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Post by Stormrider on Nov 16, 2004 6:03:35 GMT -6
Elendil had two sons, Isildur and Anárion. Elendil established the Kingdom of Arnor. The Kingdom of Gondor was founded by Isildur and Anárion. Isildur was Lord of Ithilien and resided in Minas Ithil. Anárion was Lord of Anórien and his dwelling was in Minas Anor.
When Sauron attacked Gondor in SA 3429, Isildur escaped to Arnor. Anárion remained in Gondor to defend Osgiliath and Minas Arnor. In SA 3441, Elendil, Isildur, and Anárion and the Army of the Last Alliance entered Mordor and on the slopes of Orodruin, they defeated Sauron. Elendil and Anárion were both slain--Elendil by Sauron and Anárion from a stone cast from Barad-dûr.
After he cut The Ring from Sauron's hand, Isildur planted a seedling of the White Tree in Minas Anor in memory of Anárion, took up the throne in Gondor for two years, and instructed his nephew Meneldil to take over the kingship of Gondor so he could return to Arnor.
When Isildur left for Arnor in the north, he was ambushed by Orcs, killed, and lost The Ring in the river. Isildur gave up his kingly responsibility in Gondor and was never able to take up the one in Arnor. Isildur's heirs were taken to safety and hidden from Sauron. Anárion's line eventually died out leaving the Stewards in charge of Gondor.
Although Isildur was the elder son of Elendil, Denethor viewed Isildur's line as the "lesser" line and he thought Aragorn was an upstart ranger from the north and not worthy of becoming the King of Gondor let alone the whole kingdom, north and south. However, Aragorn is the direct descendant of Isildur and he alone has the valid claim to the throne.
Even though Isildur's line gives Aragorn the right to claim the kingship, it is not just a question of blood or direct lineage that qualifies Aragorn to be King. There are many other reasons that he is the rightful heir.
I would like to give us all a chance to put on our "thinking caps" and make a list (with comments if you like) on what other reasons you think makes Aragorn the rightful heir to the Kingdom of Middle-earth.
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Post by Desi Baggins on Nov 17, 2004 15:23:35 GMT -6
I think that Aragorn deserves to be king because during the battle of the Pelennor Fields he led the people on the field and fought by their side instead of cowering and running (or should I say commiting suicide) like Denethor.
Aragorn also knew not to take the Ring and use it unlike Boromir and Denethor who wanted to use it.
Most importantly when Aragorn looked into the palantir he stood his ground unlike Denethor who allowed Sauron to mislead him.
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Post by Andorinha on Nov 17, 2004 16:05:09 GMT -6
Something that occurs to me (regarding Aragorn's suitability for the throne) is that Stormrider is quite correct, blood alone does not allow Aragorn to become king. I think Tolkien tries to show us that Aragorn must prove himself worthy of that exalted position by undergoing a lengthy series of trials. He learns how to be a great warrior, he learns how to lead others in battle, he learns poetry and history, he learns self-denial and self-control, he learns how to put the needs of others ahead of his own desires, he learns how to be gentle, and he knows when to be dynamically fierce.
His personality is shaped by the way he handles each crisis that comes his way, and he gradually becomes worthy of the throne -- he earns it!
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Post by Desi Baggins on Nov 17, 2004 19:40:17 GMT -6
With that said I think that as Aragorn went through all those trials it made him more confident and that helped him feel like becoming King...
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Post by Stormrider on Nov 17, 2004 21:23:10 GMT -6
Ah, yes.....Aragorn's skill in battle, his courage, what he learned along the way to develop his right to be king, the confidence he gained from his trials, and his leadership.
Actually he knows how to command others and make them obey him willingly or unwillingly. He has a talent to inspire people (somewhat like Gandalf). His willpower was able to make the Dead follow him and fulfill the oath. He also kept his word and let the Dead have their peace which shows his compassion and ability to rule wisely.
Does anyone have any other insights or comments on the strength of Aragorn's willpower?
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Post by Stormrider on Dec 3, 2004 5:43:45 GMT -6
Aragorn is no mere human....he is descended from the special mix of Elf/Human--Elros and the line of Númenoreans. This line was long lived and very human but they also inherited the beauty, grace, and wisdom of the Elves. He descends from those Númenoreans who remained true and faithful to Eru and the Valar and respected their wishes not to seek the West.
Aragorn had this strength inside of him although he hid it behind the guise of a roaming nomad ranger. He had his insecurites about the weakness of the human side of him, but he was able to overcome those weaknesses and let his true wisdom, nobility, and strength come forth.
He was the rightful owner of the Palantíri and when he faced Sauron with the use of one. Sauron at first showed him what he was planning in the Palantír...the black ships coming from the south to Gondor.
