Summary
The lives of the members of the fellowship throughoutThe Lord Of The Ringsare filled with turmoil. They each experience death and hardship on their journies, something that helped to shape them all into the stoic heroes they’d be welcomed as after their victoryin the War of the Ring. Much is known about the lives of the members of the fellowship during this era, and even the era following their victory, but many people know shockingly little about their lives before their adventures.
Considering the fellowship is made up of beings from the different races of Middle Earth, it’s safe to say that they all had unique upbringings before the conflict of the ring. Even the Men of the group, Aragorn and Boromir, had strikingly different lives thanks to their unique circumstances. There is a lot forThe Lord Of The Ringsfans to know about each member of the group, and luckily, their lives before the beginning of the famous film trilogy are anything but a mystery.
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What Were The Men’s Lives Like Before The War Of The Ring?
Being one of the main focuses ofThe Lord Of The Ringsnarrative, Aragorn has an incredibly rich and relatively complicated backstory that takes place before the events of the film trilogy. When Aragorn was just an infant, he found himself without a father, but luckily, he was taken in by Elrond in Rivendell. Due to the complex nature of his lineage, Aragorn’s regal birthright was kept secret from even him for quite a while to ensure his safety as he grew up. During this period, he was known as Estel and primarily learned from Elves. Before he set out into the world,Aragorn would fall for Arwen, who had been away while he’d been growing up.
After learning who he truly was, Aragorn would begin to venture into the realms of Men and would become a mighty leader almost instantly. During this time,Aragorn became a skilled ranger and aided Menin battles across Middle Earth. He’d additionally take time to return to Rivendell so that he could see Arwen, furthering their romantic connection. While none of that will be a surprise, the fact that he became close friends with Gandalf at this time might be. Thanks to all of his exploits, Aragorn was already a well-known ranger by much of Middle Earth.
While he may not be as beloved as other members,Boromir was still an important figure in the fellowship. Before the journey, Boromir had proven his worth as a mighty warrior alongside his brother. The only thing of note from his time in the realm before the journey was his dedication to war in Osgiliath. His skill as a warrior was shown when he managed to be one of a handful of survivors while holding a bridge in the middle of the conflict. It was likely this accomplishment among many others, along with his heritage, that made him a perfect choice as a member of the fellowship.
What Were The Hobbits' Lives Like Before The War Of The Ring?
While he may have been destined to go on a perilous journey, much of Frodo’s early life was unremarkable. As far as the existence of Hobbits goes, he was as simple as they could get, though he did suffer tragedy at a young age when both his parents would be killed in a boating accident. After the death of his parents, Frodo would end upin the care of Bilbo Baggins, someone who would teach him many skills that would be beneficial on his eventual journey. During this time, Frodo learned Elvish and was generally mentored by the experienced and wise Bilbo.
Both Merry and Pippinwere incredibly close friends of Frodo, with the pair additionally being cousins of the Hobbit. Not being the main focus of the narrative, the lives of both before the journey are a bit mysterious, but there are some inferences that can be made. It is obvious that the inseparable Hobbits had an ordinary upbringing in which they were mischievous boys. Long before they bumped into Frodo in that farm field, the trio was well-known to go around stealing crops and causing bits of chaos wherever they went, though that chaos was never created with any kind of ill intent.
Samwise Gamgee was born into a somewhat large family, but he too had a relatively normal life for a Hobbit. While he may have seemed like nothing more than a simple gardener with a love for simplicity, Sam had complex interests, something that was fostered by Bilbo Baggins, and likely what drew him closer to Frodo Baggins. Unlike many others, Sam was interested in the world all around,indicating an adventurous spirit, even if he’d never think twice about leaving The Shire.
What Were The Others' Lives Like Before The War Of The Ring?
The Elf Legolasis a bit of an interesting case because there isn’t much of anything known about him before the council at Rivendell discussed what to do with the One Ring. That is only the case if you use the original works as the source of lore, as nowadays Legolas’ role has been changed a bit. Thanks to The Hobbit trilogy, Legolas was a major factor in the journey that took place. Regardless of whether or not that should be considered canon, one thing that is clear is that Legolas fell into the pre-conceived notions of the Elves, and as a result, initially didn’t like Gimli.
Being one of the descendants ofDurin The Deathless, Gimli was practically ensured to be someone of note. Something that many fans of The Hobbit may find interesting is that Gimli could have been included in the journey that many of his family members went on with Bilbo, but he was considered too young. Not much is known about his time before the journey to destory the One Ring, though it is clear that Gimli was always aching for action and adventure. It is clear that Gimli was close enough and trusted enough by the ruler of the Lonely Mountain to be sent to Rivendell to begin the journey.
When compared to the other members of the fellowship, Gandalf has a backstory that could be considered ancient and historic. Being a Maiar, Gandalf is a somewhat mythical being with a long history ofaiding the people of Middle Earth with his magic. His role was to oppose Sauron through the empowerment of the people of Middle Earth, something that brought him into contact with every race, and even sent him on an adventure with Bilbo.
The Lord Of The Ringsis available to stream on Amazon Prime Video
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