Though it took Tolkien decades and decades to write the LOTR he must have enjoyed it, and not thought to himself 'ah! I got to get this published soon!' Sometimes I think writers would enjoy their work more if they forgot about publishing until the time came and just enjoyed their craft. We are literally shaping worlds like pools in a magic forest.
I really appreciated this writing. The concept of hope, even when there is no hope, of faith, even when there is no rational reason to have it, is something deeply intertwined with my life and it was very nice to find it explained so well.
Hi, Breanne, I have a somewhat strange question for you.
First of all, I adored this post and the deep dive into what Tolkien really saw hope as. It was absolutely beautiful, and even a hard-core nerd like me didn't know some of that.
Now for my question: I had also planned for my own substack page a post on hope, hopelessness, and despair in LOTR, mainly focusing on Aragorn, Faramir, and Eowyn. I had planned this months ago, but forgotten I wanted to write it until I read your post this morning. Now as I'm trying to draft it, I feel like I'm stealing a bit of your thunder...
I'm trying not to touch on the layers that you did here, and I wrote about it at play with different characters. Mostly, the topic is temporary hopeless moments versus real despair. I never want to steal another writer's ideas or make it look that way, and so I wanted to know if you were comfortable with that?
I would also like to link your post here at the end, listed as an example of hoping playing out in another character that I didn't mention.
Thank you so much for your insights! Don't tell anyone, but you're my favorite of the Tolkien Substacks I follow ;)
So gorgeous, the layers here. I never connected the idea of Estel and its namesake in Aragorn with Boromir here, such great connections. I do think there is hope for all of us in Boromir that however we may falter, we can see anew and take a better path. Thank you so much!!
This is such a beautiful and moving insight. I have to admit, though part of the Fellowship, Boromir never really leapt off the page for me all that much. I felt his character was always “overshadowed” by other great members of the group, especially Aragorn (as the other Man)… but after reading this I’ll never look at Boromir the same way again. Thank you for that. (And yes, I had tears in my eyes reading this 🥹)
This is such a lovely piece. Thank you so much for writing it!! I love thinking about how hope is often something we can’t see but we have to trust in. It’s related to the larger Tolkien universe but it also feels pretty relevant these days too
This was a fantastic read, Breanne. I have always felt a strong connection with Boromir, because as you said, he is so human. I can easily relate to his struggle to process despair and hope, and the way he questions things.
As far as Boromir's role in the Fellowship, I've always admired how the others let him be who he was. They knew he struggled, doubted, questioned, and despaired yet he was still an integral part of the group. Perhaps because they also saw his ability to be tender-hearted, his sense of duty and honor, and his desperate and relentless search for answers and brighter days for his people. They didn't let him go unchecked or challenged, but he was welcome regardless. He was allowed to grow and change, as all the Fellowship did throughout their journey.
This is excellent. Hope is one of the themes from Tolkien-Lore which feels so important (especially in this year of our lord 2026!). This is one of the best reflections on Boromir, ever. Appreciate all you do for this community.
That was quite something and so incredibly moving. I absolutely love your deep dive discussions, they make me see the movies and read the books in a whole new light. This one especially hit hard.
And as you and others have beautifully articulated, Tolkien had a real gift of weaving hope into his works.
As someone who lives with many depressive disorders, hope is something that I've always struggled to believe in myself.
Maybe that's why Tolkien's work is so meaningful and personal to me.
I don’t like to write things that are too personal, but today I feel it would be wrong not too. Some years ago I went through a traumatic experience that left me having recurring nightmares. These lasted for more than a year. Every single night.
Although they rarely happen anymore (🙏) this morning I had one, again. I was emotionally drained, couldn’t speak, and still shaking when the Substack notification for this post came in.
I was still half asleep but I reached for the phone and opened it. This post was a balm to my soul. It made me cry because it reminded me to never loose my faith. You see, I live through “estel”.
“… no matter what evil he may try to accomplish, in the end, it will become an instrument for good.”
Amen.
Thank you ☺️☀️.
Nightmares come and go. Estel is eternal.
We all have a little -or a lot- of Boromir in us, and it’s good to remember that.
We’re far from perfect. We loose hope, but then things happen, little miracles to remind us that it will be ok. We’re not alone, we’re not forgotten.
One of the reasons I love LOTR/Tolkien is precisely for this recurring topic of faith/hope against all odds, and how hope/faith/estel gives us strength to move on, dream, and know, that everything is part of a beautiful, bigger, plan. We’re going to make it.
I’m very happy to be a subscriber, but more so today.
Thank you for sharing this, Denise. I'm so sorry you deal with that. And I'm honored that my writing could be a small bit of 'estel' in your day. This comment was beautiful and powerful to read. I appreciate you and hope for your healing in the days to come.
Such a beautiful reminder of the relationship between humanity and hope - reflected in Boromir and Aragon. I (and probably many others) long for these moments of restoration of hope. Boromir represents and embodies so much of the complicated feelings around hope and despair. Aragorn literally is Hope! I really enjoyed this analysis, Breanne!
Thank you for this post. Reading/watching Boromir wrestle with his “demons” and come out triumphant on the other side is the hero I need right now.
Though it took Tolkien decades and decades to write the LOTR he must have enjoyed it, and not thought to himself 'ah! I got to get this published soon!' Sometimes I think writers would enjoy their work more if they forgot about publishing until the time came and just enjoyed their craft. We are literally shaping worlds like pools in a magic forest.
