One step deeper... The 'evil' attempt at the ring separates Frodo (and Sam) from the group. So, when the attack comes Merry and Pip are the only 'halflings', and upon their capture in spite of Boromir's fervent defense, the orcs retreat... which leads directly to Pip becoming a decoy and and drawing attention away from Frodo. If Faramir was in the group it would've been likely that they were all together when the attack came, leading to either the capture of all four hobbits, or if they escaped, surviving orcs reporting their location and direction of travel. Considering the chain reaction of events, Boromir's lust for the ring was NECESSARY for the completion of the quest.

I found the passage in The Two Towers where Gandalf the White talks about Boromir in The White Rider (pg 485 in Houghton Midflin paperback): "At last when Aragorn spoke of the death of Boromir and gis last journey upon the Great River, rhe old man sighed." "You have not said all that you know or guess, Aragorn my friend, " he said quietly, "Poor Boromir! I could not see what happened to him. It was a sore trial for such a man: a warrior, and a lord of men. Galadriel told me that he was in peril. But he escaped in the end. I am glad. It was not in vain that the young hobbits came with us, if only for Boromir's sake....."

I've always thought that it was Ulmo who chose Faramir but he was wrong, and then a strange twist changed it to Boromir. As you said it was Eru

I never thought of Boromir's words with Aragorn being analagous with Last Rites/Anointing of the Sick, but as a 45 year old Catholic I wholly agree with this take. And Aragorn as the rightful King absolutely fits the role of the priest. The priest does not absolve sins of his own authority, but by the authority of God exercised through him.

Very interesting insight. "Providence" is indeed an important Christian concept, as important as God's mercy.

This is why I think the claims of Dualism are mistaken: Good and Evil are not equal.

If Boromir had not gone, he would not have met Aragorn and formed a friendship with him. Thus, when Aragorn comes to Minas Tirith to claim his crown, Boromir would likely react badly to that. Especially given what Faramir said about Boromir and kingship: "And this I remember of Boromir as a boy, when we together learned the tale of our sires and the history of our city, that always it displeased him that his father was not king." This might have caused an issue.

Eru's redemption plans that bail out his fallen children at the end.

Boromir's death scene is amongst the most moving bits in the book. I always have a tear in my eyes during that last conversation between Boromir and Aragorn.

Yes. Boromir got to prove himself to the first Ainulindalë that’s still playing outs it’s effects with the events playing out until Dagor Dagorath etc.

Balrog getting scared of Boromir’s horn makes it all worth it. ❤

I believe shall take a different approach to the closing days of Boromir. Harold Bell Wright spoke of the two roads. One to leading high to sunlit plains, and the other to the shadowed valleys. This quest for Boromir was a journey from favor, honors, and glory down to humility, loss, and death. As a man of action, there was no glory in speeding along to a council of learned elders, though as a consumate pramatist, this did not damage the pride of Boromir. Additionally, he sees his words and concerns seemingly disregarded, and his ideas suffer rejection upon every turn. In the end, this man to whom all yield in turn must give way and bear the ill news to his master and father. His downward path has begun. Along the trip, he learns to be solicitus of the weaker and smaller, which were not his natural inclinations, and so he learns to better care for all not just the hearty men of war. He is also taught the benefits of subtil strengths such as a mithril waistcoat covered by an uninteresting traveling cloak. Thus, he learns wisdom and compassion. In Galadriel's hall, he faces the limits of himself, but these he can not face, nor the gnawing fear that lurks at the base of his soul. Thus, he learns of his folly and pride, but this lesson is surpressed, for he is as yet unready to yield. Finally, his journey drops into darkness as his despair and lust for power overthrow his reason for but a moment, and he is left alone upon Amon Hin with tears of a desolate repentance upon his face. This is the face that Aragorn sees as Boromir attempts a confession but fails to do more than recount the tale in part. However, his trail now turns again toward light and hope, for having been shattered in his pride, he submits willingly to Aragorn's command without protest and willingly pursues Merry and Pippin to keep them and ensure their safety. This is not a task of glory or fame, but it is the task at hand that he may do well. However, he is sent an enemy, and in that twilight, Boromir fights in hopeless despair, and at last, he falls. Boromir lies shrowded in growing gloom, but no longer is he Boromir proud lord of men, but Boromir a humble dying soldier surrounded by his killers the ashes of defeat wet in the parched desert of his mouth. This is the Boromir that Aragorn finds dying. Boromir now makes his contrition for even his broken pride is gone, and with this, Boromir finds himself on the sunlit path, and like a butterfly from the cocoon, he finds himself purged of all that he had been. Now, he petitions his king for both pardon and protection and is provided the one with a promise of the other. Thus passed Boromir, not as a great lord of men, such as he had been, but as a man wothy of the company of Barahir, Beren, and the great heroes of renown. He had mastered fate in a manner to be envied by Turin. He had faced the darkness of his soul amplified by the corruption of the Ring, and in his death, death was greater than he had been in his life.

