Lord of The Rings: Men of Gondor’s Proudest Moments

The Lord of the Rings has been beloved by fans of fantasy for decades. With the presence of Wizards, Dark Lords, Elves, and Hobbits, it is easy to forget that in many ways, the trilogy is a testament to what it means to be human. The race of Men in Lord of the Rings naturally embodies what it means to be human better than any of the other races of Middle-earth.

Throughout the series, the three main characters from Gondor — Boromir, Aragorn, and Faramir — demonstrate what it means to be deeply flawed but equally capable of growth and redemption. Let’s examine their journeys.

Boromir Defies Temptation

In The Two Towers, viewers witness the recapture of Osgiliath through Faramir’s memory, before the events of The Fellowship of the Ring. Boromir is clearly a beloved leader and, perhaps more importantly, a beloved older brother. He comes to his younger brother Faramir’s defense and directly challenges their father Lord Denethor regarding his poor treatment. Trusting only his favorite eldest son, Denethor tasks Boromir with journeying to Rivendell to claim the One Ring for Gondor. Boromir at first denies his father’s order but, ever the loyal soldier, follows it in the end.

Representatives for all the races of Middle-earth discuss the Ring’s fate at the Council of Elrond. Boromir declares the Ring a gift. He asserts that it could be used as a weapon against Sauron and speaks of the futility of journeying into Mordor to destroy the Ring. When he learns of Aragorn’s heritage, he refuses to give up any responsibility he feels for keeping Gondor safe, telling him that “Gondor needs no king.”

Boromir’s drive to protect Gondor at any cost is both one of his best qualities but also his greatest liability; his love of his lands and his fear for its people render him susceptible to the Ring’s power. He is tempted by the Ring and what he believes it could do for Gondor on multiple occasions —  yet he resists, albeit barely at times.

Betrayal at Amon Hen

The Ring’s temptation is finally too great when Boromir and Frodo are alone in the woods at Amon Hen. Frodo barely escapes, and Boromir is immediately overcome by grief and shame. He shouts apologies as Frodo escapes. Knowing his transgression cannot be undone, Boromir directs his energy into protecting Frodo’s kin, Merry and Pippin, from an onslaught of Uruk-hai. He continues to fight even as he is pierced by multiple arrows. Boromir only stops rising when he can no longer stand.

Aragorn saves Boromir from a devastating fatal blow, giving the two sons of Gondor time to speak with one another. Boromir’s main concern is that Merry and Pippin have been captured. He also confesses to Aragorn that he tried to take the Ring. When Aragorn tells him he let Frodo go, Boromir acknowledges that Aragorn did what he could not. In his dying moments, the Captain of Gondor demonstrates extraordinary humility. Despite never knowing true failure before, he admits that the strength of his noble heart failed when it mattered most. He expresses his fears for Gondor, and accepts Aragorn’s reassurance that Aragorn will protect Gondor. In his dying breath, he acknowledges Aragorn as his king and trusts another person to lead and protect in his stead.

Aragorn Embraces Destiny

Raised by the Elves of Rivendell, Aragorn spent his entire life burdened by the knowledge of Isildur’s weakness when he claimed the Ring. He is all too aware what this weakness could cost Middle-earth. In his shame and fear, this knowledge shaped his view on the race of Men. Instead of ruling or even living amongst his people, Aragorn chooses a life of solitude as a Ranger in the North away from Men.

When the Fellowship forms at the Council of Elrond, Aragorn is immediately distrustful of Boromir. Aragorn’s suspicions are justified when Boromir suggests they use the Ring against Sauron. He only begins to have a change of heart in the woods of Lothlórien when Boromir has a rare moment of vulnerability. He tells Aragorn that Galadriel told him about the fall of Gondor. Despite this, Boromir still holds hope for the kingdom and its people. Boromir feels a great sense of responsibility to restore Gondor to its days of glory, placed solely on his shoulders both by his father and by himself.

Casting Away Fear

Later, on the shores of the River Anduin, Boromir challenges Aragorn’s lack of faith in his people. He tells Aragorn that he has hidden in fear of “who and what he is.” He tells him, “Yes, there is weakness, there is frailty, but there is courage also, and honor to be found in Men. But you do not see that.” Boromir understands what Aragorn sees when he looks at him, but also knows that this judgement serves as a way for Aragorn to hide from and avoid that he is all of those things too.

