If you could choose character?
 

If you could choose to be a character in Middle-earth, who would you be, and what would you have done diffrent?
I would like to have been Turin Turambar.

I'm moving this thread to the Novices and Newcomers forum, since it's not a discussion of the books. There are similar topics there already, but the last question could make this thread interesting and different.

I have a few characters I would choose.

Luthien, and I would not change anything.

Finduilas of Dol Amroth. I don't know the full story, but I'm wondering if Denethor would have survived had Finduilas not died so young.

Galadriel. I don't know much about her past, but I'm thinking that she had a pretty decent life, even if it was a bit miserable (I believe its been called some form of tragic or sad life at one point). Anyhow, she is an interesting character, and there is the bonus of being married to Celeborn.

Celebrian. Again I don't know the full circumstances surrounding her demise, and I probably would not try to change them, although being held captive by orcs isn't top of my to-do list. She seems to have had a decent life up until her captivity, and if there was any way I could change her fate, I might consider it.

Boromir. A wonderful character, loyal to his wonderful homeland. Naturally, the choice here is to not succumb to the ring, although I entirely understand and sympathise with his reasoning and loyalty to Gondor. But yes, I would have Boromir resist the ring if I could.

If I had to be a character, or wanted to, for that matter, It would take me a long while to decide who to chose.

Pippin: because I admire the fact that he went from pathetic troublemaker to Hobbit warrior

Aragorn: because he is willing to give up his desires and temptations for those he trusts and loves

Varda: I have the same love for living things

Luthien: Her love for Beren that was so strong that she would give up her immortality and virtually her whole world for him. Love is a powerful thing.

I'd be Faramir from the movie and make him in character.

But seriously, I think I would be Denethor. I would have put more faith in Gandalf than Saruman; I've always been curious if Denethor would have suffered the same fate if he'd listened to Aragorn's advice on wizards those many years ago.

I was just thinking about Denethor, when I saw your post.

Straight off, I would just love to be Denethor for the pure experience. But if I could change him, I'd probably do the same: trust Gandalf more than he did. I'm also wondering how events would have altered if he had resisted the lure of the Palantir and not used it.

Elladan or Elrohir!
I would love to be one of the twin sons of Elrond. At all times that they are mentioned in the story they seem to me to be fearless and in the thick of things. They arent loud and bombastic like some other characters and simply do what is right. I love the thought of the two of them out fighting the orcs alone while their kinsman celebrate in the halls of Rivendell. That seems very heroic to me. Also seeing as how they are not pure Elf blood, their father being half elven, they have the characteristics of men that i can more easily identify with and yet at the same time they also have the blessing of perpetual youth.

If i could change something about them it would be that they had both or at least one of them had been part of the company. i think they could have contributed significantly.Elrond may even have been considering them when he at first wanted to place someone of his household in the company instead of Merry and Pippin.
Just some thoughts! Great topic!

It really depends. If I had to become a character for life, I would choose some one simple like a Hobbit who doesn't have much worries or responsibilities, or maybe an Elf in Valinor.

But if only for a short while, I would choose Aragorn as he's my favourite character.

Beware the signature virus.

Any one of the hobbits, for I greatly admire their way of going from pansies to warriors. Yes, I called them pansies. No, I won't take it back.

I think it would have been fascinating to be Tuor; to meet Ulmo, to find the fortress by the Sea, to find the way into Gondolin, to actually see Gondolin, to meet and marry an Elf, and to save many of the inhabitants of the city, even if he couldn't save the city itself. I cannot think of anything I would change.
I should also like to have been one of the Dunadain during the ride through the Paths of the Dead.
If I had been Turin Turambar, which I would not at all like to be, I would have either not killed the person tormenting me in the first place (what was his name?), not fled when I had killed him, or come back when all was known and forgiven. Hans Markus Rod, why would you choose to be him, and what would you have changed?

I would like to have either been Fingolfin so i could have seen Valinor but also lived in the ist age of ME and seen some of its beauty before it was destroyed. Also i love him because he is so brave.

Elrond because i would love to have seen the second age and all its wonders. I would probably have taken a more active part in the rangers. Actually going out with them rather than just remaining in Rivendell.

I would have liked to be Goldberry. I don't know much about her though, so I don't think there's anything I'd change...

-Maikafanawen

I'd want to be Radagast.Talking with birds and being a mysterious person seems real tight to me.

I would love to be Elrond: to have lived so long, suffered so much loss, caring and healing and compassionate, wise both in learning and in insight into others, and bearing so much responsibility with grace. I wish that he had heeded as much to his Atani side as to the elvish one, so that he would have been more proactive as the War of the Ring approached.

