In sorrow, we must go, but not in despair. Behold! We are not bound for ever to the circles of the world, and beyond them is more than memory.

Near the close of The Return of the King, Aragorn proclaims these words of farewell, seeking to comfort his friends as they depart to their homes across the lands. It’s a reminder to us that our time on earth is not the end, but rather part of the path to eternity.

Though each of these men Aragorn speaks to are, of course, fictional, each of their stories has a piece of the eternal within it—examples from Tolkien of virtue, friendship, and overcoming adversity. With each act of bravery, and even acts of cowardice, the men in The Lord of the Rings offer lessons that are just as relevant to us in real life as they are to the story of Middle Earth.

Servant Leader

Aragorn, the long-exiled heir to Gondor’s throne, may be Tolkien’s idea of the ultimate leader. Aragorn is wise, a scholar, a poet, a mighty warrior, proud without being prideful, humble in the face of scorn, patient, a master of self-discipline, and wise.

His ultimate desire for the restoration of Gondor calls to him as his duty and birthright. In the journey to save not only Gondor but also the whole of Middle Earth, Aragorn is called to deep personal sacrifice. He realizes that after Gandalf falls in Moria, he must guide Frodo to Mordor and almost certain death.

He is forced to sacrifice his desires even after Frodo decides to face the road to Mordor alone with Sam. This frees Aragorn from one duty, but the capture of Merry and Pippin by orcs forces him to choose between Gondor and his friends.

Again, a third time, the city of Gondor is within his reach, a chance to claim his birthright and kingship, but he refuses it again for the good of all. Knowing that the importance of destroying the Ring is above his personal desires, Aragorn elects to risk his life to march on Mordor, drawing Sauron’s eye away from the path of Frodo and Sam.

Aragorn’s self-denial of his own desires for the good of others is a lesson to us to also put others before ourselves.

Temptation, Failure, and Redemption

From Boromir we learn that while there may be times when we fall into temptation or fail in some duty, there is room for redemption. Boromir was the steward-prince of Gondor, the captain of the White Tower, a great general, a mighty warrior, and was known for his courage in the face of battle. Despite this, his fierce love for and pride in his city leads him to try and steal the Ring from Frodo since he saw the Ring as a way to save his people.

As Frodo escapes and runs away, Boromir realizes what he has done. Grief and shame engulf him: “What have I said? … What have I done?” As orcs hunt through the woods for Frodo, Boromir goes with Merry and Pippin to search for Frodo and gives his life to defend the two hobbits from a band of orcs. When Aragorn finds him, with his last breath, Boromir confesses what he had done: “I am sorry. I have paid.”  Aragorn assures him that he has redeemed himself and his honor: “You have conquered. … Be at peace!”

Overcoming Despair

Each day we are fed a heavy dose of fear, horror, and pain by the media we consume. For some of us, it can be hard to guard ourselves from the despair and doubt. Theoden, the King of Rohan, fell into this exact trap. Each day, in our media of choice, we face Wormtongue—Theoden’s trusted councilor. For years, Theoden listened to Gríma Wormtongue’s whispers that constantly fed him news of fear, anxiety, and despair. Eventually, Theoden became an empty shell, unwilling and unable to fulfill his duties.

Despite this, when Gandalf exposes the lies of Wormtongue, Theoden shakes off the fear and despair, turning it to action and resolve. Due to his transformation, Theoden is able to save his people and aid Gondor in its darkest hour.

Dedication and Hope

Where Theoden succumbed to despair, Samwise Gamgee never wavered, no matter what life threw at him. Without being asked, Sam is at Frodo’s side at every step. He dedicates himself to getting Frodo to Mount Doom—and home again.

When Frodo needs rest, Sam takes watch. When Frodo is hungry and food is short, Sam goes hungry so Frodo can eat. When Frodo can no longer walk, Sam carries him. While Frodo struggles with the inner torment of bearing the Ring, he still lets Sam know he recognizes the sacrifices made on his behalf while they think about the stories that might be told about their adventures: “[I] wouldn’t have gotten far without Sam.”

Sam’s continued hope despite all the horrors, fear, and physical torment he encounters is a lesson to us all. His jokes, stories, and simple outlook on life keep both him and Frodo going: “[Sam] knew all the arguments of despair and would not listen to them.”

Each of these male characters give us things to ponder in our own lives. How can we sacrifice for others and lead through example? When we fail, do we add more failures and wallow in self-pity, or do we seek forgiveness? Do we allow the world around us to cause us to despair, or do we seize the moment? Do we have hope despite whatever hardships we are facing? Tolkien clearly understood all these virtues. It’s up to us to live them out.

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Image credit: YouTube (Aragorn)