Aragorn was able to force his own will over Sauron's enough to wrench the Palantír to his purpose and showed himself as Isilidur's heir and revealed that he had Elendil's sword--the same sword that cut The Ring from Sauron's hand.
The will to do this was just strong enough to get this point across to Sauron and cast doubt and fear in his mind. Being able to face Sauron and challenge him openly also makes Aragorn worthly of being the rightful heir to the throne.
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Post by Stormrider on Dec 5, 2004 21:50:55 GMT -6
Many people of Middle-earth gave Aragorn their support, approval, and help. Would anyone like to put down on this thread someone who supports Aragorn and tell why they do and how they helped him or showed their approval?
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Post by Andorinha on Dec 6, 2004 3:17:33 GMT -6
I think one of the first to show approval of Strider/ Aragorn was Frodo. This, in my interpretation, seems one of the most important shifts from fear and disapprobation of "Old Longshanks" in the Prancing Pony, to a full and rather sudden granting of trust and then allegiance. Even the normally intuitive Sam does not fully rescind his original distrust of Aragorn as rapidly as Frodo did. What I'm not certain of, in Frodo's case, is whether he himself knew intuitively (some factor of his own deep personality, or some understanding enhanced by the Ring?) that Strider was "good," or did he simply reason this through when he pronounced that a spy, a sevant of the Enemy should "look fairer, but feel fouler"?
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Post by Fangorn on Dec 6, 2004 14:12:04 GMT -6
I think it was a combination of both; Frodo's own intuition and some power of the ring. Frodo was an educated hobbit, brought up with Bilbo's love. He showed his intuition before ever taking possession of the ring, such as understanding Bilbo's mind and intent. Then after possession, his intuition that the ring could not stay in Hobbiton, etc. I can't remember every instance, but he always seemed to have a certain understanding of life, and people. I think we have determined in other posts that the ring has the tendancy to enhance a persons senses....for good or ill. Frodo always seemed to have a deep mind, much more than common hobbit sense.
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Post by Stormrider on Dec 6, 2004 20:19:10 GMT -6
Yes, I think it was a great point in Strider's favor to have Frodo put his trust in him! Frodo had just managed to get to Bree after being chased by terrifying Black Riders relentlessly from the moment he set foot on his quest to Bree! Even in The Old Forest, the hobbits encountered trouble with Old Man Willow, and at the Barrow Downs. If anyone would should have been less likely to trust anyone after those events, it should have been Frodo.
I think if The Ring were to enhance any intuitions in Frodo's mind, it would have tried to fool and confuse him into NOT trusting Strider. If it helped Frodo tell good from evil, then it would be giving Frodo an edge and people to turn to in need!
I often wondered about that phrase, a servant of the Enemy should "look fairer, but feel fouler". In Sauron's case that is true--He was very handsome in the earlier ages and could fool many with that appearance. But I was thinking my way through the LOTR, and all of the servants of Sauron that I could remember definately do not look fair!
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Post by Desi Baggins on Dec 7, 2004 18:31:52 GMT -6
How about this....Maybe the Ring eased Frodo into trusting Strider because the Ring new Strider was of Isildur's heir and thought he will take me and fail like his ancestor did....
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Post by Stormrider on Dec 10, 2004 6:00:40 GMT -6
Good counterpoint, Desi! If The Ring lulled Frodo into trusting people of power and telling them what he had in his possession; then perhaps The Ring would hope that Aragorn (in this case) would have had the same weakness of the other Númenoreans that fell and became the Nazgûl.
However, Would the Ring have been able to tell how much "good" was in a person Frodo had encountered? Evidently not! Aragorn was not the one to fall into a trick like that as we have read. Therefore, if this had been The Ring's plan it failed miserably. It led Frodo to someone who was the rightful heir and had righteousness on his side.
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Post by Stormrider on Dec 10, 2004 6:03:14 GMT -6
Come on people! Let's get back to the topic! Aragorn had lots of people in Middle-earth giving him their "stamp of approval". Let's list some more and tell how they gave their approval or their help.
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Post by Desi Baggins on Dec 10, 2004 19:17:38 GMT -6
I would like to say Eowyn gave her stamp of approval...
She fell in love with his strength. Even though she hardly knew him she adored him right away.
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Post by Greenleaf on Dec 16, 2004 18:36:50 GMT -6
Two other people who gave their support to Aragorn were, of course, Legolas and Gimli (who represented the Elves and the Dwarves). They were both willing to follow Aragorn everywhere and even give their lives for him. For example, I'm not at all sure Gimli would have taken the Paths of the Dead if it were not for Aragorn.
There were also the Dúnedain and the sons of Elrond who travelled all the way from the North and met Aragorn in Rohan to help him. They also followed him in the Paths of the Dead and then to Gondor.
And Faramir gave his "stamp of approval" to Aragorn, too.
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