Aragorn's assertiveness

[Leaf]

Originally Posted by Kuruharan

This probably boils down to stylistic preferences in the end. I don't find these resolutions to be hamfisted, but rather add texture to the setting.

An afterthought:

I suspect that this problem (if you are inclined to view it as such) stems from Tolkien's method or style of writing. He really excels when it comes to the reinterpretation of mythical motives and their expression in his own world. But there are certain aspects of story-telling that seem to be, let's say, of less importance to him, to be a little more diplomatic about it. The numerous cases of deus ex machina (Oh, those eagles) may be fitting examples for this feature.

And I really don't want to be too harsh. The general embedding of the King-story into the Ring-story was accomplished with great success. I really like how it drives the narrative foward and how it connects the past with the present. I'm just being a little bit nit-picky about it because I want to get to the bottom of this.

Originally Posted by Kuruharan

Part of the problem may arise in that Strider did not start off as Strider at all.

Anyway, I will actually be home this evening so I will take some time to thumb through the last part of Fellowship and see if anything additional catches my eye beyond what has been mentioned already.

Thanks, that would be great.

[Marwhini]

Originally Posted by Leaf

An afterthought:

I suspect that this problem (if you are inclined to view it as such) stems from Tolkien's method or style of writing. He really excels when it comes to the reinterpretation of mythical motives and their expression in his own world. But there are certain aspects of story-telling that seem to be, let's say, of less importance to him, to be a little more diplomatic about it. The numerous cases of deus ex machina (Oh, those eagles) may be fitting examples for this feature.

And I really don't want to be too harsh. The general embedding of the King-story into the Ring-story was accomplished with great success. I really like how it drives the narrative foward and how it connects the past with the present. I'm just being a little bit nit-picky about it because I want to get to the bottom of this.




Thanks, that would be great.

The intersection of the Ring/King-Stories is pure Mythological Archetypal Narrative, as well.

We see similar features in Myths ranging from the Cradle of Civilization, all the way to Native Americans in the 1800s (although the Native American Myths are much older in origin than the 19th Century).

The Kalevala is the most obvious, being a nearly direct inspiration for much of Middle-earth.

And the Nibelungenlied has similar archetypes. Obviously not identical, but carrying many of the same narrative structures.

Tolkien does a much better job in his myths than do the actual myths because Tolkien set out to Consciously construct these stories, rather than arising out of Social Constructs from the Legends and Mythic Persons within a Culture - which can lead to a great many contradictions and conflicts that remain very difficult to satisfy or resolve.

MB

[Kuruharan]

I did not find anything of particular note in the rest of Fellowship that hasn't been mentioned already.

Two Towers will have a lot more of note.

[Faramir Jones]

It might be interesting in this thread to contrast the assertiveness of Aragorn regarding his royal rights, particularly from the time he declares his identity to Eomer and his men, with the mostly quiet and understated nature of his love for Arwen, as far as we can read in the main text of LotR.

There is, in my opinion, only one serious indication of what is going on in the text, which is after the Fellowship reach Lothlórien, when they are on the hill of Cerin Amroth:

At the hill's foot Frodo found Aragorn, standing still and silent as a tree, but in his hand was a small golden bloom of elanor, and a light was in his eyes. He was wrapped in some fair memory: and as Frodo looked at him he knew that he beheld things as they once had been in this same place. For the grim years were removed from the face of Aragorn, and he seemed clothed in white, a young lord tall and fair; and he spoke with words in the Elvish tongue to one whom Frodo could not see. Arwen vanimelda, namarië! he said, and then he drew a breath, and returning out of his thought he looked at Frodo and smiled.

'Here is the heart of Elvendom on earth', he said, 'and here my heart dwells ever, unless there be a light beyond the dark roads that we still must tread, you and I. Come with me!' And taking Frodo's hand in his, he left the hill of Cerin Amroth and came there never again as living man.

It's clear that the reader has seen Aragorn as a man in love, and that the beloved is Arwen; so when the reader reads of their marriage after the War is won, and Aragorn crowned, it is not a surprise.

It was only when I read that passage recently that I thought the comparison of Aragorn 'standing still and silent as a tree' was quite appropriate for the context of someone in Lothlórien.

However, the true meaning of Cerin Amroth for Aragorn and Arwen is only seen by the reader in Appendix A, I(v) of LotR, dealing with The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen.

