Why Aragorn Is the True Heart of Middle-Earth?

Aragorn is the one who genuinely epitomizes the heart and spirit of Middle-earth, even if Frodo and the Fellowship are sometimes given credit for preserving it.  From the outset, Aragorn stands for power, leadership, and optimism in bringing a divided world together.  His transformation from Strider, the enigmatic Ranger, to the King of Gondor is one of quiet fortitude and great responsibility.

Aragorn battles self-doubt and the burden of his ancestry, in contrast to other characters who are motivated solely by duty or fate.  Because of his ancestor Isildur's failure, he is aware of the perils of power, and he has spent a large portion of his life fearing that he will make the same error.  Aragorn, however, decides to make his own route and overcome that legacy rather than flee from it.  Despite his royal ancestry, he is one of Tolkien's most realistic and approachable characters because of his humility and self-control.

Image Courtesy: IMDb

Aragorn also acts as the emotional anchor for the Fellowship.  He leads warriors into conflicts they think they can't win, protects Frodo, and leads the hobbits.  What sets him apart is his devotion to his companions, his admiration for foreign cultures (such as the Dwarves and Elves), and his capacity to arouse optimism.  He waits till the world needs him to take charge instead of assuming it himself.  And it feels earned rather than claimed when he eventually assumes his proper position as king.

Middle-earth is held together by Aragorn's unflinching leadership and morality in a world full of magic, temptation, and conflict.  He is the epitome of strength, unity, and humility; he is more than just a warrior or a monarch.  Not only would defeating Sauron have been more difficult without Aragorn, but it might not have occurred at all.

–Farheen Ali