I was very upset that Tolkien “killed” Boromir, the first time I read the LotR.
But I believe Tolkien must have though along these lines: Boromir is a great
leader, always thinking about his country and his people (like he worries over
the hobbits on Caradhras and after Gandalf’s death when the company escapes
from Moria). He is noble and strong, but he is also proud. It’s due to this
pride that he makes the fatal mistake. He does believe that the inhabitants of
ME alone can defeat Sauron. He believes that it is a matter of physical
strength and how many soldiers he can raise for his cause.
The others have realized that this is not enough; Sauron and the evil can only
be defeated if man (or elves a s o) put their lives in the hands of God(-s) and
trust that everything is according to a plan that will ultimately conquer evil.
Elrond, Gandalf, Galadriel and many more know that they are lost, and only hope
is left, hope that something happens that no living creature in ME could
achieve on his own. The mad expedition is the sign that the “allies” have left
everything in the hand of a more supreme being. This doesn’t mean the members
of the fellowship do not suffer, are afraid, have doubts a s o. They also
have to make choices, they have to fight, have to be cunning, but in the end
they are tools that someone else uses. Boromir cannot trust in this. And so the
Ring has an easy job whispering in his ear that the others are mad, and that
they are walking directly into the mouth of the bear.
So in his pride he can’t say “Thy will be done” and instead he despairs. And
despair is a sin that has to be atoned for by death. I’m not sure exactly when
he realizes he has been wrong. But it seems the others think his death wasn’t
in vain, but that he redeemed himself. They all seemed to have liked him, and
miss him.
This is what I think Tolkien tried to tell us, and in doing so he created a
character, who in my opinion, is one of the most interesting in LotR. Maybe
cause he is so human, so like many of us. Strong and tragic at the same time. I
do not think that everyone on this board will agree, but this is how I puzzle
him
together.
"If you don't know where you're going
any road will take you there!"
George Harrison
