite character. Thanks and look forward to talking to you all in the future :) .

[coolismo]

I like B too. Its a massive shame that he goes at the beginning of TT. A major vehicle to explore th themes of temptation and noble intention are lost.

[Bacchus]

Well, a Boromir and a Rush fan. We'll get along just fine, Panther.

Boromir is misunderstood by many fans. While Gandalf shows the sacrifice of the righteous, Boromir shows the redemption possible through penance. It is not really his fault that he succumbs to the Ring (not even Frodo avoided that fate). He gains redemption for his weakness through his defense of the hobbits.

[Elvet]

I know this forum is about the books, but I gained a better understanding of Boromir via the film. When I reread the books, I l
was more empathetic to Boromir's actions. Yes, the ring corrupted him, but he trully rose above his disgrace by courageously defending the hobbits. Now he is one of my favourite characters and I feel he embodies all that is noble and loyal in the race of men.

[Renille]

I love Boromir... he's certainly one of my "interesting characters."
In him, the theme seems to be "choices can work both ways." He made the choice to try to take the ring, but he also chose to repent. His death was so sad....I cried even in the book.

[Nameless]

Boromir is one of the more interesting and complex characters in LotR.

His words and actions, emphasise how the ring can corrupt in subtle ways. Boromir has never worn the ring, but the desire for the ring, and his belief that it could be used to aid and defend Gondor, corrupt his good intentions.

His redemption is a very powerful part of the book. Before he dies, he is able to look back and clearly see how he was corrupted by the desire to possess the ring. He sees the 'error' in what he has done. He accepts blame for his actions and the consequences that result from them. As a result he proves himself to be a good and strong person. Not even Sauruman, who was given several chances to redeem himself, has the strength of character to do so.

[Nibs]

Ha! Panther has a palindromic number following his name! On a side note, you can tell I'm easily amused. Welcome to the 'moot, even though I could still be considered new.

Yes, Boromir was a noble fellow. I liked how he was portrayed in the movie very much... he wasn't shown to be a one-dimensional character merely lusting for the ring, but a dignified warrior that, indeed, was done in by his desire for the ring and not considering the consequences until too late.

"Stick with your old friends. You've already got their germs."

[Laurelyn]

Welcome, panther!
Yeah, Boromir was very noble in his last attempts to regain his honor before his death, in the movie all the more so. It was the Ring that was his evil side.

[Earenya]

Boromir's saving grace was that he was able to recognize his weakness in the end. He bravely fought for the hobbits, and I admire him because he is quite human and, like most of us, has to fight against his weakness.

[Finrod Felagund]

If you've read the SIlmarillion, it's interesting how Morgoth in his beginnings and Boromir were similar.
They both lusted after light but created darkness.

[Khadrane]

Good point, Finrod. I never noticed that before. I personally never really liked Boromir, but I do like how he fights for Merry and Pippin and redeems himself. I like him more after the movie also. He's cool in the movie.

[Strange-Looking Lurker]

I love Boromir. I always cry when when he dies. Although he did fall to the ring, he was one of the most noble characters in the book. Fighting the orcs trying to take Merry and Pippin and also jumping onto the bridge to help Gandalf with the Balrog both show what a great man he was. In spite of the fact that he fell, I think he is probably one of the most self-less characters in the book.

[Twilight]

The movie gave me so much more respect for Boromir. I think because in the movie, it showed more how the rings corruption was affecting everybody, not just Boromir being singled out as the lone person that falls to it. I did cry when Boromir died. He redemed himself and gave up his life for others, showing the kind of person that he was really like. Also, he didn't jsut want the ring for himself. He wanted it for Gondor, so that his people could fight back. He was a warrior. He saw it as a weapon and wished to use it like one. Yes, he was rather arrogant, but his devotion was to his people

[markedel]

Hmm, but all evil is based on the same underlying last-the wish to create. Sauron was the same way.

[Thrain]

Hey What are you talking about?
I hate Boromir.
He is not noble at all.
I never liked him.
I don't even know why he was put in.
He is totally evil.
He was subducted by the RIng ever since Rivendel.
He seemed to always have some dark force pushing him towards taking the ring.
If Aragorn hadn't been there he would have killed the Hobbits and taken it for himself.
:confused:

[Nibs]

But he died in defense of the hobbits later, Skippy. Totally opposite. He had a noble heart, but was seduced by something he wasn't allowed to have.

