Aragorn is the central human character in The Lord of the Rings and is known by many different names such as Strider, Elessar, the Elfstone of the house of Elendil, the Dunadan but is mainly known as Aragorn II son of Arathon, Isildur's heir to the throne of Gondor. He plays the part of a human Ranger from the lands above the Shire known as Arnor and is chief among those men.

With him Aragorn carries the burden of loving Arwen Evenstar, daughter of Elrond, the elf who brought Aragorn up. He knows that for her to be with him she would have to give up her immortal life and forsake her rightful place in the Undying Lands. When he first met her he thought he was in a dream, he was young and had never even met her, he thought her to be her ancestor Luthien, the elf maiden who gave up her immortality for the human Beren. Little did Aragorn know at the time that the past would play again. In the movie version Arwen gives Aragorn her elven jewel, Evenstar, also her namesake and binds herself to him, giving up her immortal life.

In the reaches of Rivendell, Narsil, the ancient sword that Isildur used to severe the ring from Sauron's finger, lies in shattered pieces where Aragorn watches as Boromir picks it up and manages to cut himself. As it falls to his feet Aragorn places the weight back where it "belongs" as he feels the pressure of the burden it places upon him. Arwen knows how it troubles his heart and tries to support him in any way possible. In the novels he leaves with Narsil reforged but in the movie he leaves with only his traveling sword and is most likely going to pick up Narsil in one of the later movies as he only excepts his heritage at Boromir's side. "I will save our people." Aragorn also wares the Ring of Barahir, twin serpents with emerald eyes with their heads meeting beneath golden flowers which one devours and the other upholds. 

Aragorn meets the Hobbits in the Prancing Pony and grabs Frodo when he foolishly puts the Ring on amongst dark men. "Are you afraid? Not nearly enough." But Sam is very suspicious of "Strider". "If I had killed the real Strider, I could kill you. And should have killed you already without so much talk. If I was after the Ring, I could have it - NOW!"  He then guards the Hobbits and sets out to Rivendell with five Black Riders close behind him. At Weathertop, Aragorn defies all odds and makes the five wraiths retreat but too late to save Frodo.

Aragorn's decision to join the fellowship comes as no surprise, "If by my life or death I can protect you, you have my sword." Now this is where the movie differs from the book as the Elves reforged Narsil and Aragorn takes this with him but in the movie he retains his traveling blade and takes a bow and quiver as well, which is very helpful when it comes time to battle Orcs in Moria. But this slight change will most likely have a new future in the next movies that I can hardly wait to see.

After the battle at Moria where Gandalf falls to the dark Aragorn pushes his grief aside and leads the Fellowship to The Golden Woods where he seeks the aid of the Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn. It is obvious from his knowledge of the woods and being recognised by the elven Captain, Haldir that he has ventured into the woods before. He leaves Lothlorien with the blessing of the pair and with gifts of elvish waybread, boats and cloaks before traveling with the company down the Great River Anduin. And along the way he is awe struck by the huge statures of the Kings at Amon Hen.

At the end of the movie when the Uruk-Hai attack Aragorn lets Frodo go, "I would've followed you." Frodo: "I know." Aragorn fights alongside Legolas and Gimli protecting the Hobbits and rushes to the aid of Boromir's horn only to find the Hobbits taken and Boromir lying with three arrow shafts in his torso and Lutz aiming for the final blow. Aragorn takes up the challenge and battles Lurtz and rushes over to the dying Boromir declaring that he will help his "people". He comforts Boromir in his dying breaths as Legolas and Gimli join him grief stricken. Aragorn lets Sam and Frodo go, "The Ring is beyond our aid now." And when asked what do they do now, "We travel light, lets hunt some Orc" and with a smile from Gimli and Legolas the trio run  off into the brush. (My favourite bit)

Aragorn is played by Viggo Mortensen and by the producers was perfect for the role even though he came on after the first actor cast as Aragorn had creative differences. It was said that when he first came to the set he sat, cloaked in the corner watching all that was going on around him, actually being Strider! "He took his outfit home with him because he wanted to literally grow into it. He sweated in it, lived in it, even repaired it himself, as Aragorn would have." He is also a painter, photographer and published poet. "Aragorn is deeply aware of the burden of his heritage."

Aragorn - The Two Towers

Aragorn - Return of the King

Any of the thumbnails

"The same blood flows through my veins"	"I am friend of Gandalf the Grey"	Posing	Waiting	Shooting	Posing	Waiting	Snoring

Grasslands	Mushy Part	Staring	Letting Frodo go	Deciding	Saying goodbye	TTT	Posing	"Let's Hunt some Orc!"

Aragorn and Arwen 1024 x768	Aragorn in Return of the King 1024 x768	Two Towers Aragorn Wall 1024 x 768