The Importance of Being Denethor

[Kransha]

I, in my infinite wisdom…or, rather, minute wisdom, have been pondering something. Lately, in the wake of the release, DVD release, and impending Extended Edition DVD release of The Return of the King, Peter Jackson’s epic vision of Tolkien’s world, one aspect of the film, and the books as well, has been hotly debated. That aspect is, in fact, a character, who many believe Peter Jackson wronged with his portrayal, and I am inclined to agree, but for somewhat different reasons. That character is one of my many favorites, but not because I relate to him, but because his motives and, as of recently, sanity are such enigmatic and interesting subject. The character I refer to is none other than everyone’s favorite pyromaniac Steward of Gondor, Denethor II.

Even before the movies came out, Denethor has been a character caught between good and evil, in the spectrum of Tolkien readers. As far as I know, Tolkien does not discuss Denethor much outside of The Return of the King and appendices, except in one instance, which I will cite soon enough. Many avid book-readers are of the opinion that Denethor was good, and Sauron’s voice through the palantír corrupted and tainted him, driving him to a perturbed, evil state. Some say he was bad to begin with, and that the palantír only finished the job in a succinct fashion. Today, without the presence of the palantír in Jackson’s third film, cinema-goers argue that Denethor was inherently bad, though they are more often boxed in by canonical proof otherwise. Either way, Denethor is a touchy character, playing a very complex political game that is often ignored. So, in the long run, what was he? Insane? Evil? Nepotistic? Righteous? Corrupted? Fallen? What?

First, let us look at a prominent description of Denethor from the appendices:

'Denethor II was a proud man, tall, valiant, and more kingly than any man that had appeared in Gondor for many lives of men; and he was wise also, and far-sighted, and learned in lore. Indeed he was as like to Thorongil as to one of nearest kin, and yet was ever placed second to the stranger in the hearts of men and the esteem of his father.

-Appendix A, The Return of the King

…Generic, but concise and to the point. Physically, Denethor is not exactly a stereotypical evil-doer. Several other references refer to Denethor as good-looking, noble, and with royal features. The first time we all see Denethor, it is Peregrin Took who looks upon the Steward, and his comparison is noteworthy: 'Pippin saw his carven face with its proud bones and skin like ivory, and the long curved nose between the dark deep eyes, and he was reminded not so much of Boromir as of Aragorn' (The Return of the King, Minas Tirith). In The Peoples of Middle-Earth, Denethor is also likened to one of Númenórean descent: ‘He was very tall and in appearance looked like an ancient Númenórean’ (The History of Middle-Earth, The Peoples of Middle-Earth, The Heirs of Elendil: Denethor II). And lastly, back in Minas Tirith, Denethor is also compared to another prominent figure: ‘Denethor looked indeed much more like a great wizard than Gandalf did, more kingly, beautiful, and powerful; and older’ (The Return of the King, Minas Tirith).

Denethor, as far as Tolkien is concerned, looks more like everyone else than everyone else, technically; as wizardly as Gandalf, as kingly as Aragorn, and as Númenórean as Númenóreans. Physically, he bears a lot of noticeably fair traits. It’s not common to look like an Istari, or bear the regal heir of one of Elendil’s Line, when one is not of that line. Denethor is no stereotypical usurper, or caricature of a villain. He has the looks and gait to be a Steward, or even a King. But, artistic and cinematic depictions often portray him as evil-looking, scowling, hunched over and suspicious, which is an image that would probably be more apt for Grima Wormtongue. Why is he seen this way? Well, as I have heard and been told by the active Anti-Denethors, there are a number of good reasons why Denethor is thought of, and seen as, evil. But, each one of them is a lot deeper than they seem…

Filial Favoritism (For the Love of Faramir)

Now then, lots of people like Faramir, I included. I could argue why he’s not the best character, but I’d be getting off of my own topic. Point is: many people are most aggravated at Denethor because of his seeming hatred of his son, Faramir, his favoritism, and his misconstrued attempt to ‘kill’ Faramir. Since this is the Books Forum, I won’t rant about how the popular theory that Denethor was trying to get Faramir out of the picture is utterly ridiculous. Instead, I’ll point out, as well as I can, why the equally popular theory that Denethor didn’t love Faramir is at least partially inaccurate. The following dialogue, from The Return of the King, was included, with little editing, in the movies. It doesn’t shed a very good light on Denethor…

'Do you wish then,' said Faramir, 'that our places had been exchanged?'
'Yes, I wish that indeed,' said Denethor. 'For Boromir was loyal to me and no wizard's pupil. He would have remembered his father's need, and would not have squandered what fortune gave. He would have brought me a mighty gift.'