Despite Boromir’s prowess as a warrior, he is struck by three arrows in his efforts to protect Merry and Pippin from the Uruk-hai at Amon Hen. As Boromir lays dying, he confesses that he tried to take the Ring from Frodo. With tears in his eyes, Aragorn assures Boromir that he kept his honor, and tells him, “I swear to you, I will not let the White City fall … nor our people fail.”

Boromir picks up on the significance in Aragorn’s words as he repeats, “Our people.” For so long, Aragorn saw only the weakness and frailty of Men. Witnessing Boromir’s sacrifice, his humility, and his hope for a day he would never see, Aragorn finally understands the nobility to be found in the race of Men. Perhaps for the first time, Aragorn does not shy away from his heritage as Boromir uses his dying breath to call Aragorn, “My brother. My captain. My king.”

Faramir Honors Legacy

Faramir is first introduced in The Two Towers when he and his rangers capture Frodo and Sam on their way to Mordor. Frodo learns that Faramir is Boromir’s brother, and that Boromir died. As Faramir processes his brother’s life and death, he recalls their final day together in Osgiliath. He remembers both living in Boromir’s shadow and his brother’s attempts to bring Faramir into the light in their father’s eyes.

In a departure from the books, Faramir brings Frodo and Sam to Osgiliath to give the Ring to his father. He sees a chance to finally succeed where Boromir had ultimately failed. In desperation, Sam tells Faramir that Boromir’s death had been a result of his attempt to take the Ring from Frodo. Faramir overhears Sam’s encouraging words to Frodo about there being “good in the world” that is “worth fighting for,” and releases the two Hobbits. In this way, Faramir begins to align with himself more authentically, even at the risk of his father’s ridicule and wrath.

Strength of a Different Kind

Although Faramir loyally serves his father and his country, he knows the battlefield is not where his heart lies. In the books, he states, “I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend.” This statement is embodied by Faramir as he notes to Pippin that he never felt like his role as a soldier fit him. He goes on to lament his own personality and how it differed from the pride and strength that both Boromir and Denethor possessed. Pippin, like Sam and Frodo, sees Faramir for the good man he is. Pippin wisely tells Faramir, “I think you have strength of a different kind.”

Faramir does not regret his decision to let Frodo leave with the Ring, even though he must reckon with his father in The Return of the King. He does, however, find his grief over Boromir and living in the shadow of his brother’s ghost to be too much to bear. Denethor commands Faramir and his men to retake Osgiliath despite impossible odds. In his overwhelming despair, Faramir does as his father commands despite recognizing it for the folly it was. It proves to be a fatal undertaking for most of the men, and Faramir is dragged back to Minas Tirith all but lifeless by his horse.

Faramir nearly burns alive on a funeral pyre as his father believes him dead. He is saved by Gandalf and Pippin and goes to the Houses of Healing to recover. There he meets Éowyn who, despite her heroic strength on the battlefield, finds herself beginning to despair. Faramir finally and fully embraces the true strength of his authentic self as he comforts Éowyn. He allows himself to express the wisdom and gentleness in his heart that had been rejected by others for so long, telling Éowyn, “I do not believe this darkness will endure.” In doing so, he courageously allows himself to be really seen and loved exactly as he is.

Although a hero’s journey can be an epic endeavor to destroy an ancient Ring or defeat a ruthless enemy, the hero’s journey can also be one of profound personal transformation. These three Men of Gondor were not only integral to the salvation of Middle-earth, but evolved as a result of their respective journeys.

Boromir learned that his greatest strength could also be his greatest weakness. He learned to have the humility to acknowledge his own failures and to trust others to be strong where he cannot. Aragorn learned to see the goodness in mankind. As he embraced the idea of fighting for and having hope for them, he began to finally embrace himself as a King of Men. By trusting his instincts and his heart, Faramir began to accept the ways that he was different from his brother and father. In the end, he learned to not just accept these parts, but to embrace them as strengths worth having.

Which journey do you most identify with? Join the conversation with other LOTR fans over at Sideshow Social Network or in side.show/geekgroup, and don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!