佚名：魔戒～The unwilling King --- Somethings that should not have been forgotten were lost. History became legend, legend became myth, the Ring passed out of all knowledge. Until, when chance came, it ensnared a new bearer. ---
Tolkien 的“戒指”并没有从人类的记忆中消失，也未曾褪色，反而拜 Peter Jackinson 的电影所赐，在二十一世纪初激起一股狂热。能否如他所愿成为纯英语世界的神话，尚待时间考验，但可以肯定的是，这只戒指已经蛊惑了读者的心，将他们牢牢套住了。
电影为了加快节奏，将剧情做了不少增删修改，加重了精灵的戏份，许多人地时物的描述却又失之简略。加长版 DVD 虽然补加了半小时的内容，藉着影像与对白，深入刻划人性的冲突与软弱，加重了魔戒的邪恶本质与诱惑力，可是还是不等于原着。电影变更了许多角色的本质，尤其是对阿拉冈（Aragorn、电影译为亚拉冈）、萨鲁曼、弗罗多、Boromir（波罗米尔、电影译为波罗莫）的诠释，偏离原着甚多。这篇先讨论阿拉冈的角色。
阿拉冈为 Elendil 后裔，继承了 Arnor & Gondor 两国的王权。他生而为人族之王，是从小就接受命运，朝着国王之路迈进，还是选择逃避，却在不情愿的状况为情势所逼不得不当国王？对这角色的诠释，电影与书本有极大的不同。
先说电影。（部份对话引用自加长版 DVD 中，正式的电影为了上演时间限制而浓缩删除。）
Elendil 之子 Isildur 在第二纪末 War of the Last Alliance 打败 Sauron（萨乌隆、电影译为索伦）之后，因被魔戒蛊惑，想占为己有的慾望使他不肯将戒指销毁，让 Sauron 形体消散但力量残存，才能在第三纪末卷土重来造成中土动乱。
在电影中，阿拉冈自幼在裂谷长大，知道是祖先的软弱才造成日后黑暗势力的茁壮，也清楚人类的历史中充满腐败堕落，所以在明了自己的身份后却不愿意接受王权，因为他认为自己也仅仅是个人类，无法超脱人类软弱易受诱惑的缺点。他选择自我放逐，隐姓埋名在荒野流浪。当甘道夫提醒爱隆王，人族还有最后一位领导者时，出现这样的对话：
Gandalf :
There is one who could unite them. One who could reclaim the throne of Gondor.
Elrond :
He turned from that path a long time ago. He has chosen exile.
因为他的逃避，与北王国（Arnor）多年来的没落衰退，对抗 sauron 仅靠着冈多尔在撑腰，所以在爱隆王（Elrond）的会议上，当 Boromir 听到阿拉冈有权继承王位时，轻蔑的说：
Gondor has no king. Gondor needs no king.
在电影版中，Arwen 劝阿拉冈不要看轻自己：
Arwen :
Why do you fear the past? You are Isildur's heir, not Isildur himself. You are not bound to his fate.
Aragorn :
The same blood flows in my veins. The same weakness.
Arwen :
Your time will come. You will face the same evil. And you will defeat it. The shadow does not hold sway yet. Not over you, not over me.
魔戒团出发前，Elornd 也劝他接受统治人类的权力：
Elrond :
In her heart, your mother knew you'd be hunted all your life. That you'd never escape your fate. The skill of the Elves can reforge the sword of kings, but only you have the power to wield it.
Aragorn :
I do not want that power. I have never wanted it.
Elrond :
You are the last of that bloodline. There is no other.
虽然他对于当国王没有兴趣，但仍然肯以生命协助弗罗多摧毁魔戒。我不认为他是懦弱，因为敢面对戒灵和奥克大军，需要的不仅是过人的体力与非凡的武艺，还需要超人的胆识和坚强的意志力。他只是拒绝权力、轻视权力而已。
电影这点满符合现代人所推崇的英雄主义。像六零年代流行的西部片，游侠现身将一干坏人杀光，最后在镇民的感谢声中，拒绝酬劳，骑着马，顺着风沙漫漫的土路渐行渐远。或者像现代的电影，落魄潦倒的过气警察，困在自己的悔恨回忆当中，却在危机关头振作起来，克服自己的恐惧感与自信心，杀光恶棍救出无辜的市民，阻止灾难发生，最后也从自我沉沦中恢复过来。
电影如何阐释阿拉冈的转变？在爱隆王的会议上，他向弗罗多宣誓保护他：
If by my life or death, I can protect you, I will. You have my sword.
