Like many of those who met him in the wilderness before he was known in Middle-earth, Tolkien introduced thisLord of the Ringscharacter simply as the rough wanderer Strider. He’s also known by the name Aragorn son of Arathorn, the Elves call him elfstone, and of course, there’s his royal title, King Elessar.
It’s generally accepted that Viggo Mortensen crushed this role in Peter Jackson’s adaptation, making the character a classic mainstream movie hero for the ages. There are some interesting moments in the lore that were missing from the screen versions which give the character more detail. This includes some epicLord of the Ringsadventures that aren’tin the movies or TV shows, along with depictions of some typical human frailties.
7Gave Up His Secret Identity Immediately
It’s a common bit of trivia that Aragorn lived in Rivendell for most of his life, but only book readers are aware of the fact thathis identity was a secretfor almost the whole time. Elrond kept the heir to the throne of Gondor safe and hidden for more than 20 years.
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When Aragon turned 21, Elrond not only told him about his ancestry but also presented him with the treasures of his house. It must have been a shock, because despite Aragorn’s reputation for discipline and wisdom, he barely kept the secret for 24 hours and all it took was a pretty face.
6He Met Arwen And Then Left Her…
Arwen Evenstar was one of the first people to find out who Aragorn really was. Only a day after Elrond, Arwen’s father, told him that he was Isildur’s heir, he met Arwen and seems to have blabbed this important information to impress her.
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It’s an understandable mistake, but considering that this was a secret for his own safety, he not only put himself at risk but also Arwen. To make this even worse, he departed into the wilds only days later and was gone for no less than three decades, leaving her alone.
5…And She Chooses Death For Him Anyway
If it doesn’t seem fair to blame this on Aragorn, ask his father-in-law. Elrond’s agony at his daughter’s choiceis described in the books, but it’s part of the appendices as opposed to the main story. He’s fairly clear when he first talks to Aragorn about it that he thinks Arwen can do better.
Aragorn isn’t exactly sympathetic to this, either. He embraces his birthright with some enthusiasm, and it’s fair to say that he’s almost rude about his entitlements. The only reason he accepts Elrond’s condition — that he must be king before he can marry Arwen — is because he’s confident that it’s going to happen anyway.
4He Left To Wander The Wilds
After 30 years in the wilderness, Aragorn had all kinds of epic adventures, but he missed some important events that might have made the War of the Ring an even closer shave. One of these was the last meeting of the White Council, so it makes sense that Aragorn didn’t appear inThe Hobbitmovie to fight the Necromancer. According to Tolkien’s history, he was elsewhere at the time.
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Specifically, Aragorn was fighting the forces of Sauron in the west, in places like Gondor and Rohan. It could be argued that he was fighting the Lord of the Ring on another front. However, given his future role as king, joining the White Council would have been a better choice.
3Hiding From The Hobbits
Was this really necessary? The hobbits had already had an unpleasant trip and were tense and afraid as they waited for Gandalf. The longer they waited in the inn, the more vulnerable they were. Why did Aragorn just sit in the dark corner with his pipe and stare at them for a while?
He must have known who they were, so why would he waituntil they got into troubleor made a mistake that would give them away? Except that’s exactly what did happen, and to make it even worse, he acted like it was the fault of the lost, exhausted hobbits instead.
2Misleading Éowyn
The books lean even harder into this plot point, which casts some doubt regarding Aragorn’s honorable character. The movies give him a loophole by making the relationship with Arwen problematic at this point, but Tolkien doesn’t give Aragorn any excuses.
If Aragorn was a different kind of character, cultivating a relationship with the relative of a hostile ruler is just a smart political move — but that doesn’t make it any less sordid. Considering how lonely and isolated Éowyn was during this time of her life makes this an even worse thing for Aragorn to do.
1Makes Frodo Wait An Extra Week To Go Home
This is left out of the movies, but it’s one of the many details that follows after the destruction of the Ring and beforethe return of Frodoand his companions to the Shire. There’s a whole chapter dedicated to the pomp and ceremony of King Elessar’s wedding and coronation, and at the height of their revelry, Frodo has one request: to be allowed to return home.
It’s hard to believe, but Aragorn actually tells him to wait a week. That way, all the parties, meetings, and public rituals will be concluded, and the King will be able to ride part of the way with him. It seems selfish for Aragorn to make Frodo wait even longer to go home just so he can get some good PR. After everything the hobbit has been through, this is the worst thing Aragorn can do.