Well, I haven't yet read the Silm or The Unifished Tales so I'm not fully informed of all the characters. But from the LotR, I would have to say Gandalf, of course. He's so powerful and so wise.

Hmm... What would I do differently? I can't really say because almost all of Gandalf motives were kept hidden, so any changes I might make could have catastrophic repercutions.

I've got about three characters that I would have been:

Fëanor -- I've always admired his independence and strength. Of course, I also do love the sparklies! I would have tried to resist Morgoth's darkness a bit more, and not have accused the Valar of acting like guard dogs. I think that was his biggest mistake. If not that, I wouldn't have charged on after the Balrogs during the Dagor-nuin-Giliath, I would have stayed put.

Fingolfin -- This may sound masochistic, but I would have wanted to lead my people over the Helcaraxë. I think it would be something every leader wants to do. He was also one of the bravest, strongest Elves ever born. The thing that I would have done differently is not go charging off after Morgoth. I think that this entire family had that problem. Of course, I do understand Fingolfin's rage, but still, there are other ways to have revenge.

This is going to scare some people:

Maeglin -- I'm interested in psychiatry, and how people think, so I've always wondered what went on in Maeglin's head. What was he thinking when his life was falling apart around him? I mean, that Elf's mind is every psychiatrist's dream!

I think I would like to be.......Eowyn. She is very brave and bold and always wants to be active and not washing the dishes. If I were her I'd be exactly like her so nothing would really change! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

I would have been Gandalf as he got to have lots of adventures. I think if i could have changed anything then i would have kicked sarumans *** some more!

I thought of more~

Maedhros~ because of his loyalty to his friends, even when his brothers were being real a****

Elrond~ He's just cool

Let's see...

I'd most want to be Aragorn just for the sake of it. I mean, it would really be fun just keeping track of all the orcs I've killed...
and don't forget the "becoming King of all the Western Realm" part.

Also, some changes I would make...

THINGOL: I really wouldn't have been so harsh on Beren or Luthien. I mean it is their own decision right?

BOROMIR: Obviously, I wouldn't have tried to take the Ring from Frodo. Plus if He'd survived who knows what would happen?

i would want to be frodo baggins cause he is the ringbearer and hes cute

Crumbs, that's a hard question.

Well, seeing as Boromir didn't marry I can rule out being with him. Perhaps either Merry or Pippin's wife (Estella or Diamond). But that's kind of an easy option, seeing as we know nothing about them.
Eowyn would be the hard option, but it pays off in the end because she shows her worth and gets her man. So I think I'd be her.

Wow, that's a difficult question.

Hm....I would probably like to be one of these:

Pippin: He is a hobbit. I like hobbits because I think they are special. I like Pippin simply because he has a good sense of humour.

Galadriel: Galadriel is old and wise. It something about her that makes you shiver, I think. Not because she is 'scary' or anything, but, to me, she has always been 'magical'.

Legolas & Gimli: Legolas is the tall elf, with the bow...ahh... I would like to be like him/or be him, not because he is 'hot' in the film. (I don't think he is) But because I like elves, and Legolas is a 'strong' character I think. He is Gimli's 'best buddy', something I find fascinating. Elves and dwarves aren't supposed to be friends.... [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

Nice Topic! I'll have to jump on the bandwagon, not because everyone's picking them; just because they're really good choices. Elrond, Celebrian, Elrohir, or Elladan. Do you think I like Elrond's family? [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

I don't think I would change much since I don't know about their stories (in depth, I mean. I get the general gist of things). I've always had fantasies about Celebrian since we've never really met her, and I love reading fan-fics and making up my own stories about Elladan and Elrohir. Elrond is just an all around great competitor for best character in the entire book. I love them all.

I have only read LOTR, so my choice is a bit limited.....

ARWEN- It must have been really hard for her to see Aragorn go with the Fellowship, knowing that she could never see him again. But she held fast to her love to him.

I think I'd actually like to be Butterbur. He has a cool job. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Id love to be Lothíriel the love of Éomer. Becuase Éomer is just tops!

Id also like to be Théodwyn, or Galadriel, Galadreil becuse she seems to have had a really exciting life.

Hmmm.. interesting one... Welcome to the Downs, Hans Markus Rod! Enjoying being dead? [img]smilies/evil.gif[/img]

Well if I've to pick one (because I've got plenty) I would have to be:

-Aragorn. Because he's so real, and compassionate, and devoted, and he's an awesome warrior. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] He did what he had to, and fulfilled his destiny in the noblest, most admirable way I have yet seen.

