Boromir's Ring

[Maedhros]

What would have happened if Frodo would have given Boromir the ring:
Boromir got up and walked about impatiently. 'So you go on,' he cried. 'Gandalf, Elrond - all these folk have taught you to say so. For themselves they may be right. These elves and half-elves and wizards, they would come to grief perhaps. Yet often I doubt if they are wise and not merely timid. But each to his own kind. True-hearted Men, they will not be corrupted. We of Minas Tirith have been staunch through long years of trial. We do not desire the power of wizard-lords, only strength to defend ourselves, strength in a just cause. And behold! in our need chance brings to light the -Ring of Power. It is a gift, I say; a gift to the foes of Mordor. It is mad not to use it, to use the power of the Enemy against him. The fearless, the ruthless, these alone will achieve victory. What could not a warrior do in this hour, a great leader? What could not Aragorn do? Or if he refuses, why not Boromir? The Ring would give me power of Command. How I would drive the hosts of Mordor, and all men would flock to my banner!'
He says that the ring would have given him the power of Command. What does he mean by that and would he have been able to defeat the nazgul and Sauron.
Che pensi tu?

[Lady Ashley]

I don't think anyone but Tolkien could know what would have happened had Boromir gotten a hold of the Ring. He would have perhaps used it for good at first, but after all, Men ARE weak. Look at what happened to Isildur! And Sauron would not have been defeated. As long as the Ring was around, so was Sauron.

[Maedhros]

Well, what you say is not technically correct, but yes, Sauron would have still been around if his ring was not destroyed. Could Boromir have bested the armies of Sauron with his ring?
I wonder, could you lead an army being invisible yourself?

[Lady Ashley]

Ooh, good question! Couls one do that? Hmmmm.

[Illuvatar]

I think that the ring would have betrayed him just as it did Isildur. The ring was trying to get back to it's master, and to that end, I think it would have lead Boromir to his death in short manner.

It's also quite possoble that Boromir might have marched himself right into Mordor and surrendered the ring (along with his life) to Sauron himself. I base this on the ease in which Boromir is influenced by the ring just by proximity.

It appears that different folks have different tolerances and resistances to the ring's power. Take good ole Tom for example, he could've cared less for the ring. And each other character was affected differently, from Gollum to Bilbo to Gandalf, however Boromir seemed especially vulnerable. (IMHO)

[Sindarin]

True, Boromir would have been seduced by the One Ring like Isildur did in Mordor.

Besides, he could never have wielded the power of the ring, the Nazgul would've found him in possession of it sooner or later, and Saruon would be in power against Middle Earth.

[Algamesh]

If you will go back in "Fellowship of the Ring" and read the Foreward again, you will come across a passage which relates to this question ...

The real war does not resemble the legendary war in its process or its conclusion. If it had inspired or directed the development of the legend, then certainly the Ring would have been seized (Boromir possibly) and used against Sauron; he would not have been annihilated but enslaved, and Barad-dur would not have been destroyed but occupied. Saruman, failing to get possession of the Ring, would in the confusion and treacheries of the time have found in Mordor the missing links in his own researches into Ring-lore, and before long he would have made a Great Ring of his own with which to challenge the self-styled Ruler of Middle-earth.

I think we may take for granted the fact that Isildur would not have been victorious over Sauron with the Ring in his possession. Remember, Sauron was already defeated and Isildur never got his chance to stand toe-to-toe with Sauron. I believe that in this confrontation ... Isildur would have been the victor while wearing Sauron's own device.

Therefore, I also believe that Boromir may have had the ability to be victorious with the Ring - a Numenorean. His power and influence would have given him COMMAND for who could resist Boromir - Ring Wielder?

[Keverzwijn]

That is a very interesting post; i also read that part a while back, and I always assumed it was an alternative ending not an "what if...".
P.S. I always wondered if Tolkien wrote alternative endings for the book, if so I would love to read them.

[Tar-Ancalimë]

i think algamesh, that tolkien was not talking about what would have happened were boromir to get the ring. he was talking about how the book does NOT reflect WWII and here's why: this (what you quoted) would have happened, and as it did not happen, my story has nothing to do with the real war... i never thought tolkien meant that to be an alternate ending. in other words, i dont think it relates to boromir+ring.

just my opinion of course-- :grin:

though i do 100% agree with your last two paragraphs: my own views exactly

[Narsil's weilder]

Perhaps Boromir would of taken the ring to Gondor but his brother, Faramir would grow jealsous of his power and kill Boromir and take the ring for himself just like Smeagol. History can repeat itself even in Middle Earth! ;)

[Keverzwijn]

I don't know if Faramir would take the ring, In the books he refuses the ring. He has a different character that his brother. BTW, you probaly noticed but you misspelled your name weilder. Can't you change it?

[Lady Ashley]

I agree with Keverzwijn, Faramir didn't even mention the Ring as "the Ring" but "It" or simply "Isildur's Bane."

If he didn't even want to mention the name of It, why would he want to use it? Not in his character, as Keverzwijn pointed out.

[Keverzwijn]

thank you, my fair lady notworthy