Aragorn's reluctancy, was it totally wrong?

[Knight of Gondor]

I think there was some manner of reluctance in the books, but PJ enhanced it a little and made it more prominent in the movies. Perhaps too much. Aragorn essentially spits the words “I will not bring the RING to within a hundred LEAGUES of your city!” in FotR EE. Not only does he betray some disgust for the city and Boromir’s love for it, but he does not even claim it as his own. (And I think this can be attributed to more than his origins in the North)

Yet he does make the promise that he will not let “our people” fail, a concept which obviously comforts Boromir, since he repeats it. “Our people.” Perhaps because this sudden display of devotion to Gondor refutes his earlier display of seeming disgust.

Also in the movies, Aragorn tells Elrond that he does not want the path of the king – that he has never wanted it. He does it more out of duty than anything else. (And perhaps to win the love of Arwen) Also, supposedly, because he has seen the destruction wrought by man, his kin, and the path of failure from his ancestors, and is loathe to make the same mistakes.

Altogether, however, I think there was too much emphasis on the “I have never wanted it” feeling from Aragorn. In the books, we get the feeling that it is the fulfilling of all he has longed for, the completion of his destiny. (Especially because it makes him worthy to marry Arwen) He even says something after Frodo leaves at the end of FotR (book) about “I wish to keep my pledge to Boromir and go to Gondor, and my heart desires it.”

( I myself could have done without so much Arwen in the movie but that's a whole other thread to start).

Take it from me, Mormegil, you won’t be the first to “start” a thread like that!! ;-)

I had read the books many times before seeing the movie, and so knew that eventually Aragorn would take the throne - no matter what else PJ changed

I think the title was also a heavy indicator, wouldn’t you?

I think I like the personality of the Aragorn in the movies better. To me, the reluctant ruler and hero are cooler than the one who thinks that they're ready and are too sure of themself. It makes for a more intricate character development than just, "okay, I'm the heir and I'm ready." So to me at least, the Aragorn in the movies is cooler and a tad more likeable.

I liked the quiet yet confident character first. And I’m not sure what it was you said that triggered this in my mind, but didn’t Gandalf offer some sort of counsel to Aragorn about not reaching his hand out too quickly? I think it was when he surrendered the Palantir, at the Rohan encampment. Aragorn said something to the effect of “all these long and weary years, I have not yet stumbled.” As in, he has been treading one single path towards kingship, careful and mindful of each and every step, so as not to stumble.

Might Aragorn not have just said this to placate Boromir though? So that he could die peacefully, not having to worry about having failed his people. Also, Aragorns words can be subject to interpretation. He does not specifically say "I will keep Minas Tirith from falling", simply that it will not fall. The immediate understanding of this would be that Aragorn intended to take over Boromir's role (in a way) but it is still ambiguous.

It seems dismaying to think so, but as I mentioned above, Aragorn then questions himself, about whether or not he will immediately keep his pledge to Boromir. (Just looked at the beginning of TTT…can’t find that quote, but I know it’s in there. A little help?)