The Fellowship of the Ring

The Sword of Elendil is Aragorn’s family heirloom and the very weapon used to cut the Ring off Sauron’s hand. Also referred to as the shards of Narsil, the sword is broken in two, and the pieces are passed down through generations. Aragorn carries Narsil with him and shows it each time he reveals his true identity as “Aragorn son of Arathorn” (168) to prove his lineage. Though the heirloom proves he is the rightful heir to the throne, he does not covet the title heedlessly. To him, the sword symbolizes his reverence for his lineage and the commitment to fighting Sauron, a duty he has been able to fulfill secretly as Strider, the Ranger.

When Frodo discovers Aragorn’s true identity as Isildur’s heir, he realizes that the Ring is Aragorn’s to inherit. He cries, “Then it belongs to you, and not to me at all!” (240), expecting Aragorn to demand the Ring, but Aragorn has no interest; instead, the Sword of Elendil and its significance as a weapon against evil is the heirloom he cherishes.

The broken sword also symbolizes Aragorn’s dual identity. He is both the skilled tracker in the Wild and the benevolent monarch-to-be. He is destined to be king and chooses to prove his worth before claiming the throne by living the humble yet equally heroic life as Strider. The two pieces of the sword also represent the fractured kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor that were once united under his ancestors’ reign. The reforging of Narsil, renamed Andúril, foreshadows Aragorn’s eventual emergence as the beloved ruler of Middle-earth in The Return of the King. Aragorn demonstrates his leadership and heroism throughout the novel, and the newly named sword, now whole, symbolizes his full identity and the new era of Men, united under his reign.

Bilbo Baggins’s poem for Aragorn begins, “All that is gold does not glitter” (167). The motif of seeing is prominent throughout the tale, as characters learn to judge beyond appearances and value each other on their merits. The hobbits appear meek and small but show dynamic courage and resilience. Aragorn’s rough exterior looks menacing, and even Sam is suspicious of him until the Company witnesses his heroism. Gandalf, Gollum, Barliman Butterbur, and even Bill the pony all defy expectations based on appearances alone, and the irony of their physical image emphasizes the error of prejudice.

The motif of seeing also creates an atmosphere of distrust and surveillance. The Ring inspires deception, as Boromir’s friendly façade belies his betrayal. The Ring also brings to the surface hidden and dark desires of even the most wise and powerful. Saruman covets the Ring to achieve “Knowledge, Rule, Order” (253), and Galadriel envisions herself as “a Queen. […] beautiful and terrible” (356). Sauron is symbolized as an oppressive, inescapable Eye that penetrates through the hobbits’ hiding places. His legions of spies are constantly on watch, and even Bilbo feels the Ring is like an “eye” (34) looking at him. By creating an atmosphere of surveillance and vulnerability, Sauron entices Frodo to wear the Ring to be invisible, thereby luring him further into its grip. The irony of Sauron’s strategy is that as much as it relies on his omnipotent vision, he is “blind” to the idea that anyone would want to destroy the Ring.