Aragorn's reluctancy, was it totally wrong? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

ninlaith · 06-10-2005, 08:28 PM

I believe Aragorn showing reluctance to becoming king was a good thing to add to the movie. Even though it did not appear in the book I believe Tolkien possibly felt it was not needed. While reading a book our minds eye develops the character based on what is written. If a character shows any sign of weakness we immediately apply weakness to our vision of that character which can taint the true form of the authors vision of the character. In short, if the author writes a character strong it will stay strong in our minds. But in a movie, however, weakness is allowed to be shown for the fact that it humanizes the character which makes it easier to relate to the character also we see that the character is strong and we observe how he acts while he is reluctant which verifies if the character is weak or strong when making his life choices. When making a movie it is vital that the audience can relate to the characters. The audience should feel like they are on the same level, that they have some sort of unspoken understanding with the character. So I think it was a better thing. it may not have done so well in the book, but it enhanced the movie.

Lathriel · 06-10-2005, 10:01 PM

I liked the way Aragorn was portrayed in the movies. They could also have gone for a macho portrayal of Aragorn and that would have been much worse since that would have completely gone away from the book.
Even when I read the book for the first time I sensed a great amount of reluctance in Aragorn.
As for

Quote:

“I will not bring the RING to within a hundred LEAGUES of your city!”

I think Aragorn says this because he fears what will happen if the ring gets to Gondor. He probably also recognized the fact that Boromir was drawn by the ring and knew that the same could happen to the citizens of Minas Tirith. Most imporantly the Steward.

davem · 06-11-2005, 12:56 PM

Quote:

“I will not bring the RING to within a hundred LEAGUES of your city!”

Not wishing to be pedantic

but at the time he said that weren't they already within a hundred leagues (ie, three hundred miles) of Minas Tirith?

Lathriel · 06-11-2005, 02:41 PM

Did you count it out on the map?

06-10-2005, 08:28 PM	#1
ninlaith Wight Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: in my hobbit hole Posts: 204	I believe Aragorn showing reluctance to becoming king was a good thing to add to the movie. Even though it did not appear in the book I believe Tolkien possibly felt it was not needed. While reading a book our minds eye develops the character based on what is written. If a character shows any sign of weakness we immediately apply weakness to our vision of that character which can taint the true form of the authors vision of the character. In short, if the author writes a character strong it will stay strong in our minds. But in a movie, however, weakness is allowed to be shown for the fact that it humanizes the character which makes it easier to relate to the character also we see that the character is strong and we observe how he acts while he is reluctant which verifies if the character is weak or strong when making his life choices. When making a movie it is vital that the audience can relate to the characters. The audience should feel like they are on the same level, that they have some sort of unspoken understanding with the character. So I think it was a better thing. it may not have done so well in the book, but it enhanced the movie. __________________ "I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve!"-Bilbo Baggins

06-11-2005, 02:41 PM	#4
Lathriel Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Wandering through Middle-Earth (Sadly in Alberta and not ME) Posts: 612	Did you count it out on the map? __________________ Back again

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