I really appreciated this writing. The concept of hope, even when there is no hope, of faith, even when there is no rational reason to have it, is something deeply intertwined with my life and it was very nice to find it explained so well.
Easily my favorite character of Middle-earth. I’ll be putting out a piece on him at some point this year too!
Hi, Breanne, I have a somewhat strange question for you.
First of all, I adored this post and the deep dive into what Tolkien really saw hope as. It was absolutely beautiful, and even a hard-core nerd like me didn't know some of that.
Now for my question: I had also planned for my own substack page a post on hope, hopelessness, and despair in LOTR, mainly focusing on Aragorn, Faramir, and Eowyn. I had planned this months ago, but forgotten I wanted to write it until I read your post this morning. Now as I'm trying to draft it, I feel like I'm stealing a bit of your thunder...
I'm trying not to touch on the layers that you did here, and I wrote about it at play with different characters. Mostly, the topic is temporary hopeless moments versus real despair. I never want to steal another writer's ideas or make it look that way, and so I wanted to know if you were comfortable with that?
I would also like to link your post here at the end, listed as an example of hoping playing out in another character that I didn't mention.
Thank you so much for your insights! Don't tell anyone, but you're my favorite of the Tolkien Substacks I follow ;)
Respectfully,
C.E. Larke
So gorgeous, the layers here. I never connected the idea of Estel and its namesake in Aragorn with Boromir here, such great connections. I do think there is hope for all of us in Boromir that however we may falter, we can see anew and take a better path. Thank you so much!!
This is such a beautiful and moving insight. I have to admit, though part of the Fellowship, Boromir never really leapt off the page for me all that much. I felt his character was always “overshadowed” by other great members of the group, especially Aragorn (as the other Man)… but after reading this I’ll never look at Boromir the same way again. Thank you for that. (And yes, I had tears in my eyes reading this 🥹)
This is such a lovely piece. Thank you so much for writing it!! I love thinking about how hope is often something we can’t see but we have to trust in. It’s related to the larger Tolkien universe but it also feels pretty relevant these days too
I enjoy seeing the connections you make within Tolkien's work - I can't wait to start into discussions for the Silmarillion!
(Now I just have to squeeze time to read it into my schedule - and my daughter's too 😅).
This was a fantastic read, Breanne. I have always felt a strong connection with Boromir, because as you said, he is so human. I can easily relate to his struggle to process despair and hope, and the way he questions things.
As far as Boromir's role in the Fellowship, I've always admired how the others let him be who he was. They knew he struggled, doubted, questioned, and despaired yet he was still an integral part of the group. Perhaps because they also saw his ability to be tender-hearted, his sense of duty and honor, and his desperate and relentless search for answers and brighter days for his people. They didn't let him go unchecked or challenged, but he was welcome regardless. He was allowed to grow and change, as all the Fellowship did throughout their journey.
This is excellent. Hope is one of the themes from Tolkien-Lore which feels so important (especially in this year of our lord 2026!). This is one of the best reflections on Boromir, ever. Appreciate all you do for this community.
That was quite something and so incredibly moving. I absolutely love your deep dive discussions, they make me see the movies and read the books in a whole new light. This one especially hit hard.
And as you and others have beautifully articulated, Tolkien had a real gift of weaving hope into his works.
As someone who lives with many depressive disorders, hope is something that I've always struggled to believe in myself.
Maybe that's why Tolkien's work is so meaningful and personal to me.
Thank you. 🫶🏽✨️
I don’t like to write things that are too personal, but today I feel it would be wrong not too. Some years ago I went through a traumatic experience that left me having recurring nightmares. These lasted for more than a year. Every single night.
Although they rarely happen anymore (🙏) this morning I had one, again. I was emotionally drained, couldn’t speak, and still shaking when the Substack notification for this post came in.
I was still half asleep but I reached for the phone and opened it. This post was a balm to my soul. It made me cry because it reminded me to never loose my faith. You see, I live through “estel”.
“… no matter what evil he may try to accomplish, in the end, it will become an instrument for good.”
Amen.
Thank you ☺️☀️.
Nightmares come and go. Estel is eternal.
We all have a little -or a lot- of Boromir in us, and it’s good to remember that.
We’re far from perfect. We loose hope, but then things happen, little miracles to remind us that it will be ok. We’re not alone, we’re not forgotten.
One of the reasons I love LOTR/Tolkien is precisely for this recurring topic of faith/hope against all odds, and how hope/faith/estel gives us strength to move on, dream, and know, that everything is part of a beautiful, bigger, plan. We’re going to make it.
I’m very happy to be a subscriber, but more so today.
Have a good one ❤️.
Thank you for sharing this, Denise. I'm so sorry you deal with that. And I'm honored that my writing could be a small bit of 'estel' in your day. This comment was beautiful and powerful to read. I appreciate you and hope for your healing in the days to come.
Thank you ❤️✨
So good. Thank you.
Thanks for reading!
Such a beautiful reminder of the relationship between humanity and hope - reflected in Boromir and Aragon. I (and probably many others) long for these moments of restoration of hope. Boromir represents and embodies so much of the complicated feelings around hope and despair. Aragorn literally is Hope! I really enjoyed this analysis, Breanne!
That was just lovely, thank you for writing it.