(avg. read time: 30–61 mins.)
Boromir’s Heroic End
Despite Boromir’s succumbing to the power of the Ring and accepting its lies in the previous book, this book opens with him heroically laying down his life in his attempt to protect Merry and Pippin. It is ultimately a battle he cannot win due to the sheer number of Uruk-hai, but that did not deter him, and he died doing what was right. Aragorn finds him pierced with many arrows and at least a score of Uruk-hai lying dead around him. He lives long enough to tell Aragorn that they have taken the Halflings instead of killing them. He then bids Aragorn farewell and asks him to go to Minas Tirith in his stead because he has failed. Aragorn comforts him, “You have conquered. Few have gained such a victory. Be at peace! Minas Tirith shall not fall” (III/1). Boromir then dies with a smile on his face.
And so Boromir’s story ends redemptively. Until recently, he was a worthy companion, having helped the Fellowship out of the pass of Caradhras by his strength, having helped them survive in Moria (even attempting to join the fight with the Balrog when he would have been overmatched), and ensuring that everyone else made it out alive when Gandalf fell. He kept his word through it all, but the Ring did take advantage of his weaknesses and his limited thinking. But in what he was good at, few in the world could match him. His actions that led to the breaking of the Fellowship are at first tragic, but they are taken up by Providence to produce more good than would have been possible had they followed through with the plans the Fellowship tried to make (and certainly more good than would have been possible if Boromir had his way). Merry and Pippin will find themselves awakening an ancient force for the reckoning of Saruman and Isengard. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli will contribute to the salvation of Rohan and Gondor all because they had to track Merry and Pippin. Frodo had his path clarified and he overcame his fear and doubt about that path because of what happened with Boromir (III/1). Frodo and Sam will continue the main Quest, and it is best that this minimal pair should go on for all that would happen, for otherwise Gollum also may not have served his proper end in the Quest. Boromir’s own actions in killing so many Uruk-hai will make the task less difficult on the Rohirrim who will destroy the rest of the company. And as a direct result of his protecting Merry and Pippin, Pippin will feel obliged to serve his father, which will result in the salvation of his brother and others (like Beregond) as a result. Even Boromir’s temporary failure of will ultimately serves as a warning to his brother about the peril of the Ring when he encounters Frodo and Sam, which also helps to preserve the Quest.
By Boromir’s glimpse of final victory by self-sacrifice as a redemption for his failure with the Ring, we see the hand of Providence in these multitudinous ways. That he should obtain his victory by self-sacrifice comports with the theologically informed ethical framework of the whole story (Letter #148a), and it thus provides a glimpse of the one through whom final victory will come. He accomplished what he accomplished because of his courage, which is itself a gift from the One for the tasks he appointed for him in the defense of his realm and the furtherance of the Quest.
Hoping Against Hope
The rest of the opening concerns Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli taking it upon themselves to pursue the Uruk-hai who took Merry and Pippin, rather than Frodo, who clearly did not want them to follow him. Before they lay Boromir to rest and set out, they search the site of Boromir’s last stand. Aragorn finds the knives Merry and Pippin dropped, which they had brought with them from the Barrow-downs and declares, “I will take these things, hoping against hope, to give them back” (III/1).
The key phrase here highlights how different notions of “hope” have been used across the story. Of course, there is a similar issue with the way people use “hope” in everyday contexts. In sentences like this one, someone might even use the same word in different senses in such proximity. In an attempt to give readers a handle on this matter, I have attached the terms amdir and estel to two different concepts. In this case, the first “hope” is estel, the trust in the providence of the One, while the second “hope” is amdir, the expectation of a good outcome that has some foundation in what is known. Aragorn has demonstrated the former as a virtue, but he acknowledges that he holds to it in the absence of an immediately clear reason for the latter.
Before Aragorn makes his final decision following the funeral for Boromir, he says, “And now may I make a right choice, and change the evil fate of this unhappy day” (III/1). As with “hope,” “fate” has been used in multiple senses. Often, it is divine providence by another name. But one of the other senses it has is a reference to an end or outcome, which is the case here. Aragorn is not so much trying to change the power of fate by his choices, as he acknowledges his fate is otherwise. But a right choice can change an evil outcome. However, there are always elements beyond the power of one’s choices. And so it will prove here, as it is not ultimately in Aragorn’s power to rescue the Hobbits. That will be the work of others.
Even so, he says, “With hope or without hope we will follow the trail of our enemies” (III/1).1 This is similar to his statement earlier upon leaving Moria. And as there, he is referring to amdir, as he acknowledges that there is no clear probability that he, Legolas, and Gimli will achieve their goal. As with the main Quest, that changes nothing in the calculation of what must be done. If they do otherwise, there is certainly no chance of reuniting with Merry and Pippin. Even without amdir, they can have estel, for the designs of Providence will indeed supply rescue for Merry and Pippin and involve them in a drama beyond the reckoning of the Three Hunters or the two Hobbits.
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