Aragorn Character Analysis in The Two Towers

Aragorn, the Chieftain of the Dúnedain and the heir to the throne of Gondor, embodies a dual identity in The Two Towers: he insists that he is both Strider (his Ranger moniker) and Aragorn (the heir of Isildur). He continues to struggle with the more difficult aspects of leadership when he is forced to decide between following Frodo and rescuing Merry and Pippin from a company of orcs. Aragorn decides to pursue the orc company, leading Legolas and Gimli on a fruitless chase across the fields of Rohan. Despite the hopelessness of the situation, Aragorn refuses to give up and abandon the hobbits. After reuniting with Gandalf, Aragorn spends time with Théoden, the king of Rohan, learning about kingship from his example and assisting him in leading the riders of Rohan during the battle of Helm’s Deep. Since The Fellowship of the Ring, Aragorn has grown as a leader in a way that’s obvious to others—when he draws his sword and declares his title, he looks more like a legendary king than a dusty Ranger. Humble and level-headed, Aragorn longs for the day he can return to Gondor but trusts the counsel of Gandalf and goes where he’s needed most.

Aragorn Quotes in The Two Towers

The The Two Towers quotes below are all either spoken by Aragorn or refer to Aragorn. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Boromir opened his eyes and strove to speak. At last slow words came. ‘I tried to take the Ring from Frodo,’ he said. ‘I am sorry. I have paid.’ His glance strayed to his fallen enemies; twenty at least lay there. ‘They have gone: the Halflings: the Orcs have taken them. I think they are not dead. Orcs bound them.’ He paused and his eyes closed wearily. After a moment he spoke again.

‘Farewell, Aragorn! Go to Minas Tirith and save my people! I have failed.’

Related Characters: Boromir (speaker), Aragorn, Peregrin “Pippin” Took , Meriadoc “Merry” Brandybuck, Frodo Baggins

Related Symbols: The Ring

Page Number and Citation: 4

Explanation and Analysis:

‘Let me think!’ said Aragorn. ‘And now may I make a right choice, and change the evil fate of this unhappy day!’ He stood silent for a moment. ‘I will follow the Orcs,’ he said at last. ‘I would have guided Frodo into Mordor and gone with him to the end; but if I seek him now in the wilderness, I must abandon the captives to torment and death. My heart speaks clearly at last: the fate of the Bearer is in my hands no longer. The Company has played its part. Yet we that remain cannot forsake our companions while we have strength left. Come! We will go now. Leave all that can be spared behind! We will press on by day and dark!’

Related Characters: Aragorn (speaker), Legolas, Frodo Baggins, Meriadoc “Merry” Brandybuck, Peregrin “Pippin” Took , Gimli

Related Symbols: The Ring

Page Number and Citation: 11

Explanation and Analysis:

‘It is hard to be sure of anything among so many marvels. The world is all grown strange. Elf and dwarf in company walk in our daily fields; and folk speak with the Lady of the Wood and yet live; and the Sword comes back to war that was broken in the long ages ere the fathers of our fathers rode into the Mark! How shall a man judge what to do in such times?’

‘As he has ever judged,’ said Aragorn. ‘Good and ill have not changed since yesteryear; nor are they one thing among Elves and Dwarves and another among Men. It is a man’s part to discern them, as much in the Golden Wood as in his own house.’

Related Characters: Éomer (speaker), Aragorn (speaker), Legolas, Gimli, Galadriel

Page Number and Citation: 33

Explanation and Analysis:

‘You have not said what you know or guess, Aragorn, my friend,’ he said quietly. ‘Poor Boromir! I could not see what happened to him. It was a sore trial for such a man: a warrior, and a lord of men. Galadriel told me that he was in peril. But he escaped in the end. I am glad. It was not in vain that the young hobbits came with us, if only for Boromir’s sake.’

Related Characters: Gandalf (speaker), Gimli, Legolas, Peregrin “Pippin” Took , Aragorn, Boromir, Meriadoc “Merry” Brandybuck

Related Symbols: The Ring

Page Number and Citation: 104

Explanation and Analysis:

‘I have spoken words of hope. But only of hope. Hope is not victory. War is upon us and all our friends, a war in which only the use of the Ring could give us surety of victory. It fills me with great sorrow and great fear: for much shall be destroyed and all may be lost. I am Gandalf, Gandalf the White, but Black is mightier still.’

