There is an interesting and subtle twist with Aragorn that I only realized recently after having been a fan of the books for 30+ years.
He doesn’t really fail with Gandalf’s fall in Moria. By no stretch is that his fault. Where he does sort of screw up is in failing to make a decision about the company’s destination after Lothlorien. Before Gandalf fell the plan had been Gandalf and Frodo head to Mordor, Aragorn and Boromir head to Minas Tirith and everyone else chooses which group to join.
Obviously that plan needed revision after Gandalf fell. But Aragorn REALLY doesn’t want to give up his journey to Minas Tirith. But he ALSO knows that Frodo’s quest should take priority. Making a clear decision either way would have been better than what he did do: put off the decision until it got made for him. A clear decision either way probably means Boromir doesn’t fall and lives, the hobbits don’t get captured, and Frodo takes an easier path towards Mordor with more help. During that time Aragorn repeatedly says “All my choices go ill!”
There is an interesting and subtle twist with Aragorn that I only realized recently after having been a fan of the books for 30+ years.
He doesn’t really fail with Gandalf’s fall in Moria. By no stretch is that his fault. Where he does sort of screw up is in failing to make a decision about the company’s destination after Lothlorien. Before Gandalf fell the plan had been Gandalf and Frodo head to Mordor, Aragorn and Boromir head to Minas Tirith and everyone else chooses which group to join.
Obviously that plan needed revision after Gandalf fell. But Aragorn REALLY doesn’t want to give up his journey to Minas Tirith. But he ALSO knows that Frodo’s quest should take priority. Making a clear decision either way would have been better than what he did do: put off the decision until it got made for him. A clear decision either way probably means Boromir doesn’t fall and lives, the hobbits don’t get captured, and Frodo takes an easier path towards Mordor with more help. During that time Aragorn repeatedly says “All my choices go ill!”
Precisely, he thinks it his failure but it isn’t really. It was outside his power as I pointed out.
As to the Frodo thing yes that was his screw-up but good comment.