Aragorn
To me, the most significant character change between film and book (including the amount of consequent plot changes) is in Aragorn. In the book he is a man of destiny (and just a leeeetle boring). He IS Isildur's heir, he knows that in the prophecied time one of his line WILL take part in the ultimate fight over the ring, and if Sauron is defeated, that one WILL inherit the dual kingship. He has no doubts about Arwen's decision to stay with him if possible. He knows the One Ring has been found, and he is therefore confident that HE is the one to make the prophecies come true. All very nice, but PJ & Co. need a hero.
Enter the doubts. Aragorn knows his history, he knows the prophecies and he wants nothing of them. He has grown up under Elrond's tutelage, filled with the tale of Isildur's weakness, and has no confidence in his own strength. (Aside: Elrond, slightly less than wisely, has created a self-fulfilling prophecy, weakening Aragorn by filling him with tales of the weakness of men.) Aragorn loves Arwen, but does not feel he has the right to deprive her of eternal life. Nevertheless he is dedicated to the fight against Sauron and the destruction of the ring. Altogether a much more human Aragorn.
So what does this do for the plot? Well, Aragorn no longer carries Narsil with him wherever he goes (as PJ rightly pointed out, this was a romantic gesture but a plot weakness in the book). Moreover he doesn't get it reforged before leaving Rivendell. He leaves Rivendell as Frodo's protector fully intending to go with him all the way to Mount Doom with no intention of pushing his claim in Gondor. He still resists Arwen's wish to become mortal and stay with him. All this means that PJ has an additional plot line - the forging of Aragorn. The travels of the fellowship become a journey of self discovery. He must learn to trust his strength of character and he must learn to accept that he is a worthy and effective leader of men.
This creates the need for some changes in the plot. Frodo can no longer just disappear, Aragorn needs to be tempted and resist. So we have the extra scene on Amon Hen. Also Boromir's role becomes more important. Firstly he is a leader of men against whom Aragorn can measure himself: Boromir succumbs to the ring, while Aragorn finds the strength to resist it. Secondly Boromir is the advocate of men against the Elrondish influence of Aragorn's upbringing and, coming to respect Aragorn and forcing him to accept his role as the leader of the human world in the coming battle.
It also puts a different emphasis on an existing aspect of the plot: his role as peacekeeper between Legolas and Gimli, and the need to calm the much older dwarf and elf when their tempers get the better of them. Aragorn finds himself very much on the level of the Dwarvish and Elven leaders.
Now all Aragorn has to do is prove his leadership abilities in diplomacy and battle, and Narsil can be reforged...
Boromir
The changes in Boromir's character are partially due to the needs of the new Aragorn character, and partly to generate a more "modern" hero, as opposed to the strong, silent mid twentieth century hero. The underlying despair and desperation are revealed much earlier (in Lorien) and are used as a tool to foster Aragorn's development. His role as the advocate of humankind was not necessary in the book.
Arwen
The changes in Arwen's character serve two purposes: Firstly the assigning of Glorfindel's actions to her reduce the number of essential bit characters, reducing the confusion for the non-Tolkien buff audience. Secondly, it makes her a much more active and modern female part, and a more believable love for Aragorn. I won't go into Tolkien's psyche and his attitudes towards women here, but apart from her determination to marry Aragorn, Arwen was otherwise far too passive a character to be believable.
Frodo
The decision not to try to depict a seventeen year difference between Bilbo's and Frodo's departures meant that the Frodo of the film is much younger, closer to the age of the three other hobbits. So there can be a much more equal relationship between them, with each taking the lead at different times. (It also enabled PJ to introduce all the hobbits at Bilbo's party, whereas in the book the three younger hobbits are too young). It also shortened Frodo's tenure of the ring, making it more feasible that he could let it go in Rivendell. There was a deliberate decision to use this and make Frodo quite homesick, ready to let go the ring and return home, thus heightening the drama of his decision to go on and making him a more reluctant and genuine hero.
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Background: The device of Idril Celebrindal, from the dust cover of 'The Silmarillion' (1977). Image used without permission.
Last update 11/12/02
Copyright © Susan H Law, 2002, and her licensors. All rights reserved.