Aragorn accepting his kingship

[Talimon]

It just occured to me where Aragorn might accept his kingship: right after the paths of the dead. Think about it: he is going through the lands of Gondor, liberating it from the shackles of the enemy. I don't know, maybe I'm reaching for straws, but it seems like it would be a good place for him to accept his fate. I'm kind of thinking of the scene in 'Gandhi' where he travels on the train across the land and "finds India." Aragorn traveling across Gondor could be a way for him to "find Gondor", so to speak. Sure, it would be a deviation from the book, but I could see it working out very well. It would also be the purest way for him to accept his people.

Then again, this leaves the question of Narsil up for debate. Maybe it could be kept secret by those who travel with him (the elves?), and only revealed once they reach the other side of the Paths of the Dead? Or perhaps it would be reforged in Gondor itself? But by who?

I get the impression that Aragorn doesn't fully accept his fate in TTT. I had thought perhaps Helm's Deep would be the place for him to come unto his own, but from what I hear that isn't the case. I'm just trying to think of what could possibly happen in RotK that could change his mind-set, and the whole travel through Gondor seems to make sense to me. It could be quite a powerful contrast, seeing this ranger go into the caves, and then seeing this King approach Gondor from the River, his banner caught in the wind, his sword shimmering in the dawn light.

I can't wait for this movie :).

[PRH]

I would expect that he decides to go for the kingship before that. It won't be after he gets the sword back. The elves must reforge it (remember Elrond's word in FOTR EE -- "the skill of the elves can reforge the sword of kings"). I can't see anyone worthy to present him with it going along on the paths of the dead. Arwen? No way she'll go. Elrond, Galadriel? Not a chance. Legolas? I can't imagine him being entrusted to hang on to the sword until Aragorn seems to deserve it. Gandalf certainly won't go, he's got his own road.

I think that once Aragorn embarks on the path he'll have the sword, and once he has the sword, he'll have king intentions. I can only think that either we'll just magically see him with a new mindset at the beginning of RoTK (Helm's Deep having brought him around, though this not being explored in TTT) -- OR -- or perhaps the acquisiton of the Palantir or the visit to Isengard (if there is one) will do the trick. I seriously doubt he'll set foot in Gondor before his mind is pretty well made up.

Then again, perhaps we won't really see him make up his mind. Maybe more and more people will keep hailing him as a great leader, he'll accept the sword because he needs it's power (and he's the rightful owner, king intentions or not...), and one thing will just lead to another and eventually we'll see a crown on his head.

Who knows?... I can't wait either.

[Talimon]

While I agree that he doesn't have many "king-enhancing" scenes in TTT, I do think he shows great courage in multiple places. Not least of these is when he asks Theoden to ride forth with him. Also, remember that the end of FotR had him taking a big step: his pledge to Boromir was to "not let the White City fall, nor our people fail." When he puts on Boromirs arm-gaurd (they tell me its a gauntlet) at the end of FotR, that to showed some symbolism in my opinion.

[Niniel]

I thought his character development was okay. He didn't claim his kingship absolutely as in saying: 'I want to be the King' but he made it pretty clear by his courageous actions and taking the lead whenever necessary. It was obvious without him saying it.

[Thorin]

Originally posted by Talimon
Sure, it would be a deviation from the book, but I could see it working out very well. It would also be the purest way for him to accept his people.....Then again, this leaves the question of Narsil up for debate. Maybe it could be kept secret by those who travel with him (the elves?), and only revealed once they reach the other side of the Paths of the Dead? Or perhaps it would be reforged in Gondor itself? But by who?

What are you talking about. It already IS a huge deviation from the book. Aragorn balking at his destiny causes difficulties with bringing Anduril into the whole thing. Of course PJ wouldn't introduce it in TTT when Aragorn is so boorish about being king. Anduril is the symbol of Lordship. The heirloom signifying the king has come and will rally the troops and set up the kingdom. If Aragorn doesn't want it, why bother reforging it? To reforge it with this ridiculous mindset is just some sort of after thought. Tolkien's meaning of what Anduril means to Aragorn and its ties with his kingship was lost a long time ago in PJ's movie.

The only way they can introduce Anduril with the way PJ has set up, is to use it as a springboard when he finally decides to get down to business. It will have to be before he goes on the paths of the dead. If PJ's Aragorn hasn't decided by then that he wants to be king, something is seriously wrong and PJ will not be able to salvage anything that Tolkien wanted.

[Talimon]

Anduril is the symbol of Lordship. The heirloom signifying the king has come and will rally the troops and set up the kingdom. If Aragorn doesn't want it, why bother reforging it? To reforge it with this ridiculous mindset is just some sort of after thought. Tolkien's meaning of what Anduril means to Aragorn and its ties with his kingship was lost a long time ago in PJ's movie.


That is the whole point, Thorin. Why do you think Narsil has not been reforged? The whole point is that it being reforged will symbolize Aragorn accepting his fate. That is a given. Indeed, to reforge it with this "ridiculous" mindset would be silly. That is why it is not reforged in FotR!!! PJ is having Anduril symbolize Aragorn accepting his kingship. When his charachter is fully developed, he will accept it.

You speak as if you believe PJ is going to have Aragorn denying his fate until the very second he becomes king. That is ignoring the whole motivation behind PJ altering Aragorns charachter. Aragorn is going to develop into a king, instead of starting the tale as one. All I am doing is speculating where that development might peak out.