Who Were the Real Heroes of Middle-Earth?

Germany in the 18th century. They founded a family business in the piano industry, but the father of Arthur Reuel Tolkien had gone bankrupt and he was forced to seek his fortune elsewhere, accepting an assignment in South Africa where his sons John Ronald and Hilary were born. Arthur never saw England again and his wife Mabel returned to England with their sons shortly before he died. Aragorn grew up with his mother, Gilraen, whose father had opposed her marriage to Arathorn II in a similar fashion to the way Mabel's father John Suffield had opposed her marriage to Arthur Tolkien. Aragorn grew up with a foster father, Elrond, who was wise and developed a deep affection for the boy. Tolkien's guardian after his mother's death, Father Francis, was not particularly wise, but he and Ronald had an affection for one another and Ronald respected Father Francis' decisions though he might disagree with them. Hence, there is a resonance of the trouble between Ronald and Father Francis concerning the relationship with Edith when Elrond summons Aragorn to him and warns the boy he is aiming for a high mark, and as well forbids Aragorn to take any wife until he proves himself worthy. Although Arwen did not pledge herself to another man (or elf) in the years after her initial meeting with Aragorn as Edith eventually became engaged during the three year hiatus from Ronald, Aragorn preserved his love for her, and when they met again in Lorien he won her heart. When Ronald learned that Edith was engaged he went to win her back, and succeeded, but Father Francis did not receive the news of their engagement happily. Neither did Elrond receive the news of Arwen's choice -- to marry Aragorn and become mortal -- happily, and he decreed that she should marry no less than the king of Arnor and Gondor. Through the long years Aragorn and Arwen worked steadily toward their goal. She seems to have contributed little in the eyes of many Tolkien fans save the weaving of a mysterious banner which proclaimed Aragorn's heritage to the people of Gondor. But in the rare glimpses we are permitted of Arwen Tolkien shows us something of a deeper wisdom and a strength and faith which are as enduring as Aragorn's love. She is the first person to perceive the depth of Frodo's spiritual wound, and in one of his letters Tolkien credits

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