Temptation of Boromir

[Farael]

Originally Posted by Thinlómien

I would think that it might be because Aragorn knew the history of the Ring too well; he knew what would happen if he'd left himself to be tempted. Also, Aragorn's love for Gandalf and Elrond might have been a reason. Besides, I think his heart was different from Boromir's. (Can't explain how.)

Originally Posted by Letter #246
Sauron would not have feared the Ring! It was his own and under his will. Even from afar he had an effect upon it, to make it work for its return to himself.

And I'm missing one quote, that has been quoted many times before... Only Gandalf, of all the powerful elves/humans/ainur had any hopes of mastering the ring and fighting Sauron for dominion (even if he was doomed to fall to the tempation of the ring and become another Dark Lord).

As Thinlomien smartyle explained, many of the characters in the council of Elrond would have not taken the ring, or would have taken it and guarded it until the end... but Boromir was different. Not only he would have taken the ring but he would have used actively to puruse victory on the battlefield... which, we are lead to think would have been ill-advised, as he would not have been able to master the Ring to its full potential and would have been ultimately overthrown and given Sauron the very thing he meant to keep away from him.

So why does Boromir feel more temptation than everyone else at the council or any other of the nine walkers? I've always thought that it was because the ring knew that Boromir was his best bet to get back to Sauron soon.

Choose Elrond and you'll be hidden and guarded until the very end (when the ring would not really be THAT necessary anymore). Choose Aragorn and it is the same scenario. Choose Gandalf and Sauron might be overthrown, and the ring being a part of Sauron himself I'm sure it didn't really want that to happen. Choose a hobbit and the ring will probably be lost in the middle of nowhere, it's easier to have it on the battlefront where a good sword or even a lucky arrow might do the trick. Think of anyone else and what that character is likely to do... and so far, I find that Boromir (in spite of his noble intentions) would have been the one to surrender the ring sooner than the rest.

[alatar]

Originally Posted by Farael

Choose Elrond and you'll be hidden and guarded until the very end (when the ring would not really be THAT necessary anymore). Choose Aragorn and it is the same scenario. Choose Gandalf and Sauron might be overthrown, and the ring being a part of Sauron himself I'm sure it didn't really want that to happen. Choose a hobbit and the ring will probably be lost in the middle of nowhere, it's easier to have it on the battlefront where a good sword or even a lucky arrow might do the trick. Think of anyone else and what that character is likely to do... and so far, I find that Boromir (in spite of his noble intentions) would have been the one to surrender the ring sooner than the rest.

None were safe. Aragorn, properly motivated, could have taken and used the Ring actively. If Sauron knew that this scion of the West were still around and was near the Ring, and also knew of the secret love between Aragorn and Arwen, well, it wouldn't take much imagination (lucky for me ) to come up with a scenario where Aragorn actually chooses to take the Ring, by force if necessary, from Frodo or Gandalf or whoever else bore it. My assumption is that that is what Sauron thought when the Lords of the West marched to his door - that Aragorn claimed the Ring.

What would Elrond or Aragorn do if Arwen were held captive in Barad-dur? What if her death were imminent and the Ring was available? What would these two do for love?

That what Boromir did. He thought to claim the Ring to protect/save those whom he loved (and sure, there'd be some glory in it as well...).

[Tuor in Gondolin]

What about this for a scenario (perhaps including
captive Arwen)? Elrond and Aragorn know that if they have
the ring they probably can't dispose of it after disposing
of Sauron, so they agree that immediately after Sauron's gone
the one without the ring will kill the one with it (or nudge
him into Orodruin---in a setting rather like the scene of Isildur and
Elrond in the movie)?

And would such a scenario work with Faramir (book Faramir
of course) vis-a-vis Boromir?

[alatar]

Originally Posted by Tuor in Gondolin

What about this for a scenario (perhaps including captive Arwen)? Elrond and Aragorn know that if they have the ring they probably can't dispose of it after disposing of Sauron, so they agree that immediately after Sauron's gone the one without the ring will kill the one with it (or nudge him into Orodruin---in a setting rather like the scene of Isildur and Elrond in the movie)?

Isn't that called, "getting Gollumed?" And the Ring wouldn't permit itself and its bearer to be pushed. After overthrowing Sauron with the Ring, the bearer would have been hooked; the symbiosis could not be reversed.

And would such a scenario work with Faramir (book Faramir of course) vis-a-vis Boromir?

Not exactly sure what you mean. Do you mean that Boromir would get pushed by his brother?

With either case I just get this feeling that the act of 'pushing' would begat yet another evil. It smells too much like Saruman's kind of thinking.

[The Mouth of Sauron]

They all wanted it .

Unfortunately for Boromir he was unable to supress his lust for the Ring whereas most others were able to control their desire - e.g. Galadriel , Gandalf , Faramir .

I am the Mouth of Sauron .