A MAN OF QUALITY: FARAMIR,
CAPTAIN
OF GONDOR
by Anne Marie Gazzolo
Faramir is described by Tolkien as a man who is "personally courageous and decisive, but also modest, fair-minded
and scrupulously just, and very merciful." (Letters No 244) After the Captain of the Ithilien Rangers meets Frodo and Sam,
he says he won't lie even to an Orc. The Ring-bearer's impression of him during the man's initial interrogation is "Yet
he felt in his heart that Faramir, though he was much like his brother in looks, was a man less self-regarding, both
sterner and wiser." (LOTR IV:5, 650) Sam recognizes the wizard-like air the man has, which is actually the grace of pure
Numenorean blood. Pippin's first impression is "Here was one with an air of high nobility ... one of the Kings of Men born
into a later time, but touched with the wisdom and sadness of the Elder Race ... He was a captain that men would follow,
that he would follow, even under the shadow of the black wings." (V:5, 792) Aragorn says of him in the Houses of
Healing, "He is a man of staunch will, for already he had come close under the Shadow ... Slowly the dark must have
crept on him, even as he fought and strove to hold his outpost." (V:8, 846) Eowyn sees him as "stern and gentle." (VI:5,
938) Appendix A notes that Faramir "read the hearts of men as shrewdly as his father, but what he read moved him
sooner to pity than to scorn. He was gentle in bearing, and a lover of lore and of music, and therefore by many in those
days his courage was judged less than his brother's. But it was not so, except that he did not seek glory in danger
without a purpose. He welcomed Gandalf at such times as he came to the City, and he learned what he could from his
wisdom ... " (1031) It is likely then that "Faramir, the quiet student of Gandalf, a man with a Numenorean soul undimmed
by his ancestors' years of life in Middle-earth ... " ("Grief" 124) learned his pity from Mithrandir just as the Maia had
learned it from Nienna (Silmarillion 18). Brent D Johnson muses, " ... with Gandalf as his mentor one may wonder how
much of Nienna's wisdom Faramir had picked up over the years." ("Grief" 124)
It would seem with all these qualities and since Faramir was the one who had received the dream first and more than
once that Boromir came to Rivendell to unravel, that it would have made more sense for Denethor's younger son to go
and become one of the Nine Walkers, but it was lIuvatar's Will that Boromir be the one. If Faramir had been part of the
Company, he may not have fallen to the lure of the Ring as his brother had, but then Frodo's will perhaps wouldn't have
been released from the shackles of terror that held it bound. If the Ring-bearer hadn't chosen the moment he did to
separate from the Company because of Boromir's fall, he could have been captured with his cousins and the Ring come
into the custody of either Saruman or Sauron. If Boromir, instead of Faramir, had been the one to meet Frodo and Sam
alone in the woods, he could have taken the Ring then or at Henneth Annun, surrounded by men loyal to him. Even if
Frodo could have put on the Ring and disappeared as easily as he did at Parth Galen, it would have been harder to escape
with so many men around, and very likely it would have made him wear the Ring longer out of necessity, making it easier
for Sauron to home in on his position. If he was forced to take it off to make sure that didn't happen, he could have
been either re-captured or taken captive by the troops of the Enemy marching toward Mordor. He would have no chance
to put the Ring back on if he was bound while Boromir took the Ring. The Quest would have ended in disaster. Yet it
did not because the sons of Denethor were in the places they were meant to be.
Being the younger son also gave Faramir less ambition or desire for positions he had no hope of having. He is not
set from birth to be Steward - or so he thinks - so is more free to become whom God intends instead of who his earthly
father would mold him into. "Despite [not being heir], or perhaps because of it, Faramir is a capable leader, a Man more
concerned with the welfare of his people than any illusions of transitory power. Such nobility comes easily to him, making
him an even better candidate for the stewardship than his more power-hungry brother ... " (Sourcebook 40) As Bradley
Birzer observes, "Faramir knows his place in creation, and he desires nothing more than to play out lIuvatar's role for
him." (Myth 86)
Though a man, the Ranger resembles the hobbits in his humility and gentleness and the fact he is a reluctant warrior,
though a very capable and respected one by those who serve under him. He does not love "the bright sword for its
sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness".
