Aragorn, in his response to Boromir, seems to imply that the Rangers must protect certain populations from both physical harm and the knowledge that such threats even exist.
However, we have seen an instance in which a group of people not known for martial prowess rise to the occasion when they believe they are being attacked by something out of what we might call sunless woods.
We might believe that they wouldn't have demonstrated such bravery if they truly knew what enemies were present; but then, they might have done, and the Rangers haven't been on ringwraith duty except relatively lately.
So my question is: Does Aragorn--and do the Rangers generally--perhaps underestimate the people they protect? If his commentary was indeed at least obliquely referencing the Shire, it has to be said that hobbits have performed and will perform bravely almost every time they get the chance.
However, we have seen an instance in which a group of people not known for martial prowess rise to the occasion when they believe they are being attacked by something out of what we might call sunless woods.
At last they got the idea that enemies were in Buckland, some strange invasion from the Old Forest. And then they lost no more time.
Fear! Fire! Foes!
The Brandybucks were blowing the Horn-call of Buckland, that had not been sounded for a hundred years, not since the white wolves came in the Fell Winter, when the Brandywine was frozen over.
We might believe that they wouldn't have demonstrated such bravery if they truly knew what enemies were present; but then, they might have done, and the Rangers haven't been on ringwraith duty except relatively lately.
So my question is: Does Aragorn--and do the Rangers generally--perhaps underestimate the people they protect? If his commentary was indeed at least obliquely referencing the Shire, it has to be said that hobbits have performed and will perform bravely almost every time they get the chance.
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