Boromir repents after he tried to take the Ring and pays a steep penance for his sin (Sacrament of Confession) and Aragorn then administers the last rites..

Yes, in the annointing of the sick - as the last rites are called nowdays, the annointing takes a central role. In addition to what you said about martyrs: the dying Boromir very much resembles the martyred Saint Sebstian, pierced by many arrows.

I'll just add Faramir's words when discussing his vision of Boromir's funeral boat with Frodo in Ithilien: "Whether he erred or no, of this I am sure: he died well, achieving some great thing. His face was more beautiful even than in life."

Appreciate the last rites commentary. Not related to LOTR but Yes, anointing with oil is still part of the rite. The priest carries with him a small vial of oil for such emergencies. Holy Communion is also typically given as part of the Rite

Another example in Silmarillion is the Exile of the Noldor. Had they not returned to Middle-earth, Morgoth would have been victorious in Beleriand, and thus the whole of Middle-earth would have fallen under his dominion, save for Doriath. All the men would worship him, and there would be no Hurin, Turin, Tuor, or the Numenoreans. I couldn't find the exact passage on a quick search, so it is possible that this conjecture is mentioned elsewhere, or even is commentary on the story.

I believe the King od Nùmenor was also the high priest of Eru. So Aragorn is a priest in a way.

Always enjoy your content TG. Glad to see you back more regularly 🎉

Doesn’t pagan just mean country dweller? I can see the truth in the fact that most of the aristocracy using it to basically call us equivalent of “hicks” lol. Tolkien was a very wise man with the heart and soul of a mystic. And we love him for his efforts to revive ancient knowledge and language. Bridging the gap separating us from our mythological way of thinking + human origin story as one big long story that’s interconnected. His feats with translating artifacts for governments and other groups will never be forgotten. ❤

My dear melon Geek, You are astute as ever in this video. Yes, Tolkien abhorred allegory. But he frequently used images of the higher meanings he wanted to convey. The good professor admitted this in interviews after LotR became popular. He admitted that lembas was an image of the Blessed Sacrament, and that therefore the Lady who gave it to the Fellowship was an image of the Blessed Virgin. So it is very likely that he was at least hinting at an image of Extreme Unction in Boromir's passing. And yes, there is anointing of the five senses in the Rite, which can be shortened in an emergency to anointing only the head of the dying. I know this because I am, as Tolkien was, a Catholic who adheres to the Traditional Rites of Mother Church. You have a keen sight, my friend, to have seen this image where many others have failed to do so. Likewise, I am sure you are right about this being a bit of Divine Providence in that the music of Illuvatar is always fulfilled, evil is always turned back to the original good design of the Creator, and--again typical of Tolkien's thought--a soul is saved in the bargain. Very well said, my friend. You could have a second career teaching Tolkien in some old-fashioned school--which supposedly no longer exists. But then, I suppose that's what you do here. May the blessing of Eru bear you along the Straight Road until we meet. Yours in haste, Gandalf Olorin. Namarie.

And what about Gollum? From being ruined by the Ring, he becomes the agent by which it is destroyed. The evil done to Smeagol by Sauron as agent of Morgoth is turned to good. Gandalf has an inkling that he will have a part to play "before the end". And Bilbo's pity of Gollum in not killing him when he had a chance to, redeems Bilbo to the degree that he takes little harm from the Ring. Had he begun ownership of it with murder as Smeagol did, he would probably have taken far greater harm from it and perhaps turned into another Gollum. A very good and insightful analysis. I got a lot out of it.

Another good thing resulting from "The Fall of Boromir" is that the abduction of Merry and Pippin transports them to Fangorn Forest, where they meet Treebeard, who whips up the Ents and scuttles Saruman's fortress of Orthanc, and sending their Huorns after the orc-host at Helm's Deep. Abducting Merry and Pipping: bad thing. Getting the Ents on our side against Saruman: good thing.

