Tolkíenism Saturday
Rangers!
#TolkienismSaturday
The Dúnedain were descended from the fallen Numenorians. Allied with the elves, dedicated to fighting evil, they learned to live free and independently off the land, excelling in combat, tracking and hunting.
For them the price of freedom from tyrannical evil was a constant and vigilant self sufficiency with a purpose… confronting evil and destroying it wherever it festered through intelligence-gathering, communication, preparation, friendship, and never ever surrendering even in the face of incredible odds.
Aragorn marks the epitome of this ethos and lifestyle and Tolkíen demonstrates this throughout the novels but truly in Aragorn leading the flight from the shire. Outnumbered by Ringwraiths, actual ring wearing wraith lords, he outwits and out fights them even in last stand moments with little more than a broken sword and a torch.
His resolution in the face of certain defeat foreshadows why he is worthy to eventually wear the crown. And why he is trusted with the leadership of the Fellowship.
Aragorn’s whole life was preparation… and when the hour called him forward, he was not found wanting.
Rangers gonna range, right Talker?
That's one more reason the books were so far superior to the films. Aragorn was written as a reluctant hero (or at least a reluctant Heir of Isildur) in the filmed Fellowship of the Ring, whereas in the books Aragorn, once told his true heritage by Elrond, accepted it willingly -- not eagerly but willingly -- and spent decades doing his plain duty as he saw it: "...it seemed fit that Isildur's heir should labor to repair Isildur's fault...."
Similarly Faramir took up the mantle of leadership of the Rangers of Ithilien not for glory nor as a birthright, but out of a debt of duty he owed Gondor. I _hated*_ the twisting of Tolkien's line referring to "a mighty gift" in The Two Towers.
*Hate. _Haaaaaaaate._ DEEEEEEEP HATRED.