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The Men Who Would Be Steward - Page 7

© Michael Martinez

Boromir's opinion of Aragorn begins to shift ever so slightly during the rest of the council. Aragorn speaks for himself, and the details of the journey from Bree to Rivendell are discussed at length. Eventually, Boromir suggests that the Ring can be used against Sauron, but Elrond rebuffs him, and both Elrond and Gandalf flatly refuse to take up the Ring. In the face of such rebuke, Boromir is humbled. It is not that he politely bows his head when he says, "So be it. Then in Gondor we must trust to such weapons as we have." Rather, his humility allows him to confess, "though I do not ask for aid, we need it." Boromir is honest enough to recognize his weaknesses. A good commander must be able to do so. So Faramir's words many months later, when he learns that Boromir had tried to take the Ring from Frodo, reveal an especially bitter observation: "Alas for Boromir! It was too sore a trial!" But why was the trial too sore for Boromir, and not for Faramir? For his part, Faramir implies that his own vow has fortified him: "We boast seldom, and then perform, or die in the attempt," he reminds Frodo and Sam. "Not if I found it on the highway would I take it, I said." Boromir had made no such vow. It might have gone better with him if he had. But, in truth, Boromir's test was not as easy as Faramir's. Faramir was indeed tempted by the Ring, once he understood it was in his presence. Faramir had a brief moment of intense reaction to that knowledge, and then he passed the test and moved on. But for Boromir the test did not pass so quickly. He expressed an immediate interest in using the Ring at Elrond's council, and though he was rebuffed, he did not renounce his desire. "So be it" is not the same as "I fear to take the Ring to hide. I will not take the Ring to wield it," which is what Elrond says. "Nor I," Gandalf chimes in, although he has already refused the Ring in Bag End. Even Aragorn had already refused to take the Ring. "If I was after the Ring, I could have it -- NOW!" he declared in the Prancing Pony, when he was trying to persuade Frodo to accept his company. There followed a brief moment in which Aragorn stood up and scared the Hobbits with his stern and commanding nature. As when other people handle the Ring, or are tempted by it, a light gleamed in his eyes. But the moment passed and Aragorn affirmed that he was who he said he was, and he swore to save Frodo.

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