Not just on a large scale either, our own personal faults or grievances with life are then used for good, the fact that the ring came to Bilbo and Frodo to them was bad, was horrible luck, but Illuvatar had a better plan then what the hobbits could imagine. Gandalf dying was a tragedy to all that knew and loved him, personally it was a horrible, bad event, but in the end it was definitely needed to defeat Sauron. Tolkien thought of despair and sadness about the future as a form of pride, the sin of pride in his opinion, as you are saying you can see future events, you know things will turn out for the worse, as if you are God who can see what will happen, hence trusting in the plans of God and that even the most horrific times you experience can be used for Gods good plan.

What’s cool as heck is Faramir and Boromir are both Númrnorean. Just of different lineage than Aragorn(Elendil etc). ❤

Also if you want to know what would have happened if Faramir had gone to Rivendell, watch the movies. Im convinced that's how Boromir would have handled things.

I think another positive is that boromirs actions broke the fellowship. Whoever went that wasnt a hobbit might have most likely eventually succumbed to the rings influence like boromir had they gone with frodo. Also, id like to add that boromir may have been war like, but he was also a good man. Well regarded and loved by many and rightfully so. He cared about his people and even showed concern for the hobbits. Like when he said that would die on caradhras and he proceeded to carry them to safety with aragorn. Of course, he also defended merry and pippin to his death Another thing. Perhaps something you could add to your nitpick of the films review series. I think its sad that they barely anyone talks about boromir after his death apart from his father and brother and anyone that talks to them. If i recall correctly, Gandalf (which you mentioned here), Theoden and Eomer all had something to say about his death. Im fairly certain that the uruk hai also used the fact that they killed him to boast about how mighty they were to eomer, Though the uruk hai didnt refer to him by his name. Those uruk hai were also relatively recently bread and most likely never came into contact with any gondorians before, so it probably goes to show that Boromir had a very far reaching and respectable reputation

2:25 ? It could not be more obvious! The marriage of Beren and Luthien, creating a lineage of blessed Children who can choose their fate? Children whose divine abilities will defend the Men and the Avari whom the Valar abandoned against evil time and again? Elrond and Elros were the embodiment of Iluvatar's promise, the most beautiful souls to ever exist: elven, mortal or divine. A greater and more beautiful thing than could have existed if Melkor had not turned traitor, destroyed the Trees and stolen the Silmarils. Fëanor's Oath and rebellion was only possible, because it was Iluvatar's will. The Noldor were being driven to Middle Earth in order to meet the Edain. Also: the Ring inspiring murderous hatred in it's bearers becoming the means of it's destruction? Sauron's corruption of the Oathbreakers, being the mechanism of Sauron's defeat at the Pelennor Fields? The Balchoth presenting such a strong threat that Cirion made an alliance with the Rohirrim, who would ultimately bring down the second biggest evil in Middle Earth-the Witch King? Pippin looking in the Palantir, out of curiosity, leading Sauron to believe the Ring was traveling to Minas Tirith when it was really in Shelob's Lair? To name only a few.

How extensive is Tolken on Faramir's grandson as his name was Barahir? Do you think he has the ring?

Boromir died 😢. Merry and Pippin are captured 😢Aragorn abandons Frodo and Sam😢. What happens then? Gandalf returns!😊 Gandalf frees Theoden😊! Rohan is saved😊! Aragorn frees Southern Gondor😊! Rohan arrives at Minas Tirith😊! Theoden die😢 Eowyn and Merry kill the Witch-King!😊 Aragorn arrives and saves Minas Tirith and Sauron is defeated😊! Aragorn arrived at Mordor with less than 6000!😮 Sauron attacks and the One Ring was destroyed!😊 This all started with Boromir's fall and death! Darkness losses the war by using Boromir!😂

Yeah, I think you've overthought this one. I feel Gandalf made the comment 'if only for Boromir's sake ... ' for a much simpler reason. Everyone on the quest had their own raison d'etre for being there, a mission; except for Merry and Pippin. Each person will pursue their own mission. Boromir had a close relationship with Faramir, his younger brother. He had no one to form that sort of relationship with in the Fellowship, except for Merry and Pippin. Boromir gained connection to the Fellowship through having what seemed to be younger siblings that he could let his guard down with; ultimately it was for those relationships, those who could not protect themselves in any way, that he unquestionable charged straight into unwinnable odds to protect. It is that that makes his death so poignant, his mission was to protect Gondor, he put that aside, without a second thought, to protect the weak. Not everything in Tolkien's work relates to his Catholicism, there are more universal themes.