. . . diplomatic skills with Saruman, but I believe you are right on. And
the diplomatic skills of Aragorn distinguish him from the conventional hero,
and from the heroes of Tolkien's legends, Beren, Tuor, and Turin. (Beren
fails as a diplomat but succeeds as a lover, Tuor's diplomacy is dictated by
Ulmo, and Turin negotiates by killing people then offering himself as a
replacement!) Remember also Aragorn's brilliance in the Council of
Elrond, as highlighted in one of NZStrider's earlier posts.
And on a larger scale, Tolkien rarely described any conventional fighting in
LotR, but described many, many conversations, both friendly and
unfriendly. It seems to me this reflects Tolkien's own life, where he
seems to have enjoyed nothing more than long conversations with the Inklings,
long letters to and from friends, and long conversations with himself (a habit
of the wise!) memorialized in the many volumes of writings saved but not
published during his
lifetime.
________________________________________
"‘I think he was a silly little man,' said Councillor Tompkins. ‘Worthless, in fact; no use to Society at all.'
"‘Oh, I don't know,' said Atkins, who was nobody of importance, just a schoolmaster. ‘I am not so sure: it depends on what you mean by use .'
"‘No practical or economic use,' said Tompkins. . . .
. . .
"‘It is proving very useful indeed,' said the Second Voice. ‘As a holiday, and a refreshment. It is splendid for convalescence; and not only for that, for many it is the best introduction to the Mountains. It works wonders in some cases. I am sending more and more there. They seldom have to come back.'"
