LotR -- Book 1 - Chapter 10 - Strider

[Encaitare]

Well, in defense of Mithalwen, (although I don't wish to be challenged to any duels -- or slapped with a gauntlet, for that matter!), I can see where she's coming from. Aragorn can be a bit high and mighty at times, but I suppose he has the right to... he is king, after all!

In this particular chapter I can only find one example of Aragorn acting in this manner:

"Well, you know your own business, maybe," said Mr. Butterbur, looking suspiciously at Strider. "But if I was in your plight, I wouldn't take up with a Ranger."

"Then who would you take up with?" asked Strider. "A fat inkeeper who only remembers his own name because people shout it at him all day? They cannot stay in The Pony for ever, and they cannot go home. They have a long road before them. Will you go with them and keep the black men off?"

This seems a bit extreme to say to poor Butterbur, but then again he was always rather less than friendly to Aragorn. And Fordim's comment:

The manner of his introduction in this chapter is entirely appropriate. Aragorn presents everyone he meets with a challenge: it's the challenge of his own presence -- are you worthy of him? Are you wise enough to recognise who and what he is, strong enough to pledge yourself to him, and faithful enough to follow him?

bolsters the evidence that Aragorn is confident enough in his own strengths that he has no hesitation in doing what he must. Plus, who would be the leader if not Aragorn? It is better for a king to show the ability to lead justly and with wisdom even before ascending to the throne, and Aragorn certainly does that.

[mark12_30]

Although I understand Mithalwen's preference for Faramir over Aragorn, command implies decisiveness, and both Faramir and Aragorn employ this (seemingly rude) trait at need. Aragorn goes further still-- he seems brash, nearly foolhardy. But not quite.

It is precisely this attitude of Aragorn's that enables him to win Eomer: "Will you aid me or thwart me? Choose swiftly!" An odd thing for one man to say to an entire Eored.

Aragorn can be very patient, but he knows when it is the right time to let his patience run out. He knows Frodo cannot make it to Rivendell without him. He cannot let Barliman talk Frodo out of trusting him as a guide. I do not see Aragorn's jarring response primarily as rude (although it is that); it is realistic.

Frodo's only hope is Strider, and Strider knows it. And for the sake of Middle-Earth, he decisively puts Barliman out of the argument.

[Mithalwen]

I never really quite "forgave" him for not preferring the brave and spirited Eowyn to the merely beautiful Arwen .... but then I realised that Faramir was just about the perfect man ......

And *jumps and waves I AM HERE...*

"Tell them I came, and no one answered, that I kept my word"

[mark12_30]

Well, we're getting a bit ahead of ourselves. But he had given Arwen his *promise*; Aragorn and Arwen were engaged. (Have you read appendix A?)

Had Aragorn broken that promise, he would have been much less of a man-- and I doubt Eowyn would have wanted a promise-breaker.

I'm happier for all of them the way things turned out, aren't you?

[Mithalwen]

I have indeed (...in fact I own HoME) and I do appreciate that point but my resentment dates back to my first reading when I was about 12, had forgotten about Arwen's existence at that point, and an embryonic feminist identifying strongly with Eowyn.... it seemed an insult to all clever, brave women.......

Of course once I was a little older and fully appreciated Faramir, I reckoned she had a lucky escape .... and I still think that Aragorn can be pompous, " a stuffed shirt" at times .....

[mark12_30]

Ah.

I do think Faramir and Aragorn are both quite admirable. I would follow either of them. It is interesting that Aragorn and Faramir become fast friends and loyal allies, and that Faramir has no trouble respecting, loving, and serving Aragorn.

I always respected Faramir for that.

[Encaitare]

True, Faramir does seem like the perfect man!

But to link all this back to the chapter's subject, I wonder what exactly Aragorn sees in Arwen. We never really seem to find out; it seems that first he loved her simply for her beauty. Doubtless it became something deeper as they got to know one another better, and we know that they truly are in love. However, I just wish it was expanded a little more.

The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen in Appendix A says:

Then Aragorn was abashed, for the saw the elven-light in her eyes and the wisdom of many days; yet from that hour he loved Arwen Undomiel daughter of Elrond.

