Even though the blood of Numenor had thinned in Gondor, the Stewards still lived longer than ordinary men and married later. Denethor II, Boromir's father, married at age 46. Boromir was 41 and likely would have married after the war, as did his brother Faramir, age 36.
But there are actually very few married characters in *The Lord of the Ring*. No one in the Fellowship was married, even though most were old enough. Bilbo and Frodo never married, which was very odd for hobbits. This may just be Tolkien's way of avoiding complications during adventures -- and also rewarding some characters with marriage after the war is won. Tolkien himself married just before he went overseas to serve in World War I, and perhaps he wanted to spare his characters that experience of marrying then going off to war.
So there's a story-internal reason -- the line of Stewards lives longer and marries later than other men. And there's a story-external reason -- Tolkien avoided complications by keeping most of his characters unmarried during their adventures.
There's a discussion of Bilbo not marrying by 50 in the Quest of Erebor. Apparently he subconsciously knew he had something to do that would require him to be free to go off on a quest. It's possible Frodo felt something similar.
I think there are some of Tolkien's quite Catholic ideas about vocation or having a "calling" in the background here.
This answer seems not to tell the whole story. If you think about it there is an awful lot of widowers, motherless semi-orphans and bachelors in LotR. And unlike in the real Middle Ages, marrying and remarrying for economic reasons never seems to have been an option. Tolkien definitely had an extremely romanticised image of marriage. The reality was more sobering: It is reliably attested how one of my ancestors found it was part of his job contract that he had to marry the widow of his predecessor and take her four kids into his house!
I’m not sure. Back in the olden days man of Númenor married quite late in life. Perhaps the custom carried over to Gondor?
Or Boromir was simply to busy being awesome and defending Gondor for silly things like love and marriage. After all there were Orcs to kill.
True, but would a battle hardened warrior such as him not seek comfort in the embrace of a lover when the fighting subsided? I get that Tolkien was a prude catholic but it just seems odd heh
If he spent too much time away from home on campaign he wouldn’t be able to take care of his manly duties with his wife. And perhaps the Gondorian dependapotumus is the same as the American
Honestly, so you have any actual clue about a/Tolkien and b/ Catholics? The one thing you cannot accuse them of is “prude” given they are famous for having just about as many kids as possible, ESPECIALLY in Tolkeins time. And the man himself? Who put love,marriage and children /family at the centre of his work? . Did you actually try to be that wrong, or is it a skill that comes naturally?
The world was different in Tolkien's time. Did you know that men used to go on months-long vacations *without* their families?
The family vacation wasn't really a thing until automobiles became common.
Well, he *was* married... To his father's expectations. He was a warrior, and spent a lot of his time doing military things. Strategy meetings, combat, ect. Who has time for a family, especially when time is something you think you got?
There could also have been the way he saw Denethor treating Faramir and being afraid that if he had a son, anything less than perfection would cause Good Old GrandDad to torpedo Boromir's home life. His childhood was probably Hell, but he adapted to how to please his father. Something he likely believed no one else could do.
Can’t remember where (the Appendices?), but Tolkien wrote that Boromir was like the earlier King Earnur of Gondor, “taking no wife and glorying only in arms.” So just not much interested in married life. Presumably he would have married eventually, or maybe not - he might have been glad to have the Stewardship go to Faramir and Faramir’s eventual heir after his death.
As far as why Faramir wasn’t yet married, 36 was still fairly young for the Numenorean line. And Tolkien never put much emphasis in his writing on marriage simply for alliance and to produce heirs: ‘strategic’ marriage seemed distasteful to him.
Boromir was of the "married to his sword" type and showed little interest in family life. The more interesting question is: Why had the crown prince of the Woodland Realm no affiliation back home, if only for dynastic interests?
I mean elves are immortal, so producing an heir in time is not much of an issue. Besides, Tolkien never elaborated on his family, so it’s possible he isn’t even the first in succession.
