Original artwork, not a still
My friends, you bow to no one.
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
The new king gives the smallest people in the story the most honour, and the entire city kneels to them. After three films of the hobbits being overlooked, it is the moment the story's moral is said aloud: that courage matters more than rank. It is a favourite of fans for its quiet reversal, and the line is used to praise someone ordinary who did something enormous.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the KingShow the scene
The Return of the King ends with the war won and the Ring destroyed. The surviving Fellowship gathers in Minas Tirith, where Aragorn is crowned King of Gondor and reunited with Arwen. As he walks forward, Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin kneel to him. He stops them with these words and then does the opposite of what they expect: he, Arwen and the whole assembled crowd bow to the four hobbits. Viggo Mortensen sings on screen in the coronation.
Sources (2)
- Wikiquote: The Return of the KingAragorn's lines and the coronation transcriptReference checked
- Wikipedia: The Return of the KingPlot summary and Music sectionReference checked
Context reviewed