[edit] I apologize for calling you Skippy, but it's a compliment where I come from. I hope you were being facetious in your post, since many members here will attempt to dismember you for what you said about Boromir. You are entitled to your opinion, even if I don't agree with it.

Welcome to the 'moot, ya filthy animal (Movie reference; not an outright insult! I promise ;) ).

[Panther2112]

Sorry you feel that way Thrain, but I think you got Boromir all wrong. He was tortured by the ring. He loved his people and came to Revendale to seek help for them. I don't know how you can say he would have killed the hobbits if not for Aragorn. He was no coward and if he truley wanted the ring, he would have attempted to take it at the earliest oppertunity. He was human and in a moment of weakness tried to take the ring from Frodo. Not kill him!!! He realized his mistake almost suddenly after Frodo escaped. He paid for his mistake by dying in defending the hobbits. He could have been a coward and abandoned them to the Orcs, but instead choice to defend them with little to no hope of sucesses. He died a hero and I wept for him. Guess I have to disagree with you on this one. Hope no hard feelings :)

[Cirdan]

When men were created in Middle Earth, Melkor (Sauron's source of Evil) recognized them as the most susceptability to corruption because of their mortality. His failing was not nearly as those of the Numenorean Kings, who waged war against the Valar in the Second Age of Middle Earth. His motives were pure, even if his actions were deceitful. He was a great warrior. His brother was very noble as well.

[Menelvagor]

Boromir was an ok guy, but I never really liked him personally. His role in the story was to demonstrate the weaknesses and downfalls of men. Yes he was noble in the end, but that was not his purpose. Noblity, honor, and all that other stuff were better exemplified in other men (Aragorn, Eomer, Faramir); Boromir was one of the few (save Grima) who showed the negative qualities humans, and even though it was not his fault, he was not one of my favorites.

[Cirdan]

Yes, most of the pure "men" came off as weak minded or uncivilized in the trilogy. It's as though the real world is impinging on Middle Earth (greed, lust for power, fear, etc). His character development as a whole was a little flat, so his misdeeds tend to stand out. The history behind his family and their vigilence against the evil of Mordor gets lost in the events of the breaking of the Fellowship.

[Arathorn]

Boromir, to me, was a victim of his standing in society (as all of us are). Wha tI mean by this rambling is that the events that followed the Fellowship bought this predicament of his to the fore.

From the time he was born, he was groomed to lead the guard in Gondor dating back several generations of stewards and eventually replace his father who was obviously playing him as a favorite.

Aragorn, on the other hand, would understandably view his lineage and destiny with much depredation because of what happenned to an infamous many-time-removed ancestor. To make matters worse, his caretaker personally knew this ancestor! It is also a good thing that he was trained in the ways of the rangers. It gave him a sense of responsibility to temper the pride that might swell up.

With Legolas, the girls can discuss this ummm, great elven prince of Mirkwood...:p

[Vinyafalasiel]

I luv Boromir too...like some of you, I was able to understand him more when I read the books...though his dialogues at his death scene was not that dramatic..good thing PJ gave him more lines during his death scene in the movie...it makes me cry buckets everytime...luvd aragorn in that scene too, he was such a gentleman(not to mention a brother and a true king) in the truest sense of the word

[aldesign]

my eyes were full of tears when he died in the film,
i didnt expect it till the 2nd film, (cos of the order in the books)

and then it happened
*BOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOO (*weeps alone in a corner*)

And it means we've lost Sean Bean one of the worlds finest actors, for the nxt 2 films, im gonna miss him. Love his films.

He is TRUELY ENGLISH!
yay!

andy

[Thrain]

hey,
Faramir was cool and so was Aragorn.
I gues he could have had a little more development in character so that his misdeeds sidn't stand out. I never liked Boromir because I think someone else could have done the job of showing weakness just as well as Boromir. I think he was lame and that is my opinion. Also his being brave the only brave thing he did in the whole book was save the two hobbits who really didn't have any story influence.

[Strange-Looking Lurker]

Other than the fact that they are behind the victory at Helms Deep and the victory at Isengaurd, I don't see that they where any good at all!

Come on Thrain, just think about that for a second.

[Thrain]

Hey whatever,
I don't like Boromir.
End of story.
I mean everything was so cut and dry for him.
Pippin and Merry had an important part but anyother character could have done it. You leave Boromir out and give his roles to other people like... Pippin and Merry. It would show the true depths of emotion to have Frodo's friends to come and try to take it for him there.