He rose and gazed out eastward, shading his eyes, as if he saw things far away that none of them could see. Then he shook his head. ‘No,’ he said in a soft voice, ‘it has gone beyond our reach. Of that at least let us be glad. We can no longer be tempted to use the Ring. We must go down to face a peril near despair, yet that deadly peril is removed.’

Related Characters: Gandalf (speaker), Legolas, Frodo Baggins, Sauron, Aragorn, Gimli

Related Symbols: The Ring

Page Number and Citation: 108-109

Explanation and Analysis:

‘The end will not be long,’ said the king. ‘But I will not end here, taken like an old badger in a trap. Snowmane and Hasufel and the horses of my guard are in the inner court. When dawn comes, I will bid them sound the Helm’s horn, and I will ride forth. Will you ride with me then, son of Arathorn? Maybe we shall cleave a road, or make such an end as will be worth a song—if any be left to sing of us hereafter.’

‘I will ride with you,’ said Aragorn.

Related Characters: Aragorn (speaker), Théoden (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 156

Explanation and Analysis:

‘All is lost. Even if my errand is performed, no one will ever know. There will be no one I can tell. It will be in vain.’ Overcome with weakness he wept. And still the host of Morgul crossed the bridge.

Then, at a great distance, as if it came out of memories of the Shire, some sunlit early morning, when the day called and the doors were opening, he heard Sam’s voice speaking. ‘Wake up, Mr. Frodo! Wake up!’

[…]

Frodo raised his head, and then stood up. Despair had not left him, but the weakness had passed. He even smiled grimly, feeling now as clearly as a moment before he had felt the opposite, that what he had to do, he had to do, if he could, and that whether Faramir or Aragorn or Elrond or Galadriel or Gandalf or anyone else ever knew about it was beside the purpose.

Related Characters: Samwise “Sam” Gamgee (speaker), Frodo Baggins (speaker), Gandalf, Aragorn, Elrond, Galadriel, The Wraith-king, Faramir

Related Symbols: The Ring

Page Number and Citation: 357-358

Explanation and Analysis:

Aragorn Character Timeline in The Two Towers

The timeline below shows where the character Aragorn appears in The Two Towers. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Tracking Frodo’s footprints, Aragorn climbs to the top of Amon Hen and sees a large eagle circling above him.... (full context)

Boromir says goodbye to Aragorn and begs him to save Gondor in the wake of his failure. Aragorn assures Boromir... (full context)

Aragorn, torn between going to Gondor and searching for the hobbits, mourns the collapse of the... (full context)

...it is believed that the boat bore him all the way to the Great Sea. Aragorn and Legolas sing a lament for Boromir, asking the West, South, and North Winds for... (full context)

...the evidence on the shore—a missing boat, two missing packs, and a set of hobbit footprints—Aragorn determines that Frodo must have left by boat while the rest of the Fellowship was... (full context)

Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli must now decide whether to follow Frodo and Sam across the river... (full context)

...where Boromir died. The orcs are quick and tireless, trampling down anything in their way. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli must follow them on foot. They resolve to press on through the... (full context)

...night. Near dawn, as they stop to rest, they lose the orc-trail in a valley. Aragorn guesses that the orcs will go north, taking the shortest path possible through the lands... (full context)

As the sky turns lighter, Aragorn rediscovers the orc trail and, freshly energized, they follow it onto a hill. From that... (full context)

Legolas sees an eagle far above them headed north and Aragorn wonders if it’s the same bird he saw before. They also notice a huge company... (full context)

As they chase the orcs, Aragorn suddenly gives a cry and turns away to follow a trail of smaller feet, where... (full context)

Gimli wishes for a phial of light like the one Galadriel gave Frodo, but Aragorn argues that Frodo needs it more. Frodo has the truly important quest; theirs is small... (full context)

...The orcs didn’t rest in the night and are out of even Legolas’s keen sight. Aragorn presses his ear to the ground to track the sound of their feet, but hears... (full context)

...again at dusk, though every stop makes their goal of rescuing the hobbits more hopeless. Aragorn senses something strange in the silence of the land and the unusual weariness of his... (full context)

Legolas wakes up Aragorn and Gimli, claiming that something strange awaits them by the forest and that they’re called... (full context)

On the fourth morning of their chase, Aragorn, noticing a shadow in the distance, lies on the ground to listen to the earth... (full context)

...see any hobbits among them. Though Gimli is wary of being attacked by the riders, Aragorn decides to wait and ask them for news. Aragorn knows the men of Rohan, old... (full context)

