Boromir: The Fall of the Mighty

In contrast to Aragorn, Boromir is someone who takes up the mantle of leadership, if needed, and proudly struts his valiant stock. You see, Boromir is not simply a man of valor, but he was the firstborn of the current Steward of Gondor. In essence, he viewed himself in the same class as the princes of his world.

Boromir is brave and mighty, and there are many great things he does in and for the Fellowship. Still, as time goes on, the need to have the Ring gnaws at him until it overtakes him. Frodo flees from Boromir. The mighty man of Gondor, soon afterwards, dies trying to protect Merry and Pippin.

In one sense he reminds me of Judas Iscariot, for just as Judas was one of the Twelve, so Boromir was one of the Fellowship. However, Judas sold out Jesus, whereas Boromir was deceived by his own temptations for the Ring. In this sense he reminds me more of Peter, who denied he knew Jesus three times. Both Boromir and Peter fell to temptation and pride, it was not the same kind of fall as that of Judas. Yet, it did remove Boromir from the Fellowship prematurely, just as Judas’ life was ended prematurely.

We must all remember that we have a little Boromir in us. We are all a little like Peter. We have a mouth that speaks before thinking, and pride that is founded upon nothing of any real worth. What do you or I have to be proud of? Is there anything that we have done, without the help of God, that we can boast about? The answer is “No!” Boromir, Peter are truly like us, but then again, so are the rest of the Fellowship, the rest of the Twelve. Each of us are plagued by the sin of pride. We all stumble and fall, but to what extent we fall depends largely upon to what extent we are proud.

In the book of Revelation a letter is sent out to the Church in Ephesus. It begins by telling them that He, that is Jesus, knows of their good deeds. Then it goes on to say, “But you have left your first love.” Along with that is the warning that they are to remember the height from which they have fallen and repent or else He will come and take their lamp from its place among the lampstand. I’d rather be a misguided “fool of a Took”, as was Pippin, than fall like Boromir, or even Peter, who went out and wept bitterly. The trouble is, I think I’ve already surpassed Peter, and Boromir, in my fallen, prideful state. I have felt the tears of bitterness, hot upon my cheeks. For only there, in true humility, can there be hope for any of us.