-Return of the King, The Siege of Gondor

But, though that passage is strictly canon, Tolkien wasn’t done with it, so to speak. Or, at least, that canon wasn’t always canon. In The History of Middle-Earth, lies a relevant excerpt containing the original or semi-original draft of the same sequence an exchange, except, this one is very different.

'Do you wish then,' said Faramir, 'that our places had been exchanged?'
'Yes, I wish that indeed,' said Denethor. 'Or no.'
And then he shook his head, and rising swiftly he laid his hand upon his son's bowed head. 'Do not judge me harshly, my son,' he said quietly, 'or believe me more harsh than I am. I knew your brother well also. Love is not blind. I could wish that Boromir had been at Henneth Annûn when this thing came there, only if I were sure of one thing.'
'Sure of what, my father?'
'That he was as strong in heart and selfless as you, my son. That taking this thing he would have brought it here and surrendered it, and not fallen swiftly under its thraldom. For, Faramir - and you too, Mithrandir, amid all your wide webs and policies - there is a third way, that is neither the folly of wizards nor the lust of warriors…'

-The History of Middle-Earth, The War of the Ring

Now, as said, this is not canon, but it was. There is no reason given, that I can see, as to why this was replaced, but one can ponder a guess. At the time of the exchange, Denethor was still suffering from the affliction of the palantír, and was, as will be debated later, mad. If the above exchange had been kept, the image of a maddened, marred Denethor might have been lost. Whether or not Denethor was a good man, who loved his son, his motives had to remain mysterious, and he had to seem reclusive and nepotistic to keep his newfound persona going. But, Tolkien did not abandon that canon. In The Return of the King, he still presents the fact that Denethor loves Faramir as his son. The most prominent and crucial instance of this remained in the movies. As Faramir leaves Minas Tirith, possibly to court his doom, Gandalf gives him final reassurance: 'Gandalf it was that last spoke to Faramir ere he rode east. 'Do not throw your live away rashly or in bitterness,' he said. 'You will be needed here, for other things than war. Your father loves you, Faramir, and will remember it ere the end. Farewell!'' (The Return of the King, The Siege of Gondor). Later on, we are reminded of Denethor’s love again, when he says “'Do not take my son from me! He calls for me!”

So, based on these findings, and proof, canon and non-canon, was Denethor a bad father? A father who withheld his love from Faramir for his entire life, and wanted to do him in? Not in my book. But, his ‘hatred’ of Faramir is not the only reason for anti-Denethorism. His ‘hatred’ of Aragorn seems relevant as well…

Rowdy Rivalry (Grudge Match: Denethor v. Aragorn/Thorongil)

Denethor, from his first meeting with Aragorn, who was, at the time, masquerading as Thorongil, is thought to have supremely disliked and loathed the Dunadan. Well, Denethor never exactly hated Aragorn/Thorongil; there was considerable rivalry, which is natural, as they were of the same age, ranked the same, and Denethor’s father, Steward Ecthelion II, showed some deference to Thorongil in matters of counsel and war. Surely it would irk anyone if his father listened to another over him! Denethor was no fool, and even in the Appendices, Tolkien says that it was widely believed that Denethor had found the truth behind the mysterious 'Thorongil', and believed that he and Mithrandir designed to supplant him. This is touched on cinematically, but PJ had to cut a lot of politics, so the first conversation between Denethor and Gandalf ended with Denethor looking as if he was trying to horde the throne. In RotK, just before Denethor’s grandiose kicking of the bucket via self-immolation, Denethor says:

'But I say to thee, Gandalf Mithrandir, I will not be thy tool! I am Steward of the House of Anárion. I will not step down to be the dotard chamberlain of an upstart. Even were his claim proved to me, still he comes but of the line of Isildur. I will not bow to such a one, last of a ragged house long bereft of lordship and dignity.'

-The Return of the King, The Pyre of Denethor

Now, the issue is no longer hatred of Aragorn, but the actual political implications. Who had the right to throne of Gondor? Denethor, and the Stewards, or Aragorn, and the Line of Isildur. Which brings us to:

Peculiar Politics (It’s Good to be the King)

The statement I’m about to make is a bit rash, but I’ll defend it as much as I can. I think that, despite the fact that Aragorn would have been a better ruler than Denethor, Denethor and the House of Stewards were the ones who rightfully controlled the kingship of Gondor, though primarily for a big fat loophole in Gondorian politics.