(LOTR IV:5, 656) He does not kill even beasts without great necessity which later saves Gollum's life, and the Quest itself, when the Ranger Anborn refrains from shooting what he thinks is
black squirrel, but is actually Frodo and Sam's wretched guide. Faramir fights, as the hobbits do, to protect his land and
those he loves, but like them, he does not do it for the joy of doing it as his brother did or the Rohirrim do. He shares
the hobbits' love of peace, though he understands that sometimes wars must be fought to have that peace. Faramir sees
people with hearts and souls, life that is flowing, instead of merely cold objects on a chess board that could be moved
about, spent and removed as his more military-minded father viewed the men under him. A smile from the Ranger captain
would be real and warm solace, instead of a cold grimace if any look came at all from Denethor. Boromir, though he
dearly loved his brother, must have also been puzzled by him, but Gandalf would have recognized Faramir's gentle
greatness, the very thing that Denethor scorned.
That Frodo and Sam encounter Faramir and his men in Ithilien due to the smoke from the hobbits' fire, is another of
the "chance" meetings which occur throughout the tale. This fortunate meeting is another good that comes out of
Gollum's guiding the hobbits through the Dead Marshes which enables them to be in the proper time and place for the
Rangers to find them and so escape capture in the woods. They are provided shelter when needed and without the extra
food Faramir supplies, the hobbits would have collapsed days away from achieving their Quest. Birzer notes,
Faramir embodies grace at a number of levels. First, Tolkien had not planned on his appearance. God had
created him and inspired Tolkien to include him in the story - so the Oxford don believed. Second, it was
the healing of Faramir, along with Eowyn and Merry, that revealed the true nature and kingship of Aragorn.
Third, and perhaps most important, Faramir offers one of the very few obvious allusions to religion ... [the
Standing Silence]. (Myth 86)
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Fleming Rutledge recognizes the connection between the two men who one day will be King and Steward: "Like a
Christian disciple, as Strider the Ranger, [Aragorn] has been in training for anonymous service for many years. That same
self-effacing commitment to 'valor without renown' distinguished Faramir from his father Denethor." (Battle 307)
Another connection between the future King and Steward is when the Ranger captain does not make a rash decision
about what to do with the two strangers who come across his path. He has already shown the same wisdom as Aragorn
did in Fangorn Forest when he does not shoot his potential enemies on sight, but seeks to find out whether they are
indeed foes first. In his initial interrogation of Frodo, Rutledge notes, "Tolkien is giving us another illustration of excellence
in leadership. The ensuing dialogue is a display of noble manliness all round". (213)
Faramir admits he has no hope of beating Sauron, yet he fights on and speaks of his dream that he would see "the
White Tree in flower again in the courts of the kings, and the Silver Crown return, and Minas Tirith in peace ... " (LOTR
IV:5, 656)
When Frodo and Sam must be blindfolded when near to Henneth AnnGn, Faramir's quality is shown once more. Richard
C West observes, "That he apologizes for this necessity is courtly and courteous, something that might not be expected
given the exigencies of war, but it is in character for him ... [as] one of the noblest characters in the book ... " ("Name" 7)
Another instance of that courtesy is when he asks forgiveness from Frodo for interrogating him harshly at first.
That Faramir and his Rangers are aware of the spiritual world around them and their connection to it is observed in
the Standing Silence: "we look towards Numenor that was, and beyond to Elvenhome that is, and to that which is beyond
Elvenhome and will ever be." (LOTR IV:5, 661) Another sign is when Faramir tells Frodo that he also knows there are
paths he and Frodo are both fated to take: "In the morning we must each go swiftly on the ways appointed to us." (IV:5,
666) Faith in that is what allows him make the decision to go against his father's orders, even at the possible expense
of his own life.
When the Captain is eating with the hobbits, it is the fact "that Faramir seemed to refer to Elves with reverence,
[that] ... won Sam's respect and quieted his suspicions" (IV:5, 664) after the rocky beginning in which the hobbit had been
angered by the "sauce" that the Ranger gave Frodo.
