# OK, So Why Wasn't Aragorn Tempted by the One Ring? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 28, 2008, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-why-wasnt-aragorn-tempted-by-the-one-ring/447177 "2008-04-28T03:05:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2008, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-why-wasnt-aragorn-tempted-by-the-one-ring/447177/161 "2008-05-05T04:47:29Z")
Oh, god. Is this like when fundies start arguing about the Bible and they start throwing chapter and verse at one another? (it’s called something–doing that, I forget what the term is) :rolleyes: Ok, so it says pity. I don’t care what it says. \ Ok, so definition number 5 or so likens pity to compassion. That’ll I buy. I don’t buy that Aragorn feels sorry for Eowyn or has mercy on her or looks down on her. He may say those words, but his actions show that he more than pities her. I think _his pity is the gift of the gentle heart_, which is the point I made before I got my wrist slapped by The Heir. \ Is this so hard to accept–that Aragorn may see Eowyn fully and turn aside due to his love for Arwen? \ \*I’m teasing you, btw. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2008, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-why-wasnt-aragorn-tempted-by-the-one-ring/447177/162 "2008-05-05T05:09:46Z")
Well, JRRT’s work isn’t Holy Writ (forgive me, **QtM** and **What Exit?**!), but if we’re going to discuss what his characters were feeling for each other, I know of no better source. :dubious: I agree that Aragorn’s pity (an ancient word that unfortunately has of late acquired the taint of condescension) was borne of compassion. He fully appreciated Eowyn’s many qualities but already loved another. He did not scorn her, he did not sneer at her, he did not think less of her, but simply could not reciprocate her love. We agree more than we disagree here, I think, but your blanket statement that “I don’t think Aragorn pities Eowyn” is simply at odds with the text. And I would never slap your wrist, or any other part of you, even if you asked me to, **eleanorigby**. My own lady, noble, fair and wise, wouldn’t approve. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2008, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-why-wasnt-aragorn-tempted-by-the-one-ring/447177/163 "2008-05-05T12:29:36Z")
Just to confirm the work that **Elendil’s Heir** already did, when Tolkien uses the word pity, he does mean compassion. As to Arwen, we learn little of her, but don’t underestimate her too much. She is a powerful person in her own right. She prepared a banner for Aragorn in readiness for the battle that was to come. She was foresighted enough to send it south with the Rangers. This banner, I think could be considered magical in nature. It is never stated, but I think we can fairly conclude her education was off the scale of any others of the day. She learned in both the house of Elrond and in Lothlorien under her Grandmother Galadriel. She was without question remote compared to the earthy Éowyn, but we learned little of Arwen good or bad. Sadly she is not a character as much as a plot device and an ideal. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2008, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-why-wasnt-aragorn-tempted-by-the-one-ring/447177/164 "2008-05-05T15:20:02Z")
[QUOTE=eleanorigby] Oh, god. Is this like when fundies start arguing about the Bible and they start throwing chapter and verse at one another? (it’s called something–doing that, I forget what the term is) :rolleyes: … [/QUOTE] You probably mean “prooftexting” or “quote mining.” ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2008, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-why-wasnt-aragorn-tempted-by-the-one-ring/447177/165 "2008-05-05T17:13:48Z")
Fact checking? 😛 \ ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2008, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-why-wasnt-aragorn-tempted-by-the-one-ring/447177/166 "2008-05-05T22:35:11Z")
[QUOTE=eleanorigby] Oh, god. Is this like when fundies start arguing about the Bible and they start throwing chapter and verse at one another? (it’s called something–doing that, I forget what the term is) :rolleyes: Ok, so it says pity. I don’t care what it says. \ Ok, so definition number 5 or so likens pity to compassion. That’ll I buy. I don’t buy that Aragorn feels sorry for Eowyn or has mercy on her or looks down on her. He may say those words, but his actions show that he more than pities her. I think _his pity is the gift of the gentle heart_, which is the point I made before I got my wrist slapped by The Heir. \ Is this so hard to accept–that Aragorn may see Eowyn fully and turn aside due to his love for Arwen? \ \*I’m teasing you, btw. [/QUOTE] Isn’t it just so _galling_ when people clutter up an argument by harping on the facts? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-why-wasnt-aragorn-tempted-by-the-one-ring/447177/167 "2008-05-06T00:54:31Z")
I came in here earlier to refute and castigate you all, but I couldn’t get the damned thing to load. Stoopit hamsters. Prooftexting it is–and I’m in over my head here. I must bow to others’ more in-depth knowledge of the actual text, but I alone know what Tolkien REALLY meant. 😃 And I hate facts in an argument–they’re useless. 😛 But we’re not having an argument. You all are being a bit silly, but you’ll come 'round-- **Elendil’s Heir** has and I can be patient with the rest of you. 😉 PS-I thought **EH** (the poster) was a girl. Oops… ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-why-wasnt-aragorn-tempted-by-the-one-ring/447177/168 "2008-05-06T01:20:29Z")
[QUOTE=eleanorigby] …PS-I thought **EH** (the poster) was a girl. Oops… [/QUOTE] A surprisingly common, if inexplicable, mistake. Then I’d be **Elendil’s Heiress**. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-why-wasnt-aragorn-tempted-by-the-one-ring/447177/169 "2008-05-06T02:23:21Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] A surprisingly common, if inexplicable, mistake. Then I’d be **Elendil’s Heiress**. [/QUOTE] Sounds like a madcap 30s comedy. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-why-wasnt-aragorn-tempted-by-the-one-ring/447177/170 "2008-05-06T02:47:52Z")
[QUOTE=Koxinga] Sounds like a madcap 30s comedy. [/QUOTE] No, that’s just so second age! Already been done, in “The Mariner’s Wife”! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-why-wasnt-aragorn-tempted-by-the-one-ring/447177/171 "2008-05-06T16:24:08Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] A surprisingly common, if inexplicable, mistake. Then I’d be **Elendil’s Heiress**. [/QUOTE] True enough. I think it’s because Elendil just doesn’t sound all that masculine to me. \ (does that help?) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-why-wasnt-aragorn-tempted-by-the-one-ring/447177/172 "2008-05-06T20:00:09Z")
\ Um… yeah! Thanks! Right back 'atcha. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-why-wasnt-aragorn-tempted-by-the-one-ring/447177/173 "2008-05-06T22:51:44Z")
Didn’t your mother teach you not to hit girls? :eek: Heh. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-why-wasnt-aragorn-tempted-by-the-one-ring/447177.md?page=8)