noWizardme
Gondolin
Dec 8 2019, 10:45am
Views: 2014
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I think Faramir's vision of Boromir shows Tolkien up to one of his favourite themes - forcing characters to make decisions based on limited information, but rewarding chracters who prefer the right choice to the clever one. Here, Frodo can fill in some puzzling details for Faramir (where Bormir's belt and boat came from). But neither character knows as much about the situation as we readers do.
As people have already said, I think Frodo's shocked reaction that the rest of the Felowship might be dead is quite a moment. Faramir can also tell a lot about Frodo, I expect, from Frodo's reaction. ("Will you not put aside your doubt of me and let me go? I am weary, and full of grief, and afraid. But I have a deed to do, or to attempt, before I too am slain. And the more need of haste, if we two halflings are all that remain of our fellowship.")
Faramir and Frodo here are reminiscent of Aragorn and Eomer in "Riders of Rohan" earlier in the book. Like Aragorn, Frodo has been captured by an armed patrol and has to persuade its leader not to carry out his standing orders to kill or arrest any travellers. The two meetings are of course different in many ways. But I think Frodo's willingness here to go on with his mission impresses Faramir. And I think it's similar to Aragorn's willingness to fight Eomer if Eomer insists on carrying out his orders. People are admired in Middle-earth if they push on indominitably with doing their duty, however hopeless it seems.
Perhaps 'Riders of Rohan' is someone's favourite chapter & they'd like to lead it....?
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"Go down to the shovel store and take your pick." Traditional prank played on dwarves when they start down the mine.
(This post was edited by noWizardme on Dec 8 2019, 10:55am)
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