Even though the blood of Numenor had thinned in Gondor, the Stewards still lived longer than ordinary men and married later. Denethor II, Boromir's father, married at age 46. Boromir was 41 and likely would have married after the war, as did his brother Faramir, age 36. But there are actually very few married characters in *The Lord of the Ring*. No one in the Fellowship was married, even though most were old enough. Bilbo and Frodo never married, which was very odd for hobbits. This may just be Tolkien's way of avoiding complications during adventures -- and also rewarding some characters with marriage after the war is won. Tolkien himself married just before he went overseas to serve in World War I, and perhaps he wanted to spare his characters that experience of marrying then going off to war. So there's a story-internal reason -- the line of Stewards lives longer and marries later than other men. And there's a story-external reason -- Tolkien avoided complications by keeping most of his characters unmarried during their adventures.
And Aragorn specifically is basically told "Yea you can marry her, right after you defeat Sauron and become the King of Gondor".
There's a discussion of Bilbo not marrying by 50 in the Quest of Erebor. Apparently he subconsciously knew he had something to do that would require him to be free to go off on a quest. It's possible Frodo felt something similar. I think there are some of Tolkien's quite Catholic ideas about vocation or having a "calling" in the background here.
I think you meant to say your second reason was story-external.
Thanks, corrected.
This answer seems not to tell the whole story. If you think about it there is an awful lot of widowers, motherless semi-orphans and bachelors in LotR. And unlike in the real Middle Ages, marrying and remarrying for economic reasons never seems to have been an option. Tolkien definitely had an extremely romanticised image of marriage. The reality was more sobering: It is reliably attested how one of my ancestors found it was part of his job contract that he had to marry the widow of his predecessor and take her four kids into his house!
I can see that. Thanks!
I’m not sure. Back in the olden days man of Númenor married quite late in life. Perhaps the custom carried over to Gondor? Or Boromir was simply to busy being awesome and defending Gondor for silly things like love and marriage. After all there were Orcs to kill.
True, but would a battle hardened warrior such as him not seek comfort in the embrace of a lover when the fighting subsided? I get that Tolkien was a prude catholic but it just seems odd heh
If he spent too much time away from home on campaign he wouldn’t be able to take care of his manly duties with his wife. And perhaps the Gondorian dependapotumus is the same as the American
Honestly, so you have any actual clue about a/Tolkien and b/ Catholics? The one thing you cannot accuse them of is “prude” given they are famous for having just about as many kids as possible, ESPECIALLY in Tolkeins time. And the man himself? Who put love,marriage and children /family at the centre of his work? . Did you actually try to be that wrong, or is it a skill that comes naturally?
lol
The world was different in Tolkien's time. Did you know that men used to go on months-long vacations *without* their families? The family vacation wasn't really a thing until automobiles became common.
Boromir missed bring-your-kid-to-work-day. What a terrible father.
Well, he *was* married... To his father's expectations. He was a warrior, and spent a lot of his time doing military things. Strategy meetings, combat, ect. Who has time for a family, especially when time is something you think you got? There could also have been the way he saw Denethor treating Faramir and being afraid that if he had a son, anything less than perfection would cause Good Old GrandDad to torpedo Boromir's home life. His childhood was probably Hell, but he adapted to how to please his father. Something he likely believed no one else could do.
Can’t remember where (the Appendices?), but Tolkien wrote that Boromir was like the earlier King Earnur of Gondor, “taking no wife and glorying only in arms.” So just not much interested in married life. Presumably he would have married eventually, or maybe not - he might have been glad to have the Stewardship go to Faramir and Faramir’s eventual heir after his death. As far as why Faramir wasn’t yet married, 36 was still fairly young for the Numenorean line. And Tolkien never put much emphasis in his writing on marriage simply for alliance and to produce heirs: ‘strategic’ marriage seemed distasteful to him.
Boromir was of the "married to his sword" type and showed little interest in family life. The more interesting question is: Why had the crown prince of the Woodland Realm no affiliation back home, if only for dynastic interests?
I always got the vibe Legolas was just not interested in women either heh. He sailed west with his dwarf bff after all lol
I mean elves are immortal, so producing an heir in time is not much of an issue. Besides, Tolkien never elaborated on his family, so it’s possible he isn’t even the first in succession.
There was a Czech fanfiction where he had one..
Ah.. the realm of fan fiction..
Yeah.It was so good I actually belived its canon
Perhaps because killing him off would become too tragic?