Was Boromir a mistake? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Morwen Tindomerel · 03-26-2003, 10:13 AM

If Boromir was a mistake the mistake was Elrond and Gandalf's. Surely it must have been clear to both, and probably Aragorn too, that Boromir was a potential problem yet they include him in the company - why?

IMO because their foresight tells them that he is somehow necessary to the success of the quest, which he most certainly is.

It is Boromir's attack that panicks Frodo into leaving the Company thus saving the Ring from Saruman's grasp. And it is because the Company is scattered through the woods searching for Frodo rather than caught together in camp that Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas survive the attack.

If the quest was meant for Faramir why did the dream come even once to Boromir? Faramir's repeated dreams may simply have been because he was more susceptible to such things. Nor is there any guarentee he would have resisted the Ring any better than his brother did - granted he refuses it in Ithilien but then Boromir doesn't make his attempt until after the Ring's been working on him for some months. Had Faramir been subjected to a similar trial he too may have succumbed.

Remember their father, for all his lore and 'pure Numenorean' blood Denethor falls prey to Sauron through the Palantir. Faramir might well have fallen just as his brother did, for all his wisdom, *but* would he also have had the strength to break the Ring's hold as Boromir did? To fall and turn back is an even rarer feat than resisting the Ring's initial temptation.

Had Boromir remained under the Ring's spell he could/would have tracked Frodo to Amon Henneth and taken it. Frodo was able to flee safely *precisely* because Boromir won a victory few have equalled. Could Faramir have done the same? maybe not.

03-26-2003, 10:13 AM	#27
Morwen Tindomerel Wight Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Minas Anor or Annuminas the Golden Posts: 187	If Boromir was a mistake the mistake was Elrond and Gandalf's. Surely it must have been clear to both, and probably Aragorn too, that Boromir was a potential problem yet they include him in the company - why? IMO because their foresight tells them that he is somehow necessary to the success of the quest, which he most certainly is. It is Boromir's attack that panicks Frodo into leaving the Company thus saving the Ring from Saruman's grasp. And it is because the Company is scattered through the woods searching for Frodo rather than caught together in camp that Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas survive the attack. If the quest was meant for Faramir why did the dream come even once to Boromir? Faramir's repeated dreams may simply have been because he was more susceptible to such things. Nor is there any guarentee he would have resisted the Ring any better than his brother did - granted he refuses it in Ithilien but then Boromir doesn't make his attempt until after the Ring's been working on him for some months. Had Faramir been subjected to a similar trial he too may have succumbed. Remember their father, for all his lore and 'pure Numenorean' blood Denethor falls prey to Sauron through the Palantir. Faramir might well have fallen just as his brother did, for all his wisdom, but would he also have had the strength to break the Ring's hold as Boromir did? To fall and turn back is an even rarer feat than resisting the Ring's initial temptation. Had Boromir remained under the Ring's spell he could/would have tracked Frodo to Amon Henneth and taken it. Frodo was able to flee safely precisely because Boromir won a victory few have equalled. Could Faramir have done the same? maybe not.