Faramir faces the temptation of the Ring when Sam "accidentally"
lets out the fact that Frodo has it and is akin to
that gardener in his utter rejection of it. The Ring's way to his heart would have been his desire to finally obtain approval
in his father's eyes: "A chance for Faramir, Captain of Gondor, to show his quality!" (IV:5, 665) But the temptation has
no allure for him as it holds none for Sam. He has already said he wouldn't pick up Isildur's Bane by the side of the road
or use it even if it were the only way to save his beloved home. Michael J Brisbois observes,
Boromir is corrupted by the One Ring because of his desire for power· he believes in winning war by any
means necessary. Faramir clearly does not. He is unwilling to sacrifice the virtues he is fighting for. This
disregard for power and focus upon virtue is similar to Sam's focus on simple domestic pleasures - both
remain largely unaffected by the Ring because neither desires power. ("Blade" 95)
Faramir already intuitively recognizes the wisdom of a later age: "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world
yet forfeit his soul". (Mk 8:36/Mt 16:26) Faramir has strength and love for his land that his father does not. As Elrond
and Galadriel have already said of their own lands, the young man would rather lose his beloved home than use the Ring
to save it. The three realize such use would destroy their land and that they would lose themselves in the process,
possessed by the fell object, instead of being its possessor. Denethor does not have that wisdom, but Faramir has only
to look as far as his beloved brother, Boromir, to know the Ring can corrupt the hearts of men and "that there are some
perils from which a man must flee." (LOTR IV:5, 666) After the Ranger's triumph, when his quality is indeed shown, he
tells Frodo, "If you took this thing on yourself, unwilling, at others' asking, then you have pity and honour from me. And
I marvel at you: to keep it hid and not to use it." (IV:5, 666)
Faramir is able to resist the temptation himself for he knows his potential weakness: "I do not wish to see it, or
touch it, or know more of it than I know (which is enough), lest peril perchance waylay me and I fall lower in the test
than Frodo son of Drogo." (IV:5, 666) The man's resolve is strengthened by the vow he has taken not to touch it even
bef~re he knew exactly what it was, but he knows just because a temptation is resisted once, doesn't mean it will be
agam.
When he asks what the hobbits' further plans are, Frodo no longer evades the question and openly speaks of his
errand. Faramir then tenderly takes care of the Ring-bearer when the grief-stricken hobbit collapses from exhaustion and
stress. The man also comforts Sam who is upset about giving away the secret of the Ring by saying it was "fated" for
him to seemingly slip up. "Your heart is shrewd as well as faithful, and saw clearer than your eyes." he says (IV:5, 666)
and because of that revelation, it would, if the Ranger could manage it, work to Frodo's good. After Sam praises Faramir
for resisting the Ring, the man's humility deflects it by saying "I had no lure or desire to do other than I have done."
(IV:5, 667)
When Frodo begs for Smeagol's life at the Forbidden Pool saying, " ... this creature is in some way bound up with my
errand." (IV:6, 671) Faramir, "at the prayer of Frodo," (IV:6, 674) also gives mercy and spares Gollum's life when it
should have been automatically forfeit. He helps save the Quest, even though the man, an adept discerner of souls, also
recognizes the evil that dwells within the ruined hobbit and fears for his new friends.
When Faramir and the hobbits are nearly ready to part on their "hopeless errand" (IV:6, 678), the importance of
keeping a promise even if there's a possibility it will bring harm to oneself is brought home. Frodo has promised to look
after Smeagol and doesn't want to go back on that even when Faramir warns him that Gollum may betray him. But
Faramir still doesn't counsel that Frodo be false to Smeagol. He and Frodo both value being morally upright over physical
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safety, in keeping their word even when they could be harmed by it. They value their souls over their bodies; their
spiritual life over their physical life.
Faramir tells Frodo he does not hope to meet him again, but also imagines the possibility that one day they will be
together "sitting by a wall in the sun, laughing at old grief". (lV:6, 678) While the future is unknown and seems indeed
bleak, Faramir can still imagine a better time after the ,darkness has passed, just as Sam can, a sign of grace in both
of them. He speaks of this hope for a better future to Eowyn as well. He sees beyond the black night his father is lost
in and dies in. He sees the dawn that he doesn't even know for sure will come, but has already risen in his heart.
He tells Frodo, " ... you shall go now with my blessing upon you, and upon all your people" (lV:6, 678), then equips
the hobbits with food and walking staffs. His gentleness is again shown when he embraces Frodo and Sam: "after the
manner of his people, stooping, and placing his hands upon their shoulders, and kissing their foreheads." (lV:7, 680)
Thus they part, but that is not the last time the Ranger sees one of the Little Folk. One of the great goods that
comes out of Pippin gazing into the palantir is that Faramir is saved from Denethor's attempt to rob his son of choice
and life, demonstrating
that there was more than one reason lIuvatar wanted Merry and Pippin to be part of the
Company. Pippin wouldn't have been able to save Faramir if he hadn't already been in the service of Denethor and learned
of the Steward's mad plans. He wouldn't have been in that service if he hadn't been inspired by Boromir's valiant efforts
to save him and Merry. He wouldn't have been there at all if he hadn't looked into the, stone ball and Gandalf had to
spirit him away ahead of the others going to Minas Tirith. Just as Merry is placed at Eowyn's side in battle, so "she
should not die alone, unaided" (V:6, 823), Pippin is at Denethor's side so Faramir does not. Both are placed exactly where
and when they need to be.