Well, I immediately thought of some of my favorite characters, but then I though "Woah! Some of them had it pretty tough!" Pretty much everyone in ME had some dark moments.

But I decided that it would be worth going through the trying times to experience the thrilling, victorious moments. And even some defeats were glorious.

I'd choose Feanor, Turin, Hurin, Elrond, and Maedhros.

(and I suppose I wouldn't mind being Beren either, when I consider who his honey was [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] )

[ September 17, 2003: Message edited by: the phantom ]

I would have to choose Eyown as my middle-earth character... when reading the book I take time on her lines, even read them out loud...she is the tragic heroine i wish i could be...I am tragic, just not a heroin(however I try). I feel her pain of love unriquited and wish I could ride into battle and defy the enemy. I keep hoping my story will have a happy ending, but i can't seem to see any Faramir through these treacherous mists that surround me...

If I could be anybody I would have to be Tom Bombadil. What I would do diffrent would be to have taken the Ring to Mordor.

If I could be a Tolkien character I'd probably be Faramir or Eowyn; to me they always seemed warriorlike, yet still compassionate and likeable, yet initially without such a great and perilous responsibility as Aragorn. In the book I wouldn't change anything, though if you were talking about the film, make Faramir like he is in the book... [img]smilies/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Aragorn because he fulfills his destiny and is a brave warrior. He keeps going (like Frodo bu I prefer Aragorn) when responsibility is thrown onto him. Everyone respects and loves him in a non-sexual way (except Arwen) and he commands without resorting to rudeness. Not only is he a great warrior but wise, noble and (almost) perfect!

If I could be any ME character it would be Arwen(The one from the books). I mean she does one of the most dificult things for a woman nowadays to do. She knows her place. She doesn't try to be a man. She has to see her only love go and know that she can no longer help him exept by just loving him and waiting for him. You guys probably won't understand what I'm talking about but girls you can relate.

Galadriel DID have a pretty good life. That is, until she left Valinor with Feanor. [img]smilies/rolleyes.gif[/img] but that's a different story. ANYWAYS... I would like to be:
Luthien, because she loved Beren so much she died for him (in a way)
Arwen, (NOT MOVIE ARWEN) because she gave up eternal happiness to be with the one she loved (but I guess she really wouldn't be happy without Aragorn, would she?)
Eoywen: She is just so cool!

I would have been Aragorn. He is by far the best character in the book. His character traits and personality seems to speak to me.

Aragorn. But only in his role as Strider.
I'm somewhat of a loner, and I'm pretty much at home in the woods or swamps.

Arwen. She was so noble, and I love the story of her and Aragorn. She loved him so much, she was willing to give up immortality and the ability to sail to Valinor so she could be with Aragorn. She was so devoted to him!

My second choice would probably be Luthien, pretty much for the same reasons.

I'm not sure I would be any of them, but if I had to choose, it would be Legolas are personalities are very similar, I stay in the background and not say much, just watch everyone else do stupid things.

But truthfully I have made my own character that is more of my personality....Shenarwen.

Interesting choice of Maeglin, Finwë! I couldn't help but feel for Maeglin in his difficult position and mourn for the waste of such promise. He seems to have been doomed from the outset by his relationship to Eol the Dark Elf and the built in mistrust/secrecy surrounding the hidden kingdom of Gondolin. I can't say whether I would blame it more on his nature or his situation. He does seem to exhibit a lot of characteristics similar to Eol's when pressed to it. It seems the minions of Morgoth pressed the right buttons with Maeglin, just as Morgoth had been able to press Fëanor's buttons.

Honestly, I probably would have wanted to be Nerdanel, wife of Fëanor, for her unique perspective, although I imagine there would be little she could do to change Fëanor's headlong rush to meet his fate. For that, I would have to have been Fëanor himself. I have not read the HoME series, so I do not know if this is covered there, but I wonder what revelations and realizations Fëanor must have had time to have sitting in Mandos' halls for so long...

Oh yes, I, too, am curious as to why Hans Markus Rod wishes to be Turin Turambar! I know it is 20/20 hindsight, but I think I'd go after Finduilas, myself, were I Turin. But that is too much to ask him to know, unless by some flash of insight... perhaps, if I had been Glaurung, I could have accidentally burned myself up and saved Turin and his kin a whole lot of trouble! [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

Cheers,
Lyta

I am Dúnedain Ranger #7 who rode south with Halbarad, who was serving as our captain in Aragorn's absence. I made him upo myself, but kept him completely within the confines of Tolkiens world. Hanasían is the name.