...stern men on proud horses—thunder past. When they appear not to notice the Three Hunters, Aragorn stands and calls out to them, asking for news from the north. The host of... (full context)

...must not know much about orcs if they plan to hunt them on foot. Finding Aragorn suspicious, he questions him about his name, his clothes, and how it was that the... (full context)

...quick to defend Gimli, fitting an arrow in his bow. Éomer raises his sword, but Aragorn jumps between them, asking Éomer to hear their tale before he attacks. (full context)

As Éomer lowers his sword, Aragorn asks if he is a friend or enemy of Sauron. Éomer answers that he serves... (full context)

Aragorn throws aside his cloak and unsheathes the sword Andúril, declaring himself Aragorn, the heir of... (full context)

Éomer asks what brings Aragorn here and what fate he brings with him. Aragorn says that Théoden has a choice:... (full context)

...just an old children’s tale, and asks if they walk in legends or in daylight. Aragorn replies that it is possible to walk in both, since the generations to come will... (full context)

When Aragorn reveals that he set out with Boromir and Gandalf in a company, Éomer warns him... (full context)

Aragorn tells Éomer that Boromir, too, is dead, killed by the orcs they were hunting. Éomer... (full context)

...many spies. Éomer implies that there might be spies in the king’s house and invites Aragorn to come and aid them. Aragorn promises to come when he can but refuses to... (full context)

...permission and left his house with little protection. He needs to hurry back and asks Aragorn a final time to accompany him since there is no hope for his friends—he and... (full context)

...to war. He wonders how a man can “judge what to do in such times.” Aragorn tells him that good and evil remain unchanged; a man must judge as he always... (full context)

...hobbits coming with the Fellowship and says that Gandalf’s “foresight failed him” in bringing them. Aragorn responds that Gandalf’s recommendation was not based on safety and that some things are worth... (full context)

The Three Hunters make camp and Aragorn warns Gimli against cutting living wood from Fangorn to start a fire. When they do... (full context)

...quickly caught, he does manage to drop the brooch from his cloak, in hopes that Aragorn can track it. Yet as he is carried away by the orcs, he assumes that... (full context)

...is still certain that the old man they saw the previous night was Saruman, but Aragorn is less convinced. Legolas heard the horses when they bolted, and he believes they seemed... (full context)

After a long search, Aragorn finds a mallorn-leaf with crumbs of lembas stuck to it and pieces of cut rope.... (full context)

...bow slowly, but doesn’t shoot the old man, instead watching to see what he’ll do. Aragorn agrees that they can’t shoot at the old man without challenging him first. (full context)

...and looks up. He is hooded, and the three companions can’t see his face, but Aragorn catches a glimpse of keen eyes. The old man greets them as friends, claiming he... (full context)

The old man greets them again and asks what they’re doing in Fangorn. Aragorn asks the old man what his name is and what he wants to say to... (full context)

...staff, his hood and cloak fall away, and Gimli’s axe is pulled from his hand. Aragorn’s sword blazes with fire and Legolas cries “Mithrandir!” The three companions are stunned into silence... (full context)

Aragorn summarizes the travels of the Fellowship after Gandalf’s death, and Gandalf realizes that Aragorn is... (full context)

...He also tells them that the hobbits are with the ents, to the amazement of Aragorn and Legolas, who know the ents as an ancient legend. Treebeard is the oldest ent... (full context)

Aragorn asks if they should follow the hobbits and meet Treebeard, but Gandalf says that he... (full context)

There, Galadriel healed him and gave him white clothes before sending him with messages. To Aragorn, she asks where his kinfolk the Dúnedain are and advises him that the “Dead watch... (full context)

...of Théoden’s ancestors are buried. Legolas calls it a short time for the elves, but Aragorn reminds him that, to the men of Rohan, the founding of their land is only... (full context)

...Théoden has ordered that only friends who know their language are allowed through the gate. Aragorn explains that they’re returning the horses lent to them by Éomer, but the guard says... (full context)

The companions climb the stairs to the Meduseld and are stopped by the doorward Háma. Aragorn is unwilling to leave his sword Andúril behind, but eventually sets it against the wall,... (full context)

...the woman—Éowyn, Théoden’s niece—to send the guards down the stairs. Gandalf will help Théoden walk. Aragorn first sees Éowyn as she glances back, and he thinks that she looks beautiful and... (full context)