After the victory at the Pelennor Fields, Aragorn enters the City as healer. The first he tends to is Faramir, whose
reaction to the man is diametrically opposed to that of Denethor's. The younger man chooses love, light and life; the elder
scorn, darkness and death. Faramir waits most anxiously for the return of the king; Denethor has no desire for any king
to return for that would remove him from power. For Faramir, however, this longing is not a faded dream, just one that
has not yet come true. The Ranger captain has already given his heart to the king, and so is able to immediately
surrender it when the dream becomes flesh: "Suddenly Faramir stirred, and he opened his eyes, and he looked on Aragorn
who bent over him; and a light of knowledge and love was kindled in his eyes, and he spoke softly. 'My lord, you called
me. I come. What does the king command?'" (V:8, 848) In pride and despair, Denethor fled into death so he wouldn't
have to say such words; Faramir returns from near-death so he could, using words, as Jane Chances observes, "similar
to those of a Christian disciple ... " (Art 177)
Miryam Libran-Moreno speculates that, even after all the coldness and trauma that he had suffered from his father
for much of his life, Faramir's feelings for him after the man's death were "pity, forgiveness and abiding love" which
would match his character, though she admits that such emotions are not written of because it would break the younger
man's "decorous restraint and modest reserve with uncharacteristic,
too-direct self-revelation".
("Parallel Lives" 27)
The fulfillment of that part of Pippin's vocation which was to save Faramir also saves Eowyn from the despair that
held her prisoner. She desires death in battle, thinking it is the only way she can gain the peace she desires, but
Faramir's gentle courting shows her another way. His love and tenderness toward the White Lady while she is still fragile
from her wounds shows that
[t]here are ways to plant healthy coping skills in the garden of the soul, and to help someone reconcile with
their losses. Faramir... demonstrates the skills needed to assist someone in their recovery from traumatic
grief ... He connects with her, carefully challenges her beliefs, and gradually adds meaning and purpose to
her life. ("Grief" 124, 125)
After the men of Rohan and Gondor leave for the Black Gate and the days stretch slowly I{y with no word, the
suspense of those left behind becomes almost intolerable. As they await news, Faramir speaks to Eowyn of hope of the
dawn beyond the dark night that may soon descend upon them. He tells her that it's possible that doom is about to fall
upon their world and if so, he hopes to meet his end "steadily," (LOTR VI:5, 939) but his words also make it clear that
he still hopes in the possibility that doom won't fall. This is the total opposite of what his father had done. Faramir would
be staring death courageously in the face, sword still in hand while Denethor had already surrendered to his despair and
darkness aJld fled from the death he feared right into the arms of the death of his own choice.
When Eowyn speaks of feeling as though she stands upon the edge of an abyss, Frodo truly is, both unable to turn
back to see the light behind them, both waiting upon "some stroke of doom." (VI:5, 941) Then suddenly the man and
woman witness in the far distance what could be the end of their world. Here is the greatest manifestation of Faramir's
hope when the world seems poised upon utter ruin: "The reason of my waking mind tells me that great evil has befallen
and we stand at the end of drays. But my heart says nay; and all my limbs are light, and a hope and joy are come to
me that no reason canr deny. Eowyn ... in this hour I do not believe that any darkness will endure!" (VI:5, 941)
FaramiJ asks for Eowyn's hand and in accepting, the White Lady is freed from her darkness. At the funeral of
Theoden, Eowyn and Faramir are joined, which is in fact a gift from his brother, whose death moved Pippin to offer his
service to Denethor.
The very opposite of reactions between Denethor and Faramir are again seen when the new Steward kneels to
surrender his office to the returned king. Such humility had long deserted Denethor who had killed himself so he would
not have to kneel to anyone. Faramir is ready to step aside, but Aragorn retains him in his office and tells him the line
of Stewards shall continue and names the younger man Prince of Ithilien as well. One can well imagine what an excellent
guide, counselor and dear friend the new Steward would be to his king.
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Works Cited
Benne, Scott and Matt Forbeck. The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying Game: The Two Towers Sourcebook. Los Angeles: Decipher Inc., 2003.
Birzer, Bradley J. JRR Tolkien's Sanctifying Myth: Understanding Middle-earth. Wilmington, DE: ISI Books, 2003.
Brisbois, Michael J. "The Blade Against the Burden: The Iconography of the Sword in The Lord of the Rings." Mythlore 27:1/2 (2008):
93·103.
