Denethor

• 1. The Funeral Pyre of Minas Tirith

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  In the besieged city of Minas Tirith, Denethor II orders his servants to burn him alive on a funeral pyre prepared for himself and Faramir. He breaks the white rod of his office over his knee, casting the pieces into the flames. The Steward lies down on the pyre and dies, clasping the palantír in his hands. This suicide occurs during the Battle of the Pelennor Fields when forces of Mordor arrive at the gates. Before this final act, Denethor had ordered his son Faramir to take men to defend the river crossing at Osgiliath. Faramir returns wounded and apparently mortally injured after being carried back to the city. Grief-stricken by the apparent loss of his son, Denethor loses all hope as Sauron's Black Fleet approaches Gondor. The palantír shows him only the enemy ships while concealing that Aragorn's troops are coming to rescue them.

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• 2. Madness Driven By The Stone

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  Denethor begins secretly using a palantír to probe Sauron's strength, incorrectly insisting he can control it. The effort ages him quickly, and the impression of Sauron's overwhelming force depresses him greatly. Sauron biases what Denethor sees through the stone, showing him only despairing visions. Boromir's death depresses Denethor further, driving him toward madness. Gandalf describes him as proud and subtle, a man of far greater lineage and power than Théoden of Rohan. Unlike Saruman, Denethor is too strong to be corrupted directly by Sauron. He continues fighting until forces arrive at Minas Tirith gates. Tom Shippey notes this forms part of a pattern around the Palantír where one should not try to see the future but trust in luck. Elizabeth Solopova comments that unlike Aragorn, Denethor cannot display northern courage, the spirit to carry on facing certain defeat. Alex Davis writes that many critics examine his fall and corrupted leadership.

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• 3. Lear And The Steward's Fall

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  Scholars compare Denethor's madness and despair to Shakespeare's King Lear regarding their shared grief over perceived loss of children. Both men are first outraged when their children refuse to aid them, then grieve upon their children's death which is only perceived in Faramir's case. Michael D. C. Drout states both Denethor and Lear despair of God's mercy, something dangerous for a leader defending his realm. Richard Purtill identifies Denethor's pride and egoism as a man who considers Gondor his property. Ali Mirzabayati suggests Denethor has a pathological fear of defeat. His understanding of stewardship remains superficial, limited to ruling and authority so he clings desperately to power. This fear exacerbates his grief and mistrust of others impairing judgment and ability to defend people. Sauron drives Denethor to suicide by showing him the Black Fleet approaching while concealing rescue ships.

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• 4. Contrasting Rulers Of Middle-earth

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  The Tolkien scholar Jane Chance contrasts Denethor with another Germanic king Théoden and with the true king of Gondor Aragorn. In Chance's view Theoden represents good while Denethor represents evil. She notes that their names are almost anagrams. Where Theoden welcomes the Hobbit Merry Brandybuck into service with loving friendship, Denethor accepts Merry's friend Pippin Took with a harsh contract of fealty. Shippey extends this comparison to numerous elements of the two Men's stories. Théoden lives by northern courage theory while dying through Denethor's despair. Theoden dies in battle at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields while Denethor commits suicide during the same battle. Meduseld serves as the golden hall for Theoden while Minas Tirith contains the stone hall for Denethor. A Hobbit swears allegiance to each leader with Merry joining Riders of Rohan and Pippin becoming palace guard of Gondor.

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• 5. Jackson's Greedy Steward

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  Peter Jackson chose to depict Denethor played by John Noble as greedy and self-indulgent quite unlike Tolkien's powerful leader. Tom Shippey comments where Tolkien's Denethor is a cold ruler doing his best for country Jackson's version looks greedy. Shippey calls the scene where he gobbles a meal while son Faramir has been sent out in hopeless fight blatant use of cinematic suggestion. Early versions included William Conrad voicing Denethor in Rankin/Bass's 1980 animated adaptation and Peter Vaughan in BBC Radio's 1981 serialization. Daniel Timmons writes in J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia that Jackson characterizes Denethor and others far from Tolkien text but film successfully dramatizes insidious temptation to evil. Through falls of Saruman, Denethor, and Sauron we see bitter fruits of lust for power and its corrupting influence.

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• 6. Moral Complexity In Film

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  Christianity Today wrote that films missed moral and religious depths of book such as when they turned awful subtlety and complexity of evil into something trivially obvious. They gave example of depiction of what felt like powerful figure of Denethor as snarling and drooling oaf rather than noble pessimist. Reviews debate whether movie successfully dramatizes evil or trivialized moral complexity of original work. The film portrays Denethor far more negatively than novel does. Critics note contrast between Denethor and both Théoden good king of Rohan and Aragorn true king of Gondor. Others have likened Denethor to Shakespeare's King Lear as rulers fall into dangerous despair. The source material shows Denethor as embittered and despairing as forces of Mordor close in on Gondor.

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