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04-21-2010, 11:35 AM | #1 |
Wight
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Barad-Dur
Posts: 196
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Why didn't Gandalf or Galadriel warn Aragorn about Boromir ?
The Fellowship left Lorien to proceed down the Anduin by boat. The next day, Gwaihir brought Gandalf to Lorien, where Galadriel warned Gandalf that Boromir was coming under the unhealthy influence of the Ring.
Armed with that knowledge, why didn't Gandalf immediately send Gwaihir down river to warn Aragorn ? Come to think of it, why didn't Galadriel warn Aragorn even before the Company set off ? She certainly had plenty elven-muscle at her disposal to imprison Boromir. |
04-21-2010, 12:32 PM | #2 |
Pile O'Bones
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 24
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It seems to me that Gandalf had something of an existential approach to the fate of the Ring and the fellowship. He believed Bilbo (and, by extension, Frodo) was "meant" to have it. He seemed resigned to the notion that it was the hobbits' burden to bear, where elves and men had failed before (and dwarves didn't care). It was Gandalf who foresaw (or guessed) Smeagol's role in the affair and I think he knew the fellowship had to break at some point. This is not to say that Gandalf had actually envisioned all these things, but I think he knew that the very nature of the Ring itself would thwart whatever plans they made, and that he was counting on things he could not see (There is more about them than it would appear).
When I think of Galadriel's motives I am always reminded of the admonition, Do not seek counsel of the elves, for they will say both yes and no. Ultimatey I think they were all counting on the hobbits -- these odd little creatures who were so full of surprises -- to save their bacon. I think they knew the best laid plans of wizards and elves oft go awry, and they were trusting the intrinsic "good" to win out somehow -- even if they could not see the way of it. |
04-22-2010, 02:41 AM | #3 | |
Shade of Carn Dűm
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And even if Gandalf sent Gwahir to Araagorn,first of all,they would wonder why Gandalf did not come with him.Secondly,since it was not certain yet whether Boromir would give into temptation ,the warning must have been personnal and discreet.And what would be more suitable than a giant eaggle?
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04-22-2010, 06:43 AM | #4 |
Shade of Carn Dűm
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: The Shire (Staffordshire), United Kingdom
Posts: 273
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Did Aragorn need to be warned?
He knew the Ring's power and he knew Boromir's character. He would have been well aware of the possibility of Boronir falling to the lure of the Ring. Boromir had great strength of will; perhaps Aragorn thought that he could hold the lure of the Ring at bay until the quest was over. . |
04-22-2010, 02:58 PM | #5 |
Ghost Prince of Cardolan
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: midway upon... in a forest dark
Posts: 975
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Poetic Redemption
Taking Boromir by "elven muscle" to quote The Mouth of Sauron, would have destroyed the delicate balance of power between Elves and Men. Elves after all aren't supposed to lead the war anymore, their time being very near towards the end. As for Gwaihir interfering by bringing Gandalf to the Company to warn them of Boromir, that would also have meant that Boromir would not die, and instead have a slim chance of return to Gondor. With a mad father and his own will maddened by the Ring, consider the possibilities... Gondor would have divided its effort towards kidnapping the Ringbearer and keeping Sauron at bay. And even if Galadriel manages to keep Boromir in bonds, what would she do? Elven-counseling? Somehow I don't think that'd work.
Boromir's death is more than poetic justice, it's poetic redemption. I think JRRT's all for giving his non-Dark Lord characters a chance of redemption. Boromir's death is not in vain; without it, the chain of events that are caused by Merry and Pippin would not have happened. Those two might not be given a chance to grow and live up to their potential. The Ents might never have woken up.
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04-22-2010, 04:18 PM | #6 |
Sage & Onions
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Britain
Posts: 893
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and who's to say the Galadriel didn't warn Aragorn?
Certainly he divined Boromir's intention soon enough, but post-hoc - therefore was he giving Boromir the benefit of the doubt ? Kingly but dangerous!
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05-23-2010, 06:06 AM | #7 |
Haunting Spirit
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 51
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Frodo had a sense of it, even before Lothlorien but he chose to let events play out, maybe a premonition or sense of fate. If he hadn't maybe there wouldn't have been the sundering of the fellowship which led to Merry and Pippin rousing the Ents and Aragorn taking his rightful place as the leader of men in the final defense of Gondor.
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05-24-2010, 08:06 PM | #8 | |
Wight of the Old Forest
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Unattended on the railway station, in the litter at the dancehall
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Meaning I don't think Merry & Pip would have died if not for Boromir's intervention. Those Orcs had orders to take any halflings alive, hadn't they? And so they did, and all of Boromir's valour couldn't prevent them - all he achieved with his last stand was to atone for his earlier fall for the lure of the Ring and save his own soul, so to speak (which is quite enough for me, don't get me wrong). Otherwise, the story would have gone on just the same if Boromir hadn't crossed swords with a single Orc at Parth Galen - at least until the fall of Isengard. Later in Gondor, of course, things would have got interesting again.
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10-28-2010, 07:37 PM | #9 |
Blossom of Dwimordene
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: The realm of forgotten words
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I agree with everything that was said above, and I just want to add that it was probably meant for Boromir to go through that test. Many of the main characters go through it, and even the secondary ones - like Faramir and Denethor.
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11-01-2010, 12:10 PM | #10 | |
Wight
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 145
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But that was not *ALL* that it accomplished. In a strange turn, Boromir's Last Stand ALSO saved the life of his brother !!!
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05-24-2010, 06:50 PM | #11 | |
Child of the West
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Watching President Fillmore ride a unicorn
Posts: 2,132
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Would Gwaihir have even bothered doing this for Gandalf? Certainly he owed the wizard, but what did he owe to Aragorn to deliver a warning?
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What good would keeping Boromir have done? Likewise, what good would warning the Fellowship have done? What could they have done, leave Boromir in the wild to keep him away from Frodo? Things perhaps could have gone smoother for the Fellowship had they been able to see all ends, but there's a destiny set before each one of them it seems and a warning would have upset that.
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