There is no Tolkien thread on the front page for some reason. Cleary something is wrong with you people. Correct this post haste or I shall order the abductions of Robin Meade, Campbell Brown, and that hot newschick with the rectangular glasses whose name I always forget.
What was I talking about?
Oh, yes. Lord of the Rings.
As we all know, Denethor II, last Ruling Steward of Gondor, had no particular desire to see another king in Minas Tirith, unless for some reason that king was him. I’m sure he felt entirely justified; his house had led as storied and valorous history as Aragorn son of Arathorn’s, and had done a lot more for Gondor in the recent past. I also suspect that he was not the only person in the kingdom of that opinion. This makes me wonder: what would happen if the Stewards had not yielded gracefully?
I see two ways for this to have happened:
Denethor survives the RingWar without going visibly mad. That’s not hard to imagine. If Faramir had somehow returned from his initial sortie without being so grievously injured, his father would not have been likely to snap. Faramir then might have led the defense of the City until the arrival of the Eorlingas (and later, of Aragorn and his troops), and Aragorn’s victory might have seemed less dramatic. Or… Boromoir survives. Both he and his brother had the prophetic dream which needed Elvish wisdom to answer; but I believe Faramir had it first, and Boromir was sent to Imladris on his father’s orders. What if Denethor had decided differently? “We’ve got a major war going on at home,” he might have thought, “and Boromir’s the better captain. I’ll send that nancy-boy Faramir to the elves; he’ll fit in with them best anyway.” In this scenario, Boromir is the one sent on the pointless sortie that nearly got Faramir killed, and he suffers the wound in his brother’s place, and gets healed by Aragorn. But unlike Faramir, Boromir has always thought of himself as the next Steward; I don’t think he’d have been willing to step aside so easily.
JRRT already sketched out one particular scenario: Denethor surviving and facing Aragorn, in HOME 8 The War of the Ring; VIII The story forseen from Forranest:
So it seems JRRT considered just how such a scenario would play out: Denethor would dig in his heels until Aragorn proved himself, or until the House of Stewards ended, at which point Denethor no longer gave a damn. Aragorn indicates the will of the Stewards will be irrelevant if/when Aragorn decides it is time to claim the throne.
My scenario: Denethor survives, but the the people of Gondor “despose” him and recognize Aragorn as rightful ruler. But then what would we do with Denethor? Would he secretly plot against Aragorn, with bad guys from the South or East? Would he go gently into that good night? Perhaps Tolkien knew best.
It is not clear to me why you and the good doctor are mentioning the Greater Perferesser. He is only the translator and chronicler, after all. I was wondering how the actual historical scenario, recounted in the redoubtable West Book of Westmarch, might have played out.
In both cases you have the Steward faced with someone who has the open backing of not only the Rohirrim and the elves but the Valar. And with two armies at his back. I think Denethor would crumble, his despair being not of defeat but of losing power. Boromir’s a different matter. We’ll have to assume he somehow avoids being tempted by the Ring, otherwise I think he’d realise that Aragorn was the better man. Yes, I think he’d contest the rulership.
Dunno 'bout the rest of you, but I would have paid an assassin to take out Denethor. I’ve never liked him and still don’t. I wouldn’t even make Aragorn beholden to me re the murder. I’d consider it a public service.
And let’s not have any of that “but he was a good ruler” bleating from the peanut gallery. He was a horrible father and that’s enough for me. Case closed. Moving on…
As much as I really, really liked the movie, I think PJ blew it with his Denethor. Didn’t ruin the movie or anything (for me), but I don’t know why he change that character so much.
I don’t like what Tolkien did with Denethor, that means that what PJ did in the movie is heresy.
I understand Tolkien’s point Denethor was brought down by his pride and despair but he was a great character. If I could rewrite the book I would change his ending: In the most critical hour he dies, like Constantine XI, in the defense of his city, knowing it was doomed but refusing to fall without a fight, just before it he reconciles with Gandalfs and put both the city and his son in his hands.
Estilicon - I see your point but respectfully disagree. Tolkien is true to the character he created by having Denethor succomb to despair, even to the point of suicide. Tolkien created characters who were 3-dimensional (although many critics disagree) and I think Denethor is a good example. He also serves the greater themes of the story by illustrating how giving in to despair is evil. i.e. - the good and the folks such as Frodo who trudge on.
I think the scenario Estilicon describes is what happened with Boromir, essentially, and would have been repetitious to have Denethor come to his senses at the last.
If I’m not mistaken, Faramir tells Frodo in Ithilien that if Boromir had been satisfied with Aragorn’s claim, he would have revered him greatly. I think Faramir knew Boromir better than anyone else did.
Denethor took pride in being a steward, not the king. I think that pride would have extended to his bowing out gracefully to Aragorn once his claim was clearly established, and then becoming a constant critic of the administration, always in the most noble of terms (a more in sorrow than in anger sort of thing). I think Denethor would have taken some satisfaction in the idea that people missed his rule, and would have done his subtle best to make sure there were such people.
Denethor before becoming Steward, found himself in the shadow of Aragon both amongst the population and his father. I doubt very much he would’ve managed to swing popular opinion to himself following the victory of Aragon at the Battle of Pelenor field.
In the postulated history in which Boromir survives, he is doing the duties Faramir was in the, ahem, true history. I’m honestly not sure what happens when he meets up with Frodo & Samwise.
I’m not a fanboy. Well, not always. Right now I am discussing the tale in terms of the Great Game (Arda edition). I am perfectly capable of discussing the tale in litcrit terms as well.
I am perfectly capable of discussing the tale in litcrit terms as well.