Chance, Jane. Tolkien's Art: A Mythology for England. Rev ed. Lexington, KY: The University Press of Kentucky, 2001.
Johnson, Brent D. "Eowyn's Grief." Mythlore 27: 3/4 (2009): 117·127.
Libran-Moreno, Miryam. "Parallel Lives: The Sons of Denethor and the Sons of Telamon." Tolkien Studies Volume II: An Annual Scholarly
Review. Ed.s Douglas Anderson, Michael DC Drout and Verlyn Flieger. Morgantown, WV: West Virginia UP, 2005: 15-52.
Rutledge, Fleming. The Battle for Middle-earth: Tolkien's Divine Design in The Lord of the Rings. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2004.
Tolkien, JRR. The Letters of JRR Tolkien. Ed. Humphrey Carpenter. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2000.
---. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The Return of the King. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1965-66.
---. The Silmarillion. Ed. Christopher Tolkien. lIIus. Ted Nasmith. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2004.
West, Richard C. '''And She Named Her Own Name': Being True to One's Word in Tolkien's Middle-earth." Tolkien Studies Volume II: 1·10.
BRITAIN'S
NEW GREATEST HEROES?
by Ryder W Miller
The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights by John Steinbeck,
Paolini; Penguin, 1976, 2008.
edited by Chase Horton with a Forward by Christopher
Though known for his realistic fiction, John Steinbeck late in his career travelled to England to meet with scholars
to write a definitive book about the King Arthur mythos. Recently, Penguin re·issued Steinbeck's book about the English
legend with a forward by Christopher Paolini.
It is interesting to ponder the relationship between the impact of JRR Tolkien's sub·creation Middle·earth with the
historical impact of the King Arthur tales for what insights it provides for the history of fantasy and mythological
literature. John Steinbeck's recently released The Acts of King Arthur brings such questions to mind. After becoming a
T olkien fan it became clear to some I knew that I should also know of the King Arthur tales. A friend at the time
suggested that I needed to read The Once and Future King by TH White. A parent made sure to bring me to see the
movie Excalibur. The stories of Arthur, though more myth than fantasy, were necessary to understand fantasy, but they
may be more popular now because of the success of The Lord of the Rings. Those who read the Arthurian tales first
may not have appreciated the success and achievement of The Lord of the Rings· which may have been read by some
instead of The Bible, the Arthurian tales, and Shakespeare.
One also wonders if the success of the LOTR influenced John Steinbeck to pursue the project of writing his book
about King Arthur·
to counteract the Frodoins and Gandalfinians who were soon to take over college campuses in the
English speaking world? If that reaction might very well have been made by the publishers who now have a greater
market for the King Arthur tales because of the success of LOTR? Steinbeck, a realistic novelist, had a life long interest
in the King Arthur tales, having played as one as a kid among the ruins of simulated castles in Monterey, California. There
is a Merlin character in his first book Cup of Gold (about the buccaneer Henry Morgan), and one can find references to
such tales in Tortilla Flat and East of Eden. Was Steinbeck trying to say to the reader of fantasy that there was a myth
based on a real thing that you forgot here, ie. England's historical Arthurian mythology . with the biggest hero before
James Bond? Steinbeck liked creating controversy when he thought it was necessary.
Though there is no mention of Tolkien in the letters which follow in the appendix to the recently re·released The Acts
of King Arthur and His Noble Knights (which run from 1956 to 1959, with a few more in 1965), there are what appear
to be tangential references to Old Sarum and Middle Engiish in them. One however will not find any cross references in
the Indexes of Steinbeck's or Tolkien's biography or the Letters of Steinbeck.
Steinbeck went to England to do the research to tell his Arthurian tales. He chose the Winchester version rather than
the Caxton, and sought to tell the Arthurian tales in a modern way. His Arthurian tales, originally published in 1976, was
recently reissued with a with an introduction by fantasist Christopher Paolini in 2008 . who wished it was around when
he was a kid.
Though The Lord of the Rings, which appealed to Environmentalists, some Feminists, and Anti·Nuclear Protestors, some
would note that it certainly would take some attention away from the reading of the traditional classics. T olkien had
issues with some of the "required" reading. Humphrey Carpenter points out in the Authorized Biography of Tolkien that
though Tolkien (like Steinbeck) enjoyed the Arthurian tales since childhood, Tolkien had problems with them as allegory.
Carpenter writes "Arthurian stories were also unsatisfactory
to him as myth in that they explicitly contained the Christian
religion." (p. 188) Tolkien also had problems with Shakespeare, who as a student Carpenter writes: " ... in a debate on
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