April 17, 2003

In Response to Everyone on Frodo vs. Boromir
Beleg Strongbow

In response to Manofwesternesse who said: "The power of Sauron was too great for a mortal halfling to resist, and Frodo was no longer making the choices," I disagree. Frodo was under an evil influence, yes, and admittedly its origins are from Sauron, BUT, if I remember right, Sauron didn't have a clue that the ring was in Mordor: to him it was, if I may quote Vizzini the Sicilian, inconceivable. Sauron wasn't sitting in his dark tower saying, "put on the ring, put on the ring, you know you want to! put on the ring," (in a literal sense). One could argue that if Sauron had urged Frodo to do what he did, he would have wanted Frodo to come to Barad-dúr, not claim the ring as his own saying: "It is mine."

In response to others: I said: "Boromir is getting all the bad rap for trying to take the ring from Frodo to use in Gondor AGAINST SAURON (aka evil), while Frodo himself tried to become the ultimate Lord of the Rings (aka, evil itself)" One cannot deny that the owner/wielder of the ring would be the Lord of the Rings, since the other rings all fall under the power of the One. Even if Frodo didn't think about all the meanings of "it is mine," and that he would ultimately control all the rings if this was so, that is what is implied when he says "it is mine." "There is only one Lord of the Rings, only one. And he does not share power" (if I may quote the Maiar). There can only be one Lord of the Rings, and if Frodo claims the Ring for himself, he would be the only one in charge. He would be the ultimate. Admittedly no one can want the ring without desiring power for himself (or herself, in Galadriel's case), but Frodo wanted the ring only for himself, and the thought did not cross his mind (as it did Sam's and (more than likely) Gandalf's).

Boromir wanted to become Boromir the Great, sure, so does everybody who is tempted with the ring, BUT he also wanted to help Gondor against Sauron. I do not recall such thoughts crossing Frodo's mind on Orodruin. In addition to which, Boromir had his father’s leering eye on him, and we learn later that Boromir felt somewhat pressured to be ‘the best son,’ which probably pushed him to take the ring, too. (Frodo had Sauron's eye on him from Mordor, but somehow I just don't think it's quite the same).

I also said: "Now, admittedly Frodo did get the ring to Orodruin with all of the best intentions (mostly)" What I meant by this is that he was continually depressed in Mordor (sometimes I wonder how Sam survived Frodo's company (I know, I know, they're best friends, and Sam is Sam, and Frodo is Frodo!)) and there were a couple occasions where he almost killed Sam (his only friend within a month's walking distance of him) and he also had several moments when he wigged out. This is what I meant by this. I’m sorry it seemed otherwise (I see that now), but Frodo’s mood and occasional wigg-outs.

And to Danny: yes, the grass bends sooner. But for how weak Boromir was, he did a pretty good job of standing up. And the means by which the tree and the grass are the same, but (changeover to people!) the grass had slightly different thoughts than what the tree did when it fell.

Boromir wanted to be a wise and benevolent king. He wanted to help Gondor and throw down Sauron. He honestly thought he could do better than Frodo, and that is why he attempted to take the ring (along with a little of the ring’s persuasive lies). Frodo wanted to posses the ring, and, in the end, become the owner of the ring, claiming it his, for no other purpose than simply possessing it.