Boromir - An example of a man?

[Pervinca Took]

Welcome to the Downs, Arathorn!

A very interesting question, and one that I need to ponder. It set me thinking about Eomer in comparison. Another high profile warrior, as it were, and quite apart from the race of Numenor. The Rohirrim are perhaps nearer to "loving the sword for its brightness" than Faramir, too.

Is Eomer, too, the ordinary man, with limitations? He loves his sister, but does not notice what Aragorn does. As Gandalf pointed out, he had deeds of arms, and the free fieds ... he abominated Wormtongue and would die to save his sister from him, but he did not see, perhaps, the pain and burden that the mundane aspects of a woman's life were to Eowyn.

Boromir is prouder than Eomer. More flawed, perhaps ... more completely drawn. Would Eomer have fallen to the Ring in the same context? Boromir was driven largely by a desperation to save his people. Eomer's people were threatened too ... not only the King and his sister ... his land is not on the border of Mordor, but Saruman is uncomfortably near, and so are his armies ....

Sorry not to have answered your question properly. But of the high ranking men, and hence the ones we see the most of, you have got me thinking that maybe Eomer and Boromir are the most ordinary.