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Post by Boromir on Aug 7, 2006 0:28:57 GMT -5
How come Isildur never resisted the ring but Aragorn did? I thought Aragorn was his heir. His traits should look like Isildur's.
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Post by Eyalan on Aug 7, 2006 1:55:04 GMT -5
Good question, they are not alike at all! Perhaps because he was aware of his forefathers' failure all of his life? Aragorn questioned himself too, from time to time.
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Post by orophin on Aug 7, 2006 2:17:06 GMT -5
People can be different from other people, Even if they are related. Aragorn knew more about the ring then Isildur did I would say, So he knew more about resisting it.
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Post by Boromir on Aug 7, 2006 2:57:05 GMT -5
Interesting thoughts. Aragorn was a half elf whereas Isildur was not as I remember. Maybe Aragorn had more knowledge about the ring than Isildur had. But another question rises from that argument then?? Why is it just him who resisted the ring?? There were more powerful than him who could not resist the ring like Gandalf, Frodo, Boromir, Faramir. They did resist but after seeing the effects of the ring not like Aragorn.
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Post by Eyalan on Aug 7, 2006 3:13:00 GMT -5
Aragorn a half-elf? You've got to explain this one.. And I totally agree he had a lot of knowledge. He and his rangermates had been protecting the Shire for a loooong time because of the ring! Even far longer then Frodo realized there even wás a ring. Perhaps that anwers the question, Aragorn just knew a lot, because his dear freind Gandalf told him everything way ahead.
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Post by Boromir on Aug 7, 2006 3:17:18 GMT -5
I do not understand the term half elf used in LOTR. Some call half-elf, some call him Numeanor. Well that gave me a little headache. I have no knowledge how you can be a half elf even. Protecting Shire??
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Post by Eyalan on Aug 7, 2006 3:43:20 GMT -5
Aragorn came from an old race; the Dúnedain. This folk was actually what was left after the downfall of the Island of Númenor.
Elendil escaped together with what was left of his folk. That must have been a lot of people actually, for they lasted for thousands of years.
Elendil was Elros' heir, who chose mortality. You might remember that.
The elves lived on Tol Eressea, the Island next to it. The elves visited Númenor often, to teach the men about everything. The Númenorians were not allowed to visit Tol Eressea though.
So the Dúnedain were very wise, and gifted with long life by the Valar because they had remained faithfull during the dark times of the First Age.
boring boring... yeah I know.
About Aragorn protecting the shire: He told the hobbits when they met in the Prancing Pony. If you have a copy of The Fellowship, you should probable read that part, for it gives you a lot of information. The chapter is called Strider and is pretty good material.
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Post by Haldir on Aug 8, 2006 1:23:25 GMT -5
Well Aragorn was raised by Elves ... Surely he'd grow up behaving and being as invicible as one.
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Post by Eyalan on Aug 8, 2006 10:07:23 GMT -5
No wonder he made such a good ranger afterwards  |
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Post by Luthien on Aug 24, 2006 18:08:19 GMT -5
As Arwen says, "You are Isildur's Heir, not Esildur himself. You are not bound to his fate." And it's quite possible Aragorn could have learned from his ancestor's mistakes.
Yes, Aragorn was a Dunedain. They are human, but very long lived- sorta closer brothers to the elves than normal humans. Let me see if I can find it...
"Then the Edain (men) set sail upon the deep waters, following the Star; And the Valar laid a peace upon the sea for many days.... And setting their course towards it the Edain came at last over leagues of seas and saw afar the land that was prepared for them, Andor the Land of Gift, shimmering in a golden haze. Then they went up out of the sea and found a country fair and fruitful, and they were glad. And they called that land Elenna, which is Starwards; but also Anadune, which is Westernesse, Numenore in the High Eldarin tounge.
This was the beginning of that people that in the Grey-elven speech are called the Dunedain; the Numneoreans....they were mortal still, though their years were long, and they knew no sickness, ere the shadow fell upon them. Therefore, they grew wise and glorious, and in all things more like to the Firstborn (meaning elves) than any other of the kindreds of Men; and they were tall, taller than the tallest of the somes of Middle-earth; and the light of their eyes was like the brihgt stars."
Stuff in italics, I added.
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Post by Eyalan on Sept 2, 2006 10:40:36 GMT -5
What you say is all true, but it doesn't explain why Isildur was so greedy while Aragorn was not. They came from the same race: The race of men. Who were equally bound to their greed for power.
So I guess that leaves us with one question: Why was Aragorn not greedy for Power at all? After all; he was supposed to become King of men. That means he should be the man of all men... still following?
Even though he was raised by elves.
This thought leads me to Faramir. He wasn't greedy as well, but not raised by elves. No he was in fact raised by the greedyest of all: Denethor. So I don't think background matters much. And Aragorn left the Elves at his 20th. That leaves 68 years of living among his own kindred; Rangers of the North.
What happened to him during this period of time? He was already swooning over Arwen, this we know. And he became buddies with Gandalf. He also had contact with his Mother, who told him not to go after Arwen and keep a low profile... Perhaps that's it!
Everyone knows a man's mother is like.. 'holy ground'. So when his mother convinced him he should keep a low profile on his distant relatives, well.. it must have made quite an impression!
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Post by alexei on Sept 2, 2006 11:00:30 GMT -5
Ah, I just have to say that Denethor in the books wasn't half as horrible as in the movies. No one around here seems to like Denethor... But nice theory, Eyalan! Made me chuckle quite a bit.
I think what Luthien said about learning from his ancestors' mistakes is a good bet to why he didn't take the Ring. Everyone around here loves elves, I know that much, but it seems a lot of the time men are getting the short end of the stick. Aragorn was a very noble person. You don't need to be raised by elves to be a nice guy. A last point in Isildur's defense: Aragorn never held onto the Ring. Isildur actually had it in his possesion, so I'd imagine that would make him easier to corrupt.
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Post by Eyalan on Sept 2, 2006 11:04:09 GMT -5
You're theory is better then mine, Alexei  I guess you're right on this one; Aragorn was never a 'ringbearer', but Isildur was! Good point! |
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Post by Boromir on Sept 22, 2006 2:26:14 GMT -5
Well that certainly solved the conflict in my mind, thanks Alexei. Then why did Aragorn reject to be the king of Gondor before WOTR if so?? Hehe another conflict  |
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Post by Miluiel Greenleaf on Oct 8, 2006 20:54:48 GMT -5
This is a good topic! I think the scenes in Rivendell are very good at portraying Aragorn's determination to reject the ring's power and is very successful, I would say. He had so many chances to take it from Frodo, but I think it was a fear of becoming Isildur that kept him from taking it. After all, he had so much to loose by taking the ring. And there was much to fear in taking the throne. After all, he was unwanted, as Boromir *the charrie* said. "Gondor has no king." I wonder what he would have said at Aragorn's coronation...although at his death he had a change of heart. He called Aragorn a brother, after all.
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