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To: HairOfTheDog
Sorry for getting here late, but I just spent the last two days working on someone else's computer, and couldn't make it to the grand opening. It wasn't a total waste, however, because I got to take my friend to her first (and my third) viewing of LOTR.

I've been reading with interest people's views on Boromir. The assessments are pretty good, but it seems like nobody has mentioned that Boromir is also a glory hound. Both from his own words, and later on in the story, he's clearly a man who believes in his noble mission, and expects that songs will be sung about his valor and greatness, whether he lives or dies. Faramir, OTOH, had no such yearning for glory, although it could be heaped on him unwanted.

Looking at the rest of the Nine, none of them gave a thought to personal glory, except maybe in an odd unguarded moment. I think the Ring was testing everyone, and "got a nibble" from Boromir. Galadriel toyed with the idea for a few seconds, but resisted. Gandalf recoiled as if someone flung a poisonous snake at him.

This desire for glory is not bad in itself, especially if someone, like Boromir, was raised to be a warrior, and to do great deeds. It was reasonable for him to assume his great deeds would be sung, which just helped encourage him to undertake greater and greater deeds of valor.

It was just that in this situation, the nature of the Ring made his desire for glory the exact wrong trait to have. It was counterintuitive for him to reject the Ring like everyone else was. He really didn't believe that the Ring was utterly evil. He felt that he could master it to his will, do tremendous good with it, and reap the glory.

At least Boromir was strong enough and noble enough to realize the error of his ways, and was able to redeem himself before his death. He achieved some of the honor he desired, from his new king, and from the stories that would be told about him.

281 posted on 03/16/2002 6:30:53 PM PST by 300winmag
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To: 300winmag
Boromir is also a glory hound

That is a good way of capturing that part of his personality, The part I call the "jock" side of him. He loves the team, and plays for the team, but also loves the close-ups they will do on instant replay when he scores the winning touchdown! A trait not inherently evil in a normal course of events, but a trait that made him dangerous when the tempation of The Ring began to play with his mind.

286 posted on 03/17/2002 6:47:14 AM PST by HairOfTheDog
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