The Near Character Assassination of Aragorn in The Fellowship o…

If I were to ask you, “What is one of the most famous, praised, and influential fantasy stories of all time?”, I think most of you would have to pause for just a moment. Let’s be fair; there are actually a few out there that come to mind for most of us. Game of Thrones being one of the more recent examples (of course until that ending). Harry Potter is sure to come to most people’s minds if you were born post-1990. Hey, maybe you are one of those people who count video games such as Baldur’s Gate. That one was extremely impressive.

However, I am willing to bet one series came to mind almost immediately (and not just because it was in the title!).

THE LORD OF THE RING! *cue theme song*

Yes, yes. We all know it. Even before the box office trilogy burst onto the silver screen at the turn of the millennium, the books were changing the landscape for fantasy.

What’s that? You haven’t read the books? Well… I’m not your high school English teacher, so I don’t expect you to have done your homework. I’ll sum it up as, the gang needs to help Frodo take the ring of power to Mount Doom to destroy it.

Most of the stuff that was in the book was also in the movie.

Hope I didn’t spoil it for ya.

Well, there is this one thing. One big thing in the first book was changed when it was scripted into a film.

The character of Aragorn.

Sure, most movies (and even the lord of the rings) have some necessary changes when attempting to adapt a book character to the screen. However, this one was changed to something as night is to day.

If you have seen the movie, then you know that Aragorn (the man who would be king) is portrayed expertly by the actor Viggo Mortensen as a scruffy outdoorsman. He is the type of man to take charge when needed, and he also definitely broke his toe in the second film kicking that helmet.

Another very important character trait that he has is fear. Not fear of the trolls or orcs. Rather, fear of his own humanity. As a descendant of one king of Middle-Earth who had the chance to destroy the ring of power but instead fell to its temptation, he views himself (and all of mankind) as no different. The whole race being the sum of weakness.

This is different in the book, where Aragorn takes on more of an “I know I am the king of Gondor, and the rest of you better act like it” type of role. However, this makes more sense in the book, as Aragorn’s quest is mostly focused on his journey to Gondor, rather than his internal conflict.

I think that the change in the movie works much better, especially for the average movie viewer, who was not used to this type of story. It is important to have character arcs that a person (who is probably watching their first high fantasy film) can follow and empathies with. Most of us might find it a bit more difficult to empathize with King Arthur.

Oh, one more thing…

THEY KIND OF LEFT THAT OUT OF THE THEATRICAL CUT!!!

Yes, as most of you know, the extended edition (which most consider the canon version) was not the one in theaters. When people first saw the movie, a very important scene was left out.

In the second half of the movie, we are introduced to who Aragorn is and how he feels about his right to the throne (that he don’t want it). But it is through the remainder of the film that we see how Aragorn views his own race of people. This is done with the character of Boromir, played by Sean Bean.

During the second half of the movie, the two constantly clash as it is clear Boromir wants to use the ring as a weapon to protect his people. Aragorn, knowing their ancestor’s past with full resentment, argues the opposite point.

Through the movie, we learn that Boromir has been fighting against the evil of the world for a long time and knows that eventually evil will win and all of the people he has been protecting for so long will be destroyed.

Then the ring of power comes along. With this, the tide of war will be changed, and everything he has fought for for so long will be made safe.

Oh wait… they won’t let him do that… right.

Then the one man who can give him hope, Aragorn, is revealed to him. Here is a man who can take up the throne and lead these people. Finally, Boromir can be relieved of his position??

Well, here is where we find the bit of cut content from the movie that trips up the character arc.

It is a final moment before the climax of the film where the fellowship is camping on the shores where Boromir finally snaps at Aragorn, claiming (what we all know) that he is afraid of who he is. Aragorn snaps back, referencing Gondor as his (Boromir’s) city, distancing himself even further from the race of men.

While there is some noticeable tension in the theatrical cut between the two, it is mostly kept to Boromir and Frodo.

However, this scene conjoins the three characters of Frodo, Aragorn, and Boromir. Making the final conflict all the more impactful.

It is this confrontation in the deleted scene that prompts Boromir to realize that not only will Aragorn not come to his help, but the only way for him to get the ring to his city is by taking it.

Thus the iconic scene where Boromir attempts to attack Frodo to get the ring for himself.

This is followed by the final moment of choice for Aragorn’s character. He is offered the ring by Frodo. The confrontation between Aragorn’s whole view of himself and his race has now started. It lasts only moments on film but leaves a powerful character moment where he refuses the ring and thus starts his journey to Gondor and the throne.

Oh, and also the most tearjerking scene in the movie happens where Aragorn promises a dying Boromir that he will “Not let the white city fall… nor our people fail” finally viewing himself with pride among his own people and realizing the importance of the role of king. This allows Boromir to die knowing that he no longer is needed to protect the world from evil, leaving it to his king.

How did Sean Bean not get an Oscar for this performance??

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