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| The Last Word by jenolas | 5 Review(s) |
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| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 3/27/2005 |
| Again, interesting insights into Boromir and the influence the Ring has over him from the beginning. I see here and in a previous chapter you are marrying book and movie verse. Good work at doing so, I must say. Author Reply: Thanks, although I was primarily intending to keep events well in line with canon, and have for the most part I think, I have deviated towards the movie version in one or two places. I am pleased that it seems to be meshing together well. jenolas | |
| Dot | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 3/27/2005 |
| This is a very thought-provoking chapter. I thought the opening was very moving. There’s something so lonely about Boromir’s admission of how much he loves and misses his brother and father. I suppose that despite all the activity in Rivendell, he must have felt very alone at times. At least by giving him the journal, Faramir ensured his brother a connection with his family while he was so far away from them. It must be quite something to spar with Glorfindel!! I had to laugh at his frustration with the vague answer to his question, though. Go not to the elves! Still, at least Glorfindel forced Boromir to look at Legolas more closely and appreciate the fact that he brings more than his skill with weapons to the fellowship. I’m glad Boromir feels he can relate to Legolas and the desire to fight for his home. But I thought his musings on Aragorn were very interesting. I mean, Boromir has seen loyalty and the wish to protect home and people in Legolas, Gimli and even the hobbits. But he obviously isn’t sensing it as much in Aragorn and these things are important to Boromir. In addition to that, it’s his home that Aragorn will become king of, so of course he wants to be reassured that he has some devotion to the people of Gondor. I know the movies really played up the whole “reluctant king” thing but even in the books there’s a suggestion that he does it out of love for Arwen and because Elrond has told him that he won’t give him his daughter in marriage until he becomes king. I have no doubt that Aragorn knows his heritage and has great pride in his line but I guess there just isn’t really enough sense of any particular love and loyalty to Gondor or ambition to do the duty that is rightfully his to fully convince Boromir. The final lines too were cause for thought. There seems to be a suggestion that Faramir would almost be inclined to blame the ring when he could. At some point that has to be the easiest thing. But in my mind, at any rate, the ring doesn’t necessarily plant thoughts but works on feelings, suspicions and insecurities that are already there. I can see why Boromir would feel some unease about Aragorn and it’s probably a case of this being heightened then by the ring’s influence. It’s very easy to be hard on Boromir and see him as utterly corrupted by the ring, but he wasn’t at all. Yes, it had a hold over him and took his devotion to his home and people to a rather extreme length, but he could have won in the end. We’ll just never know if he would have continued to resist its call after he snapped out of it when he fell. Anyway, as always you’ve made me stop and think about things that I’ve always just pretty much accepted about these characters. This is absolutely the most intriguing thing I’ve read in ages! :-) Author Reply: So true, Dot and I have not forgotten Aragorn's 'true' motivation for claiming the throne, and suspect that Boromir's reaction on learning of it was not entirely heart warming, but more of that later. I hope you continue to be intrigued with my attempt to take take such a close look into Boromir's character.I know I am! jenolas | |
| mirthor | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 3/27/2005 |
| Such refreshing insight on your part & a good subject Faramir poses - whether Boromir's doubts about Aragorn stem from his own beliefs and observations, or from the ring's influence. If I were to lay money, I would say it's his own. His considerations here of Aragorn are spot on, I believe. I remember thinking the same thing during Amon Hen (book) when Aragorn was so unsure of himself - 'all that I do goes amiss...' (can't remember Aragorn's actual words), the ppor man running about the woods with not a clue what to do, & a couple other places in the book I can't recall at this time. & of course, PJ's version played Aragorn's hesitancy far more than Tolkien did, for dramatic purposes. Also, it really is completely understandable that any of the Hurins would be bitter toward Aragorn: him walking about middle earth all this time & not coming to the aid of 'his city' until the last minute; & then awash in the reasoning that the purpose is to ensure Arwen's hand, rather than for the love of 'his people' who he