The whole situation can be traced back to the first instance in Gondorian history when there was no one on the throne, but first, we go even farther back, to the Second Age of the Sun. Gondor was founded south and east of the Misty Mountains, and survived even after it lost its king. Arnor was Elendil's kingdom, and Gondor was ruled jointly by his sons before the Last Alliance. When Elendil and Anárion were killed by Sauron, Isildur became king of Arnor and relinquished Arnor to his brother's son, Meneldil. After over a thousand years of peace, both kingdoms started running into trouble with various enemy forces, and came under attacks from their neighbors. But, the really important fact, at first, is that Isildur gave full control of Gondor to Meneldil. Of course, he expected to return from his journey north, instead of get ambushed and lose his precious Ring. Here is the first loophole. Isildur’s Line controlled Arnor, Anárion’s controlled Gondor.

The second loophole came when Gondor became leaderless…

On the death of Ondoher [King of Gondor at the time, slain by Wainriders] and his sons, Arvedui of the North-kingdom claimed the crown of Gondor, as the direct descendant of Isildur, and as the husband of Fíriel, only surviving child of Ondoher. The claim was rejected. In this Pelendur, the Steward of King Ondoher, played the chief part.
'The Council of Gondor answered: "The crown and royalty of Gondor belongs solely to the heirs of Meneldil, son of Anárion, to whom Isildur relinquished this realm. In Gondor this heritage is reckoned through the sons only; and we have not heard that the law is otherwise in Arnor."
'To this Arvedui replied: "Elendil had two sons, of whom Isildur was the elder and the heir of his father. We have heard that the name of Elendil stands to this day at the head of the line of the Kings of Gondor, since he was accounted the high king of all the lands of the Dúnedain. While Elendil still lived, the conjoint rule in the South was committed to his sons; but when Elendil fell, Isildur departed to take up the high kingship of his father, and committed the rule in the South in like manner to the son of his brother. He did not relinquish his royalty in Gondor, nor intend that the realm of Elendil should be divided for ever.
'"Moreover, in Númenor of old the sceptre descended to the eldest child of the king, whether man or woman. It is true that the law has not been observed in the lands of exile ever troubled by war; but such was the law of our people, to which we now refer, seeing that the sons of Ondoher died childless."
To this Gondor made no answer. The crown was claimed by Eárnil, the victorious captain; and it was granted to him with the approval of all the Dúnedain in Gondor, since he was of the royal house. He was the son of Siriondil, son of Calimmacil, son of Arciryas brother of Narmacil II. Arvedui did not press his claim; for he had neither the power nor the will to oppose the choice of the Dúnedain of Gondor; yet the claim was never forgotten by his descendants even when their kingship had passed away.

-Appendix A, The Return of the King

So, at the time that Arvedui claimed the High Kingship, the Gondorian Council thought that the Kingship belonged more to Eärnil (being a descendant of Telumehtar, great-grandfather to King Ondoher). Earnil’s son, Eärnur, ended up manufacturing the final loophole not much later. After a successful campaign expunging the Witch-King of Angmar from the ruined north, Earnur sought out the Chief Nazgul and never returned. Problem was: he left control of Gondor to his Steward “until his return.” Over the course of the next millennia, the Line of Isildur all but vanished and became, as Denethor said, “long bereft of lordship.” So, based on a series of slip-ups, the Stewards controlled Gondor, by order of Gondor’s King, and the Line of Isildur, which should’ve controlled Arnor, only commanded scattered Dúnedain. No matter how kingly Aragorn was, and royal his blood remained, his claim to Gondor’s throne was barely as legitimate as Denethor’s. In my opinion, Denethor had a very good reason to believe that Gandalf was trying to oust him and install Aragorn as a puppet king in his stead.

This also gives some slight explanation of why Denethor sometimes antagonized Faramir. Denethor no doubt knew that his meek, selfless son would allow Aragorn to have the throne, without putting up a fight. With Boromir dead, Faramir was to be the next Steward, and he would let Aragorn become King, and squander a millennium of Stewards’ maintenance of Gondor. And, Faramir did just that:

"Faramir met Aragorn in the midst of those there assembled, and he knelt, and said: 'The last Steward of Gondor begs leave to surrender his office.' And he held out a white rod; but Aragorn took the rod and gave it back, saying: 'That office is not ended, and it shall be thine and thy heirs' as long as my line shall last. Do now thy office!'"

-The Return of the King, The Steward and the King

And, dutifully, Aragorn uses the backing of the Steward to claim kingship.

"'Men of Gondor hear now the Steward of this Realm! Behold! one has come to claim the kingship again at last. Here is Aragorn son of Arathorn, chieftain of the Dúnedain of Arnor, Captain of the Host of the West, bearer of the Star of the North, wielder of the Sword Reforged, victorious in battle, whose hands bring healing, the Elfstone, Elessar of the line of Valandil, Isildur's son, Elendil's son of Númenor. Shall he be king and enter into the City and dwell there?'"

