Hypothesis: Boromir’s very

[Bill_the_pony]

I hope this hasn’t been asked yet - for I’m listening to session 182 and wondering about Boromir’s perspective in the end portion of the council. Corey’s just covered Elrond’s “the ring is completely corrosive, even Saruman was good once,” speech.

Could Boromir be hearing the Middle-earth version of “absolute power corrupts absolutely?” If so, he has generations of counterevidence (the stewards): powerful people that have stared an opportunity to take a small step to even greater power and chosen not to take it.

With that in mind, I could see why he’d eventually end up rationalizing that he’d be able to resist the corrosive power of the ring. The sample size of ring bearers is small, and two of them are yet unfallen, so Elrond’s “The thing is entirely evil and cannot be used for good, and will corrupt everyone who bears it” seems a bit shaky. (Bilbo is RIGHT THERE, living, unfallen, having used the ring to fight with the attercops, and still in fine enough fettle to sass Elrond mid-council.)

So why shouldn’t Boromir think Providence brought him and the ring together over such a great distance to give him a weapon? It’s in his bloodline to be the perfect ringlord! Look at this long line of faithful stewards who have not overstepped their power, or strayed from their task and values. All this, despite centuries of having no real reason not to take that final, fateful step. Providence much?

(I’ll admit I’m not confident if Boromir’s line has been Totally Loyal, since I remember little of the Silmarillion and am rusty on the appendices.) Sorry for the wall of text, no formatting, and likely a half-dozen autocorrects; I’m on my phone!

 

[Flammifer]

Elrond's actual statement at the Council was, "If any of the Wise should with this Ring overthrow the Lord of Mordor, using his own arts, he would then set himself on Sauron's throne, and yet another Dark Lord would appear."

This leaves room for several interpretations by Boromir, which he deploys at Amon Hen. "Gandalf, Elrond - all these folks (ie. 'The Wise') have taught you to say so ('we cannot use it, and what is done with it turns to evil.'). For themselves they may be right. These elves and half-elves and wizards (The Wise), they would come to grief perhaps...... True-hearted Men, they will not be corrupted."

The Ring may corrupt The Wise into becoming a new Dark Lord, but not True Hearted Men. Plus, 'using his own arts?'. 'I would not use fear and terror but leadership and devotion, as all men flocked to my banner.' Little chance of me becoming a new Dark Lord!

That's how Boromir rationalizes. Elrond's own words left plenty of scope to do so.