He was very important to Tolkien. In a draft of a letter to Ronah Beare, which was not sent, but was written in 1958, Tolkien compares Aragorn to unfallen Man.
"It was also the Elvish (and uncorrupted Númenórean) view that a 'good' Man would or should die voluntarily by surrender with trust before being compelled (as did Aragorn). This may have been the nature of unfallen Man; though compulsion would not threaten him: he would desire and ask to be allowed to 'go on' to a higher state." (The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien, letter 212, p. 286, in a note added by Christopher Tolkien.
My pet theory is that when Aragorn showed up at the Prancing Pony Tolkien gradually fell in love with him, and hence Aragorn's increased importance in the tale.
I, myself, never considered Aragorn's death, within the context of Tolkien's universe, a sad event. And I think it's very fitting he chose his birth date as the date of his departure beyond the circles of the world.
Happy birthday Aragorn. May he live forever in our hearts.
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branchandroot
(no subject)
Date: 2009-03-01 11:44 pm (UTC)"It was also the Elvish (and uncorrupted Númenórean) view that a 'good' Man would or should die voluntarily by surrender with trust before being compelled (as did Aragorn). This may have been the nature of unfallen Man; though compulsion would not threaten him: he would desire and ask to be allowed to 'go on' to a higher state." (The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien, letter 212, p. 286, in a note added by Christopher Tolkien.
My pet theory is that when Aragorn showed up at the Prancing Pony Tolkien gradually fell in love with him, and hence Aragorn's increased importance in the tale.
I, myself, never considered Aragorn's death, within the context of Tolkien's universe, a sad event. And I think it's very fitting he chose his birth date as the date of his departure beyond the circles of the world.
Happy birthday Aragorn. May he live forever in our hearts.