[Panther2112]

Merry and Pippen not having important roles in the books. Hummmmmmm? I wonder if Saruman or Treebeard would agree? Seems your pretty set on not liking Boromir. Guess we just have to agree to disagree. He is still my favorite character in the books:)

[Liviaine]

In the movie, Boromir's my fourth favorite after Legolas, Aragorn, and Gandalf.

[Menelvagor]

Um, Thrain? Wasn't Boromir's whole point to show the weakness of Men? You couldn't really give his part to a hobbit, it wouldn't work.

[markedel]

Wouldn't Boromir show the waning of Numenor. After the "real Numenorians" in LOTR-Faramir and Aragorn resist the temptation. But Boromir and Denthenor cannot. It shows how ME has weakened the blessings of numenor.

[Cirdan]

Boromir's folly is forshadowing the actions of Denethor. Without that link Denethor's behavior would have been inexplicably insane instead of just insane. Boromir is a tool... a literary one. The first one to die (and not come back) is usually in a story for plot reasons.

[Panther2112]

I'm not going to dwell on this and this will be my last take on Boromir.

He was brave and honerable but had weakness (i.e. he was human). He was pridefull but showed love and pity for others. He fought well with the company. In the Mines of Moria he was one of the last to leave Gandalf's side in the showdown with the Balrog. He made a major mistake in trying to take the ring from Frodo, and once he came to his senses realized so. He was desperate and saw no way to save his people in a moment of weakness. I seem to rember some Elves that were prideful and made some pretty big mistakes in the SIM. He was a great character and I missed him greatly in the books after his death. I love Aragoron also, I just identify more with Boromir. Even if Merry and Pippen did or did not go on to do great things, I don't think Boromir was thinking about that when he defended them in a hopless battle. I believe this character deserves respect and really hate to see people judge him for his one weak moment caused by a very powerful object, the ring of power! Rest in peace Boromir.

[Elvet]

Well said, Panther2112.
I also like Menelvagor's point, because you see that Denenthor
also had a chance of redemption, but his strength of character fell short of Boromirs.

[Strange-Looking Lurker]

Way to go Panther2112! Very good post!

[barrelrider110]

and I would add that all the posts in this thread make excellent points. *bows* I can only add one thing...

Treebeard would have said that Boromir was "much too hasty."

P.S. Welcome, Panther 2112!

[Thrain]

I don't like Boromir,
I never liked Boromir,
I probably will never like Boromir,
I don't think anybody without an extremely strong argument could change my opinion.
So there.

[Nibs]

Heck, I rather doubt J.R.R. himself could dissuade you now.

I think "I don't like Boromir. End of story." summarized your position very well. Why do you keep bringing it up?

[RosieCotton]

Boromir.....
I'm not a big fan, but I don't really hate him for trying to steal the Ring. The temptation must have been awful, and I don't think less of him for doing it. However, I like most of the other characters better. I like him more than....well....Sauron!
~Rosie~

[sun-star]

I feel sorry for him. It seems to me he is a man who just doesn't fit into his time: he is a warrior, when stealth and secrecy is important, and he is a steward when the king is returning. He's also a human being fighting against something which would tempt the greatest wizard. Poor guy.

[barrelrider110]

Like Gollum, Boromir had an unlikely part to play in the destruction of the One Ring. His attempt to take the it by force strengthened Frodo's resolve to take the ring into Mordor. Remember, Frodo was undecided up to that point. If Boromir had not attempted to take the ring, perhaps Frodo have chosen to go to Minas Tirith, and that would have created quite a situation.

[Thrain]

Now Nibs and everyone else who tried to convince me only Barrelrider110 has been able to do it. I needed prove that he did anything useful. Without the prove I have received from Barrelrider110 I would never have changed my opinion. I guess Boromir wasn't all that bad to the story if he convinced Frodo, now that I see that I can understand his situation. Thank You for opening my eyes Barrelrider110.
Thrain

[Nibs]

I tried to change your opinion? Why wasn't I notified?

Actually, I didn't really try to alter your own perception or "open your eyes". I merely asked why you repeatedly complaining about your inability to see while keeping your eyelids shut:

Originally posted by Nibs:
I think "I don't like Boromir. End of story." summarized your position very well. Why do you keep bringing it up?
I don't post here to goad every one else to my side, but view other opinions and present my own and learn from others. As Emerson said, "Every man is my superior in some way; from that, I learn of him" (or something to that effect).

[Thrain]

That wss mean but I guess I do kind of keep my eyes shut. Sorry bout that it just sometimes gets so hard not to be mean and blurt out my opinion. And if I don't listen to your opinions how come you don't listen to mine.