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Old 04-25-2003, 08:17 PM   #19
Morwen Tindomerel
Wight
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Minas Anor or Annuminas the Golden
Posts: 187
Morwen Tindomerel has just left Hobbiton.
Silmaril

'Boromir wanted the Ring from the start.' Exactly how do you figure that? Certainly he spoke for using it at the Council of Elrond, but that doesn't mean he wanted it for himself, (then). In fact he is clearly suggesting that 'the Wise' or the 'Free Lords of the Free' which presumably included his father, use the Ring as a committee. This of course was impossible but he didn't know that.

There is in fact every reason to believe Book Boromir initially accepted the decision of the Council and intended to do everything in his power to further it.

Sam, an acute observer, tells Faramir Boromir himself didn't realize he wanted the Ring until just before or during the interlude in Lorien, (Galadriel's psychological meddling may have backfired here) after he'd been exposed to the Ring's influence for months.

Denethor fell prey to the Ring's temptation without ever seeing or touching it, (as did Saruman). Faramir rejected it but was not subjected to months of its influence as Boromir was. Boromir fell but repented and broke the Ring's hold upon his mind - 'few have won such a victory'.

For that matter Isildur too had repented of his decision to keep the Ring and meant to give it up to 'the Wise', which of course is why it 'betrayed him to his death', (see 'Disaster of the Gladden Fields in UT).

Certain individuals, regardless of species or ancestry, have the character to resist the Ring's lure. But *no* race or lineage is automatically immune, not even the angelic Maiar as Saruman proves.

As for Boromir's proclivities, I never meant to suggest he didn't have a natural flair and interest for military matters, and he is unquestionably by nature a Man of action. However such traits do *not* preclude an interest in science, philosophy or literature, (Alexander the Great for example had a lively interest in such things and if he wasn't a Man of action nobody is!)

Training in arms began quite young in medieval times, seven or eight. Nor would Denethor have waited so long to encourage an interest in military matters in his heir, and discourage any other interests.
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