Slickman_G wrote:
I have just finished re-reading the chapter 'Boromir's Departure, and I am still struck with a similar feeling I get every time I read it, Boromir's death was no where near epic enough for the enormity of the moment.
I kinda realised it after the films had been released, where his death was done absolutely brilliantly In my opinion.
Tolkein could have done it so much better, describing his last moments slaying many Orcs, and the arrows penetrating his body, with his final thoughts of regret after trying to get the ring from Frodo. His last words with Aragorn are moving, but it could be so much better.
What do you think?
Like ethelfleda said, I think Tolkien wanted it to be.hmmmm how can I say it. The quote from the essay on beowulf "he was a man, and as for many, that was tragedy enough," I suppose Tolkien wanted that chapter to be like an anti climax, a moment of quiet reflection. Battle being the rushing slaughterhouse that it was, the stillness of Boromirs departure makes the reader take note. Not all deaths, as ethelfleda said, are epic, and Tolkien helps to drive that home here,and such a death provides a valuable antithesis to our modern hollywood culture, where the hero has to die a heroic death, as well as the classical idea of a hero dying in a grand fashion. By showing Boromirs death as such , I think it challenges our common perceptions, and brings us back to a more realistic sense of thinking.
And I think I sounded kinda smart there! (for once lol)
The Lamenter