The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is the first entry in the popular Lord of the Rings film series directed by Peter Jackson. Based on the fantasy novels written by J.R.R. Tolkien, the series follows Frodo and his companions on a quest to destroy The One Ring. Arguably one of the most compelling members of the Fellowship is Bormoir. Bormoir hails from the kingdom of Gondor and is the son of Denethor, the current steward of Gondor.

Boromir is played by actor Sean Bean, which means that he must die. In fact, Boromir is the only member of the Fellowship to die and remain dead. Boromir is an important member of the Fellowship, and his death serves as the emotional climax for the first film. Here is why death is so important and why it’s so beautiful.
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Boromir and Aragorn

New Line Cinema

Audiences first meet Boromir in the eleven-land Rivendell. This is also where Boromir meets Aragorn, the heir of Isildur and the king of Arnor and Gondor. Boromir is set to become ruler of Gondor after his father passes unless Aragorn decides to take the throne back. These allies also have a potential rivalry underneath their alliance, yet interestingly Boromir does not see Aragorn as a genuine threat and instead seems to want his king to return.

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The two meet in Rivendell in a room home to the shards of Narsil, a sword of Aragorn’s legacy. Boromir finds the hilt of the broken sword, and then he picks it up. The character reflects on the past. This scene helps to portray Boromir’s desire for a king to return (without him expressly saying it) while also expressly revealing that Boromir had no idea that Aragorn was the future king. Boromir’s actions in this particular scene show his uncertainty about the return of the king and his lack of attention to detail. It helps to define him as a character that is deeply flawed.

Later, after joining the Fellowship, the two meet in Lothlorien. Boromir expresses his wish that Aragorn would return as the king to Gondor, but Aragorn himself is faltering about his heritage. He is uncertain whether he should truly be the king or if he should ever return. This particular scene shows that, though Boromir begins the scene by expressing that he cannot see hope, he ends his monologue by showing that he still does see, though unwittingly.

Boromir’s Good and Dark Side

New Line Cinema

While traveling with the Fellowship, the film features a scene where Boromir spends time playing with the Hobbits. This shows that, though Boromir is a man filled with uncertainty and doubt, there is a bit of joyfulness to him. This scene is meant to endure audiences him, making his eventual turn to the dark side more tragic.

The group of adventurers makes their way to Amon Hen, a place located near the banks of the river Anduin. Here, they split up as they go about their journey. Boromir takes it upon himself to ambush Frodo, the ringbearer. He tries to take the ring but fails. Frodo escapes, and the Fellowship is ambushed by their enemy. Boromir might be a man of honor, but the temptations of The One Ring can and will corrupt all. There is a hidden dark side to him that The One Ring brings out.

Boromir can be hopeful, and he can be hopeless. He can be a bastion, or he can crumble. This scene shows that Boromir, one of the strongest and most capable fighters within the Fellowship, can succumb to power lust. Despite only doing so for a minute, it was able to impact and change the story entirely. If Boromir hadn’t scared Frodo off, the Fellowship might not have broken, and he might not have died. Yet The One Ring’s influence on Boromir eventually fractured the Fellowship.

Boromir’s Last Stand

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Boromir is able to shake off the lust and recognize what he has done wrong. He calls to Frodo, and as he is calling, the party is ambushed. Recognizing his duty, he quickly rushes through the forest to protect Merry and Pippin, two Hobbits who weren’t skilled fighters. Boromir takes on hordes of enemies but is slowly pushed back until he is shot in the chest by an Uruk-Hai named Lurtz.

Most men would fall to an arrow, but Boromir continues forward. He continues fighting until he is pierced by yet another arrow. Yet still, he continues. It isn’t until he is shot by a third arrow that he finally falls. Being shot and standing strong shows Boromir at the root of who he is: the bulwark that he was originally shown to be. It shows that a flawed man can be taken by evil emotions but still be a good person.

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Aragorn arrives and defeats Lurtz. Then, he rushes to Boromir’s side to hold him in his arms as he dies. Boromir immediately admits his flaws by telling Aragorn that he attempted to steal The One Ring from Frodo. Then, he asks if Frodo and The One Ring are safe. Next, he expresses his fears one last time: that the world would succumb to the enemy. That all would be lost. At this moment, Aragorn realizes his purpose and promises Boromir and the kingdom of Gondor that he will return as the king. This finally fills Boromir with the hope that he had been unable to see in Lothlorien. Then, he dies peacefully in Aragorn’s arms.

Boromir was a deeply flawed individual. He strode for power and protection of his people. He was filled with an ocean of hopelessness and doubts about the future. He was strong, capable, and a protector at heart. He helps people and lays down his life for the safety of others. Boromir’s death inspires Aragorn to fulfill his destiny, and even Frodo (who was attacked by Boromir) speaks highly of the Captain of Gondor. The beauty of Boromir’s death is that, even after his passing, his spirit lives on in the Fellowship and continues to inspire them. One might argue that the best word to describe Boromir is: realistic. He wasn’t good or bad, but he was simply human.