在罗潋森林， Boromir 向阿拉冈倾吐他对父亲（冈多尔摄政王）能力不足的焦虑，人民的丧失信心，以及自己身负解救国土的重任，邀请阿拉冈相助：
Boromir: One day, our paths will lead us there. And the tower guard shall take up the call: "The Lords of Gondor have returned."
当时阿拉冈没有回应。但离开罗潋后在安都因河岸过夜时，他再度警觉到 Boromir 欲掌控魔戒以赢得战争的野心，以及邀请魔戒团到冈多尔的目的：
Boromir :
Minas Tirith is the safer road. You know that. From there we can regroup. Strike out for Mordor from a place of strength.
Aragorn :
There is no strength in Gondor that can avail us.
Boromir :
You were quick enough to trust the Elves. Have you so little faith in your own people? Yes, ther is weakness. There if frailty. But there is courage also and honor to be found in Men. But you will not see that. You are afraid. All your life, you have hidden in the shadows. Scared of who you are, of what you are.
Aragorn :
I will not lead the Ring within a hundred leagues of your city.
阿拉冈的拒绝让 Boromir 误以为他在害怕并看轻人类的实力。但照我的解读，“There is no strength in Gondor that can avail us.”这句并不表示阿拉冈认为冈多尔人无能御敌，而是他很清楚魔戒的力量太强大，只有销毁它才是唯一正途。他拒绝前往冈多尔也不是怕承担责任，而是预防魔戒被 Boromir 夺取。然而此时的他仍然拒绝王权，对人类甚至自己的能力存疑。
在阿蒙亨，弗罗多主动将戒指递给他，但他抵挡住魔戒的诱惑。我认为就是在那个时刻，阿拉冈认清了自己的坚强。
Aragorn :
Frodo?
Frodo :
It has taken Boromir.
Aragorn :
Where is the Ring?
Frodo (shouted in fear, 并向后逃避):
stay away.
Aragorn (跑到弗罗多面前向他保证):
Frodo! I swore to protect you.
Frodo :
Can you protect me from yourself? Would you destroy it?
(弗罗多摊开手掌，魔戒呼喊着阿拉冈的名字引诱他。Aragorn…Aragorn…Elessar…
阿拉冈将手伸过去，颤抖着，最后单膝跪下，以双手将弗罗多的手掌合起来推回去。)
Aragorn :
I would have gone with you to the end, into the very fires of Mordor.
Frodo :
I know. Look after the others. Especially Sam, He will not understand,…
直到 Boromir 中箭濒死，他才发现即使像 Boromir 那样一时屈服于魔戒邪恶的力量，仍能自拔，并发挥勇敢牺牲的高贵情操。他被 Boromir 舍身救人的精神感动，被他领导冈多尔对抗黑暗势力的决心感动，终于相信人类也有可取之处，承认领导人类对抗 Sauron 是自己的职责，而自己也有能力抵抗诱惑与堕落，在这样的情境下接受他的宿命。
Boromir :
Frodo, where is Frodo?
Aragorn :
I let Frodo go.
Boromir :
Then you did what I could not. I tried to take the Ring from him.
Aragorn :
The Ring is beyoud our reach now.
Boromir :
Forgive me. I did not see it. I have failed you all.
Aragorn :
No Boromir. You fought bravely. You have kept your honor.
Boromir :
Leave it. It is over. The world of Men will fall. And all will come to darkness, and my city to ruin.
Aragorn :
I do not know what strength is in my blood, but I swear to you, I will not let the White City fall, nor our people fail.