-The Return of the King, The Steward and the King

This whole discussion leads us down a final road. Denethor seems politically competent, if he could surmise all this, but was he fit to remain in office? Was he mentally stable, and, if so, why?

Malevolent Madness (Rights, Rites, and Who’s Right)

Some may say that Denethor had no right to use the palantír, which allegedly drove him mad. Using the helpful story about the palantíri in Unfinished Tales, we get this information…

‘After the days of the Kings, and the loss of Minas Ithil, there is no further mention of their open and official use. There was no answering Stone left in the North after the shipwreck of Arvedui Last-king in the year 1975. 2 In 2002 the Ithil-stone was lost. There then remained only the Anor-stone in Minas Tirith and the Orthanc-stone.
Two things contributed then to the neglect of the Stones, and their passing out of the general memory of the people. The first was ignorance of what had happened to the Ithil-stone: it was reasonably assumed that it was destroyed by the defenders before Minas Ithil was captured and sacked; but it was clearly possible that it bad been seized and had come into the possession of Sauron, and some of the wiser and more farseeing may have considered this. It would appear that they did so, and realized that the Stone would be of little use to him for the damage of Gondor, unless it made contact with another Stone that was in accord with it. It was for this reason, it may be supposed, that the Anor-stone, about which all the records of the Stewards are silent until the War of the Ring, was kept as a closely-guarded secret, accessible only to the Ruling Stewards and never by them used (it seems) until Denethor II.’

-Unfinished Tales, The Palantíri

We also get this, which is a key point:

‘Actually they must normally have been used by such deputies. Each Stone had its own warden, one of whose duty it was to `survey the Stone' at regular intervals, or when commanded, or in time of need.’

-Unfinished Tales, The Palantíri

So, he had enough ‘right’ to use it, it seems, even if he did not have the power to. But, when examining the use of the palantír, it was not that use that drove him mad. He probably would have been powerful enough mentally to handle the palantír, but Sauron was the one who made all the difference. This third excerpt from the essay about the palantíri in UT resolves the matter of what was the ‘breaking strain’ as far as Denethor’s palantír usage was concerned.

‘The breaking strain of Denethor's confrontation with Sauron must be distinguished from the general strain of using the Stone. The latter Denethor thought he could endure (and not without reason); confrontation with Sauron almost certainly did not occur for many years, and was probably never originally contemplated by Denethor.’

-Unfinished Tales, The Palantíri

The use of a palantír does involve inevitable strain, but this Denethor thought he could handle, and he might’ve been able to as well. The ‘breaking strain’ was a mental confrontation with Sauron and it must be admitted that Denethor acquitted himself extraordinarily well. After all, he is a mortal Man, and Sauron is a Maia. Denethor is indeed not to be taken lightly, even after a battle of wills with a great power like Gorthaur the Cruel, he (mostly) retained his senses, even if he was deluded by the words of the Dark Lord. Even Aragorn suffered a similar strain (though in the end he did not succumb to that strain, like Denethor did):

“‘You forget to whom you speak,' said Aragorn sternly, and his eyes glinted. 'Did I not openly proclaim my title before the doors of Edoras? What do you fear that I should say to him? Nay, Gimli,' he said in a softer voice, and the grimness left his face, and he looked like one who has laboured in sleepless pain for many nights. 'Nay, my friends, I am the lawful master of the Stone, and I had both the right and the strength to use it, or so I judged. The right cannot be doubted. The strength was enough – barely.’
He drew a deep breath. ‘It was a bitter struggle, and the weariness is slow to pass. I spoke no word to him, and in the end I wrenched the Stone to my own will.’”

-The Return of the King, The Passing of the Grey Company

Aragorn didn’t exactly breeze through his encounter. He may have done better than Denethor, but Denethor can still be compared to Saruman, who was, though a Maia, fully corrupted by Sauron’s will. Does being adversely effected by one of the most powerful forces of Arda make one evil? Once again, I certainly don’t think so.



So, there’s my overly long sum-up of the Denethor debate. I’m desperately curious to find out the views of the Tolkien magi (my fellow BDers, that is). Perhaps, some of my unanswered questions can be answered, or my already answered questions can be argued against. As a man who loves controversy, I hope avidly for discussion. So, after all this, what’s your opinion of everyone’s favorite pyromaniac Steward of Gondor?

((P.S. I did search for a thread of this caliber, and came up with some long-dead questions that have little to do with many of the queries I proposed, so I can only assume that this is not a redundant issue))