In that Tale, Aragorn, after being told of his true identity when 20, fell in love with Arwen. Nearly 3 decades later, when 49, after many adventures and experiences, he came to Lothlórien, when Arwen was also living there, unknown to him at the time, with her maternal grandparents:

But Aragorn was grown to full stature of body and mind, and Galadriel [Arwen's grandmother] bade him cast away his wayworn rainment, and she clothed him in silver and white, with a cloak of elven-grey and bright gem on his brow. Then more than any kind of Men he seemed, and seemed rather an Elf-lord from the Isles of the West. And thus it was that Arwen first beheld him again after their long parting; and as he came walking toward her under the trees of Caras Galadhon laden with flowers of gold, her choice was made and her doom appointed.

In plain English, she fell in love with Aragorn.

For 'a season' the two of them 'wandered together' in the glades of Lothlórien, till it was time for Aragorn to depart. On Cerin Amroth, they 'plighted their troth and were glad'. That hill was where they became engaged. It was only fair for this to take a season to happen. Choosing mortality to be with the man you love is no easy choice to make...

After Aragorn died, the Tale tells that Arwen returned to Lothlórien, where she died on Cerin Amroth, and where she is buried.

[William Cloud Hicklin]

From the Two Towers- nothing bashful about Aragorn:

Aragorn threw back his cloak. The elven-sheath glittered as he grasped it, and the bright blade of Andúril shone like a sudden flame as he swept it out. 'Elendil!' he cried. 'I am Aragorn son of Arathorn and am called Elessar, the Elfstone, Dúnadan, the heir of Isildur Elendil's son of Gondor. Here is the Sword that was Broken and is forged again! Will you aid me or thwart me? Choose swiftly!'

Gimli and Legolas looked at their companion in amazement, for they had not seen him in this mood before. He seemed to have grown in stature while Éomer had shrunk; and in his living face they caught a brief vision of the power and majesty of the kings of stone. For a moment it seemed to the eyes of Legolas that a white flame flickered on the brows of Aragorn like a shining crown.

Éomer stepped back and a look of awe was in his face. He cast down his proud eyes. 'These are indeed strange days,' he muttered. 'Dreams and legends spring to life out of the grass.

'Tell me, lord,' he said, 'what brings you here?

and

Aragorn stood a while hesitating. 'It is not my will,' he said, 'to put aside my sword or to deliver Andúril to the hand of any other man.'

'It is the will of Théoden,' said Háma.

'It is not clear to me that the will of Théoden son of Thengel even though he be lord of the Mark, should prevail over the will of Aragorn son of Arathorn, Elendil's heir of Gondor.'

'This is the house of Théoden, not of Aragorn, even were he King of Gondor in the seat of Denethor,' said Háma, stepping swiftly before the doors and barring the way. His sword was now in his hand and the point towards the strangers.

'This is idle talk,' said Gandalf. 'Needless is Théoden's demand, but it is useless to refuse. A king will have his way in his own hall, be it folly or wisdom.'

'Truly,' said Aragorn. 'And I would do as the master of the house bade me, were this only a woodman's cot, if I bore now any sword but Andúril.'

'Whatever its name may be,' said Háma, 'here you shall lay it, if you would not fight alone against all the men in Edoras.'

'Not alone!' said Gimli, fingering the blade of his axe, and looking darkly up at the guard, as if he were a young tree that Gimli had a mind to fell. 'Not alone!'

'Come, come!' said Gandalf. 'We are all friends here. Or should be; for the laughter of Mordor will be our only reward, if we quarrel. My errand is pressing. Here at least is my sword, goodman Háma. Keep it well. Glamdring it is called, for the Elves made it long ago. Now let me pass. Come, Aragorn!'

Slowly Aragorn unbuckled his belt and himself set his sword upright against the wall. 'Here I set it,' he said; 'but I command you not to touch it, nor to permit any other to lay hand on it. In this elvish sheath dwells the Blade that was Broken and has been made again. Telchar first wrought it in the deeps of time. Death shall come to any man that draws Elendil's sword save Elendil's heir.'

The guard stepped back and looked with amazement on Aragorn. 'It seems that you are come on the wings of song out of the forgotten days he said. It shall be, lord, as you command.'