...today. Théoden will ride to war rather than lead the women away to safety, and Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli will accompany him. (full context)

...Gandalf a gift. Gandalf chooses Shadowfax, whom Théoden gives him happily, along with armor for Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas. (full context)

...Théoden and then the guests, wishing them health and happiness. She pauses to look at Aragorn, who smiles at her. As he takes the cup, their hands meet, and he feels... (full context)

...day he’s gone will feel like a year. As she says it, she looks at Aragorn, standing nearby. Aragorn assures her that the king will come back, and that the greatest... (full context)

As they ride through the dark, Aragorn looks back at the torches behind them, betraying the sheer size of the orc army.... (full context)

Éomer and Aragorn, standing together on the wall, see the trouble at the gates and run to assist,... (full context)

The enemy seems to have grown, and the men of Rohan are weary, though Aragorn and Éomer rally them three times in a charge. A clamor rises from Helm’s Deep... (full context)

As dawn approaches, Éomer and Aragorn are exhausted, though Aragorn remarks that “dawn is the hope of men.” He reminds the... (full context)

Aragorn holds back the enemy at the bottom of the stairs leading towards the back gate... (full context)

Aragorn learns that Éomer hasn’t reached the Hornburg and was last seen fighting in the mouth... (full context)

Aragorn stands above the gates and tells the jeering orcs that he’s looking out to see... (full context)

...on the walls listen with wonder and rally around Théoden, charging from the tower with Aragorn at his side. They ride down the hosts of Isengard with every man still left... (full context)

...and blows his horn. The men of Rohan at the Dike cheer for him, and Aragorn and Legolas call out to Gandalf. Théoden rides down out of the Dike and Erkenbrand... (full context)

That morning, Théoden and Gandalf reunite, along with Aragorn, Legolas, and Erkenbrand. Éomer and Gimli, who had been driven back into the Deep, emerge... (full context)

...his errand gathering Erkenbrand’s scattered men the night before. When they stop for the night, Aragorn sees a column of smoke rising from Isengard, as if Saruman’s valley is burning. Éomer... (full context)

Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas remain behind with the hobbits, who lead the way into Saruman’s guard-house... (full context)

They all return outside to the gateway and Aragorn, weary, stretches out his long legs to smoke. Pippin jokes that “Strider the Ranger has... (full context)

Aragorn returns the hobbits’ lost possessions, including Pippin’s brooch, and the Three Hunters praise them for... (full context)

...much, but the hobbits gathered that there was a great battle happening and worried about Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli. Later that night led by Treebeard, the ents broke the dams and... (full context)

...After that Merry and Pippin went looking for supplies and found the food and pipe-weed. Aragorn finds it odd that there is pipe-leaf from near the Shire in Isengard and plans... (full context)

...to teach him about Rohan—Gandalf is too preoccupied with other thoughts. Merry agrees to ask Aragorn but wonders why they’re planning to split the party up to ride in secret. Gandalf... (full context)

...Gandalf returns to the others, they discuss how close to disaster they came that night. Aragorn asks how Pippin is, and Gandalf explains that hobbits have “an amazing power of recovery”... (full context)

...Pippin, while Théoden takes Éomer and some of the riders, and the rest go with Aragorn. Suddenly, a shadow falls on them as a Nazgûl passes in front of the moon.... (full context)

...in the long run, it will help them or reveal the involvement of Gandalf and Aragorn to Sauron. As a result, they have to flee. Gandalf is taking them far away,... (full context)

...asks if he really escaped or if he was sent out on an errand, as Aragorn thought. Gollum admits that he was told to look for the Ring, but he did... (full context)

...was only a steward and not the king. Still, Frodo remembers that Boromir always treated Aragorn well. Faramir believes it. If Aragorn is really the heir to the throne, Boromir would... (full context)

Faramir doesn’t have much hope for Gondor’s survival during the coming war, even if Aragorn joins them with the sword of Elendil. He believes that Gondor has “brought about its... (full context)

...king has got a crown again,” in reference to the poem that Bilbo wrote about Aragorn which ends “The crownless again shall be king.” Frodo takes it as proof that the... (full context)

Aragorn Character Analysis

Aragorn Quotes in The Two Towers

Book 3, Chapter 1 Quotes

Book 3, Chapter 2 Quotes

Book 3, Chapter 5 Quotes

Book 3, Chapter 7 Quotes

Book 4, Chapter 8 Quotes

Aragorn Character Timeline in The Two Towers