Boromir :
Our people…our people. I would have followed you, my brother, my Captain, My king
Aragorn :
Be at peace. Son of Gondor. They will look for his coming from the White Tower. But he will not return.
电影中的阿拉冈对自己缺乏自信，鄙视权力而逃避天职，chose exile，但最后终于克服它。但原着的阿拉冈是完全不同的角色。
在魔戒与附录记载着，他从二岁父亲被奥克杀害之后就由母亲带往 Elrond 的裂谷养育。Elrond 算他的远亲，因为 Elrond 的亲兄弟 Elros 是第一代的努美诺尔国王，二十多代后由后裔 Elendil 带领 Isildur & Anarion 迁回中土，又传三十九代传到他。
Elrond 对待他如同自己的儿子，在他满二十岁时告知他的真实身份，让他前往中土各地闯荡磨练。他很早就在北方王国都内丁之中赢得名声，并接受 Chieftain of the Dunedain （Dunadain，又译成登丹）的头衔，假若他曾怀疑自己能否或愿不愿意当国王，也是年轻时代的事了。魔戒现身时他已经八十多岁，早已接受宿命，只是因为时机未到，所以未曾重铸断剑，也不曾揭竿起义。他与都内丁人默默的维持北王国的自由安全，不像冈多尔公然在南方对抗 Sauron。书本对他的形容：
"he seemed to Men worthy of honour, as a king that is in exile"
明白表示他像一位流亡中的国王，而不是他选择自我放逐。阿拉冈在爱隆王的会议上说的话显示出他不但接纳自己的身份，而且认真的扮演它：
Lonely men are we, Rangers of the wild, ……
If Gondor has been a stalwart tower, we have played another part. …… What roads would any dare to tread, what safety would there be in quiet lands, or in the homes of simple men at night, if the Dunedain were asleep, or were all gone into the grave? ……
But now the world is changing once again. A new hour comes. Isildur's Bane is found. Battle is at hand. The Sword shall be reforged. I will come to Minas Tirith.
Boromir 在会议上邀请阿拉冈回去带领他的国家，阿拉冈原本打算也照着预言与 Boromir 共赴 Minas Tirith 作战，但甘道夫的殒落让他不得不负起双重重担，他现在必须取代甘道夫带领魔戒团南行并保护他们，必须追随魔戒并保护携带魔戒的弗罗多。Boromir 死亡后他了解携戒者弗罗多离开团队的含意，知道魔戒团责任已了，才转身追击奥克，并加入人类的战役。
阿拉冈有几项作为很令我欣赏。
号角堡战役后，他从真知水晶球得知南方有一股邪恶势力正在集结，若不赶快，冈多尔将迅速陷落，于是他愿意冒险走死亡之路，希望幽灵人能遵守誓言，听从国王的召唤共同御敌。凝视水晶球对抗 Sauron 的思想需要坚强的意志力，他做到了，死亡之路是条勇者之路，他走得毫不犹豫。
佩兰诺原野之役战胜后，甘道夫指出，若要携戒者顺利进入摩多的心脏地带，躲过 Sauron 的注意而销毁戒指，就要把 Sauron 的眼光吸引过来，让他误以为魔戒掌握在人类手中，所以胆敢组成大军到摩多大门挑战他。这是个险中求胜的招式，倘若魔戒落入 Sauron 手中，则中土沦陷，所有的种族将堕入万劫不复之境。即使携戒者最终成功摧毁戒指，作诱饵的大军仍然没有多少存活的希望，能看到新世界兴起的人恐怕不多。安享胜利果实的是那些未上战场的人，这批出征者谋求的是别人的幸福。
甘道夫说完，第一位起身响应的就是阿拉冈。他不求苟安，不愿意躲在敌后等待命运，愿以自身生命换取携戒者成功的机率。这种牺牲小我以成就大局的精神是我景仰的，让他不仅仅是生而为王，而是以行动证明他是名符其实的国王。
我想，就是这种气质风度，让 Arwen 甘愿放弃永生而嫁给他。
电影与书本，两种不同身份的阿拉冈，两种相异的英雄。你欣赏那一位？
2002/3/02 LYS | 