barely knows. The ring may have played on those doubts about Aragorn to steer Boromir toward taking it, but I think the groundwork was laid in Boromir's clear mind already - the ring focusing instead on B's distrust of anything not tangible, specifically the evil of the ring. Goodness, I'm rambling - you're writing is too evocative ;) Author Reply: I see we have a very similar interpretation of Boromir's character. I agree with your points about the influence of the ring, it was only using what was already there in his mind. He was certainly within his rights, as the eldest son of the Ruling Steward if nothing else, to question Aragorn's motives and committment, especially when the safety of that which he has sworn to protect is at stake. To his credit, he did resist it for quite some time and even in the end, the hold was not as strong as some seem to believe, otherwise a simple knock on the head when he fell would not have been enough to bring him back to his senses so quickly. That can be more attributed to his own inner strength and nobility and honour that he possesses, in my opinion. Or even in part to the ring 'deciding' Frodo was really the weaker of the two and thus the better option to see it into Sauron's hands. A bump on the head certainly would not have been enough to release Frodo from the evil influence. I am glad you find my writing on this subject 'evocative' and thanks so much for taking the time to explore the ideas a little more fully. jenolas | |
| purrlin | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 3/27/2005 |
| I'm sure I will Jenolas! (mmm theres some caves not far from me called Jenolas!) I think you underestimate your abilities and over emphasise Tolkiens in his descriptions of Boromir's feelings on his trip south. One of Tolkiens claim to fame is his ability to show us emotion whilst glossing over the indepth features of the individual. I wonder if Boromir may have grasped at the link to his brother through his writing and therefore forstalled the effects of the ring for as long as he did! It's an interesting thought! Dig deeper Jenolas...you know you can! purrlin :) (how deep is the human soul?) | |
| purrlin | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 3/27/2005 |
| I am still here and so is your wonderful romp through the thoughts and memories of these wonderful brothers. I wonder if Faramir will work out that Boromir's thoughts and feelings about Aragorn aren't based upon the ring, at least not fully at this time! Sometimes those we see daily can be viewed more truthfully when seen from afar or from a different perspective. Faramir awoke to see his King and probably has had a bit of hero worship going on...maybe a brothers views will show the man for what he is...a man ...who is a king! I still think you're taking your time to leave rivendell...there is still plenty of time on the travels to see how Boromir feels about those around him... But then I don't know how long you intend to make this story and it would be presumptious of me to think you would end it in a few more chapters...at this rate I'm assuming your story is about a quarter finished.. maybe even a fifth...his thoughts on the trip across to Caradrahs...the trip up the mountain..the trip to the gates..the trip through Moria...the fall of Gandalf...the trip to Lothlorien...the gift giving..the trip along the river and then to Henneth Annen (forgive my spelling tis late my time!!!) all makes me feel you are having trouble getting Boromir started on his trip...perhaps I'm mistaken. This is why I hate to read stories before they are finished....I get so impatient. Forgive me. Please continue. I love this story more than any I have read till now. You do have a fascinating way of getting your thoughts across. Thank you again. Just waiting for more.... Thanks purrlin :) (Boromir is such a fish out of water...is funny because thats what Faramir has been all his life!) Author Reply: Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment. I am pleased you are enjoying the overall story although the pacing is not meeting your expectations. Whilst I agree there was ample opportunity for Boromir to get to know everyone on the journey, that story has already been written by Tolkien and it is not my intention to even attempt to rewrite it... only to add a little speculation on Boromir's relationships with the characters and his struggle with the ring that might have happened 'off screen' so to speak. I feel the time spent in Rivendell provides the best setting for first impresssions and certainly allows Boromir the most opportunity to record his thoughts, hence the delay in 'getting started' as you put it is intentional on my part. I doubt there will be as much chance for extensive journal entries on the journey south. At the moment my muse has not indicated exactly how many chapters are left but there are definitely more than two or three. I hope you enjoy the rest of the story nonetheless, jenolas | |