Faramir and Eowyn's love just seems so much more tangible, if you understand what I'm saying. Love doesn't make sense, but we at least see their relationship grow into love. And although it's part of what's great about LotR is that some things are just given without explanation, I'd like to see a bit more into the relationship of Aragorn and Arwen, and take away from the flatness of Arwen's character.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Ahem!! I'd like to remind all discussers that there is no mention of Arwen, Éowyn, or Faramir in this chapter. Please try to limit the discussion of later events to thoughts that are absolutely essential to the development of Strider's character. Better yet, let's discuss the facts that are given to us in this very chapter, which bears his name! Thank you!

[mark12_30]

Yes, Ma'am. Sorry, Ma'am.

*salutes & tries to look like part of scenery*

[Encaitare]

::looks abashed like Aragorn did:: Will do. I tried to remain as on-topic as possible earlier but I suppose it failed...

[Lalwendë]

Well, these posts have certainly made me laugh! Before I go on, I have to say...I admire Faramir too. But I'm going to sit on a rickety old fence and say I like them both! Now, I'll put my Aragorn fan 'hat' (hood?) on and defend him.

First of all, I'm always struck by how close the name Aragorn is to the word arrogant. Bear with me here... I am thinking of two types of arrogance. There is the type which can also be termed 'pride', and as the cliche goes, comes before a fall. But there is also the type which can be applied to a person who is sure of themselves, which denotes a person with bearing, and immense confidence, as seen in great military commanders. They must maintain their appearance of command in order to inspire others to follow them. This would certainly apply to Aragorn in the latter stages of the War of the Ring.

And a little more linguistics. Aragorn is also a word remarkably close to Argent, which means gold, if I am not mistaken?

Now, as for Aragorn being a 'prig' (Mithalwen, I love that word!), I had to go and find an instance where he was definitely not a prig! When Boromir dies, Aragorn's emotions spill to the surface, and he is distraught. What is more, this shakes his own faith in himself.

"Now the company is all in ruin. It is I that have failed. Vain was Gandalf's trust in me. What shall I do now?"

This scene has always deeply affected me, not only as I found Boromir fascinating, but I hated to see Aragorn so distressed and shaken.

I have been trying to think of the best word to describe the loyalty and love which Aragorn inspires in others, and I think the word is fealty. He inspires fraternal love, the urge to follow his lead, to strive to be like him. Again, this reminds me of certain military leaders who have been admired by their troops. Interestingly, it is this which attracts Eowyn to him, showing that this admiration is not just felt by the males in Middle Earth!

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

The points that Lalwende raises about Aragorn's name reminds me of something that I posted to another thread earlier this summer. I will indulge myself and reprint a bit of that post here:

• ‘Ar’ is Old English (the language that Professor Tolkien devoted his professional life to studying and teaching) and has several meanings. When applied to a person it denotes a messenger, in particular a servant or herald of God (angel or apostle). When presented as a quality it means glory, honour, reverence, dignity, grace, favour or pity.

• ‘agorn’ (in OE) means to have or possess, or to deliver and restore; it can also mean to come forth, grow, or approach.

Aragorn’s name therefore has been very carefully chosen by Tolkien to mean the possession, approach and restoration of all that ‘ar’ denotes.

It didn't occur to me at the time, but Strider's characterisation in this chapter brings all this out nicely: his heroic nature is not immediatly apparent but is instead allowed to "come forth, grow" throughout the chapter. He also introduces himself to the Hobbits as a friend of Gandalf (and thus as an 'angelic' herald?) and it is, pointedly, only when the hobbits meet Aragorn and begin to trust him that they do get the letter from Gandalf (and thus truly an angelic message, that is attesting to the heroism -- ar -- of Aragorn).

[Guinevere]

But I must admit,' he added with a queer laugh, 'that I hoped you would take to me for my own sake. A hunted man sometimes wearies of distrust & longs for friendship

Like Davem, I always find this very touching!

My impression of Aragorn is not of a "flat character"at all. (Yes, I've read the whole "psychological depth in Tolkien's characters" thread! and I don't want to start a discussion. this is just my opinion. ) There's much more to him than meets the eye, and throughout the book we get to know more about him.

When I reread the chapter now, I wonder a bit about the broken sword - was Aragorn really lugging that around everywhere? "not much use" as a weapon, indeed... But I guess it came in handy in this scene to prove he was the real Strider!

Your information about the anapests and yambic verse was interesting, Fordim. (I have nearly forgotten all that I've learnt once, it seems...)