LOTR: Why Did Boromir Join the Fellowship?

In The Lord of the Rings, few characters are more sympathetic than Boromir, the warrior of Gondor whose fealty to his kingdom leads him to valiantly serve the Fellowship of the Ring. More than any of his victories, however, Boromir is probably best known for his greatest mistake, as he is the only member of the Fellowship who succumbs to the corruption of the One Ring. Because of this, it can be difficult to discern why he was offered a place in the Fellowship at all, and what exactly his purpose was before he gave into evil.

The son of Denethor and the brother of Faramir, Boromir was an incredible warrior whose feats of warfare against the forces of Mordor brought him much renown in his homeland of Gondor. The character is best remembered for his unforgettable portrayal by Sean Bean in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings films, but his motivations and backstory in the books go far deeper than their cinematic equivalent.

Boromir’s Journey to Rivendell

Months prior to the Council of Elrond, Faramir twice receives a prophetic dream which troubles him greatly, but he speaks of it to no one. When the dream arrives for the third time, both Faramir and Boromir experience it, and Boromir quickly tells their father to seek his advice. In the dream, the brothers hear a mysterious voice which says:

“Seek for the Sword that was broken; In Imladris it dwells; There shall councils be taken; Stronger than Morgul-spells. There shall be shown a token; That doom is near at hand, For Isildur’s Bane shall waken, And the Halfling forth shall stand.”

Denethor understands that “Imladris” refers to the hidden vale of Rivendell, and urges his sons to seek out the House of Elrond. Faramir desires greatly to go, but it is Boromir who elects to take on the journey instead, both by his father’s wishes and because of the journey’s perilous nature. For 110 days, Boromir travels alone across Middle-Earth via a difficult and unmarked route, before finally arriving in Rivendell on the very same day that Frodo awakens fully healed from the Witch-King’s attack. Eager to hear the counsel of the Wise and receive insight into the meaning of him and his brother’s dream, Boromir is invited to join the Council of Elrond.

Why Was Boromir Chosen?

During the Council, Boromir makes two major discoveries regarding his dream. Firstly, he learns that the heir of Isildur has revealed himself as Aragorn, who intends to transport the re-forged shards of Narsil to Minas Tirith and claim his birthright as the King of Gondor. Secondly, Boromir finds that Isildur’s Bane, the One Ring, has indeed been discovered and is now in the posession of the hobbit Frodo Baggins.

In regards to Aragorn, Boromir is initially doubtful of whether he is worthy of filling the role of King, but he acknowledges that the re-forged sword in the hands of Isildur’s heir could prove a formidable aid for the forces of Gondor. As for the Ring, Boromir suggests that it could be used as a powerful weapon against the forces of evil, and expresses a desire to return it to Gondor and aid his homeland in defeating the hosts of Orcs at their gates. This idea is quickly disspelled by Elrond, who explains that the Ring’s evil influence is simply too strong for any one person to master, and even those with the noblest of intentions will become corrupted by its darkness.

When the Fellowship of the Ring begins to take shape, Elrond elects that it should be a small-scale mission with no more than nine members in its company. It is decided that Aragorn and Boromir will travel together and deliver the Sword that was Broken to Minas Tirith, but they will journey alongside the Fellowship for as long as the two paths coincide.

Boromir in the Fellowship

From the very beginning of the Fellowship’s journey, Boromir’s headstrong and prideful temperament came into conflict with his compassion and valor. As the company departed from Rivendell, Boromir blew a loud call on the Horn of Gondor, a not-so-subtle admonishment of the stealth Elrond had urged for their mission. For Boromir, the fate of the world and the fate of his kingdom were inextricably tied, and he disliked any decision made by the Fellowship that hindered him and Aragorn’s progress to Minas Tirith.

Boromir’s actions in the Fellowship were far from self-centered, however. When the company attempts to cross the snowy Pass of Caradhras, it is Boromir who suggests that each of the members carry a bundle of firewood. When the group is later stranded amidst a terrible blizzard, this firewood keeps them warm and probably saves them from death. Boromir also exhibits a great deal of compassion for the hobbits in particular, consistently voicing his concerns for their well-being in perilous situations.

Unfortunately, Boromir’s love of Gondor and his pride in his home-land would prove to be his undoing. As the company leaves Lothlórien, Boromir begins to succumb to the influence of the One Ring, and later in the Emyn Muil, he attempts to convince Frodo to leave with him and abscond to Gondor. He speaks at length about the great feats the Ring could help him achieve, and how it could make him the greatest leader in the history of Men. Frodo senses that Boromir has fallen under the spell of the Ring, and when Boromir lashes out and attempts to steal the Ring by force, Frodo slips off and leaves the Fellowship entirely.

When Boromir comes to his senses, he instantly laments his actions, and begs the air for forgiveness. His moment of redemption comes not a moment too soon, as the Fellowship is suddenly attacked by a pack of Uruk-Hai, sent to kidnap the halflings. Boromir valiantly defends Merry and Pippin, but he eventually falls to the onslaught of Orcs. He receives the blessing of Aragorn as he passes, who promises that he has redeemed himself and died a true son of Gondor. With this, Boromir’s time with the Fellowship comes to a close. Although, he never saw his mission fulfilled, Boromir’s role in the Fellowship proved to be crucial indeed, and there’s no doubt that he was one of the most capable warriors Frodo could have possibly had to defend him. It’s unfortunate to think that he fell so deeply into corruption, but the valor of his deeds lived on in his legacy and the further actions of the other great men of Gondor.