Denethor
(For other characters see Denethor (disambiguation))
| Denethor (II) | |
|---|---|
| Gondorian | |
 | |
| Biographical Information | |
| Position | Ruling Steward |
| Birth | T.A. 2930 |
| Rule | T.A. 2984-T.A. 3019 |
| Death | March 15, T.A. 3019, aged 89 years |
| Family | |
| Parentage | Ecthelion II |
| Spouse | Finduilas of Dol Amroth |
| Children | Boromir, Faramir |
| Physical Description | |
| Gender | Male |
| Gallery | Images of Denethor (II) |
- "Denethor looked indeed much more like a great wizard than Gandalf did, more kingly, beautiful, and powerful; and older."
- ― The Two Towers, Minas Tirith
Denethor II (Third Age 2930 – March 15, 3019, aged 89 years) is the twenty-sixth and last Ruling Steward of Gondor. He succeeded his father Ecthelion II at his death in 2984. Denethor is described as appearing noble and powerful, even to rival the lordliness of Gandalf. He was proud, tall, wise, far-sighted, and valiant; "more kingly," according to the appendices, than any of his predecessors for a long time. He proved a masterful lord and a great ruler, seeing to all things large and small under his command.
History
Pre-Stewardship
Denethor was a masterful man, but also a proud one. When a northerner named Thorongil, a year younger, came to Gondor and won Ecthelion's trust and affections, Denethor grew jealous. Thorongil, a war genius and one who looked enough like Ecthelion to be his close kin, won the love of the people, so that Denethor's envy grew. It is possible that he figured out that Thorongil was really Aragorn II, and with Mithrandir wished to supplant him. He was not sorry when Thorongil vanished to the east.
In 2976 he married Finduilas of Dol Amroth, whom he loved deeply, daughter of Prince Adrahil of Dol Amroth. She gave birth to two sons: Boromir and Faramir. He doted upon his eldest son, Boromir, while Faramir, his second son, could never please his father nor be seen as Boromir's equal.
Early Stewardship
Nine years after his marriage, Ecthelion died and Denethor became Ruling Steward. Only three years later, Finduilas died as well. Denethor was grief-stricken, and became more grim and silent. His pride and thirst for knowledge caused him soon after to look into the palantír of the White Tower, something no-one had done since the fall of Minas Ithil.
The palantír showed him much of what he wanted to see, and his knowledge grew exceedingly, so that he was wondered at by the people. But was frequently contesting the will of Sauron, who kept the palantír of Minas Ithil. This aged him prematurely, and his despair grew as he saw Sauron's might. He became blind to all struggles save that of him and Sauron, his people and Sauron's orcs. He mistrusted all others who resisted Sauron, but were not under his rule. He wore mail under his robes, to prevent himself from getting soft in his old age.
Stirring of Trouble
Faramir, his youngest, began to have dreams, speaking of Imladris and Isildur's bane. He disliked Faramir, who although shrewd as himself, was more gentle than Boromir, and furthermore was a friend of Mithrandir, whom Denethor thought wished to remove him from his seat. Boromir shortly after had the same dream, and convinced his father and brother to let him journey northward and find the meaning. Boromir did not return from his quest; he was shot by Uruk-hai on Amon Hen. His horn was cloven in two, and was found by watchers below the Entwash, and brought to Denethor. Denethor nearly went mad with grief, and his anger was turned to Faramir, the original recipient of the dream, who in his mind should have gone rather than Boromir.
Knowing of the coming stroke of Mordor, Denethor called in the Captains of the Outlands to defend Minas Tirith. Nazgûl began to fly over the city, out of view but still casting shadows of fear.
Thirteen days after Boromir's death, Mithrandir arrived with the hobbit Peregrin Took. Denethor openly vented his rage at first, but at the same time was curiously attracted to the hobbit, a witness of his son's death, questioning him closely and suspiciously. When Peregrin offered his service in return for Boromir's sacrifice, Denethor was pleased and amused. After examining Pippin's barrow-blade, he accepted the hobbit's service courteously. He then confronted Gandalf. While they supped, Gandalf told of the fall of Isengard. Denethor hinted at his own abilities to see what happened in the world. He then racked the hobbit with questions for an hour, and then gave his guests lodging.
War of the Ring
When Osgiliath was taken by Mordor, Denethor ordered Faramir in a suicidal attempt to retake the city. It was here that he showed his greatest grief-induced cruelty, telling his son that he wished his and Boromir's places had been exchanged, and that he had died while Boromir survived.
Nevertheless, Faramir obeyed his lord's command and rode to retake Osgiliath. Although the attempt was more successful then was expected, Faramir was hit by a dart flying from one the Nazgûl. Wounded, sick, and barely alive, he was brought back to the White City.
At the sight of his son, Denethor lost grip on himself, shutting himself away in the citadel and abandoning his city that he had been so eager to rule.
Denethor committed suicide immediately thereafter, abandoning all hope. He threw a torch onto the pyre prepared for him and Faramir. He took the white rod of his office and broke it on his knee, casting it into the flames, symbolizing the end of his stewardship and the end of the rule of the Stewards. He laid himself down on the table and so perished, clasping the palantír in his hands. The Stewardship passed to Faramir, who remained in the Houses of Healing for a time, although the command of the city fell to the Prince of Dol Amroth during the remainder of the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.
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Portrayal in Adaptations
In the Rankin/Bass animated version of The Return of the King, William Conrad is the voice of Denethor.
In Peter Jackson's movie trilogy, Denethor was played by John Noble. In Peter Jackson's The Return of the King, Denethor appears completely irrational; he sends his remaining son on a suicidal mission to enemy-captured Osgiliath and refuses to light the warning beacons of Gondor to call for the aid of Rohan. In the book, the danger of his madness is that it seems to follow a certain logic; Sauron does have vastly superior forces, all of which he has surely shown to the Steward in the palantír. His actions, however, do not immediately proclaim his insanity; the Osgiliath mission is less obviously suicidal, as the city has not yet been overrun, and the warning beacons have indeed been lit, although Denethor expects little help.
In the film adaptation, when Faramir is brought into the throne room, seemingly dead, Pippin attempts to stop Denethor away from cremating his son, who he is sure is still alive. After Denethor knocks Pippin away, he falls onto the fire, and, in flames, runs out of the throne room and off the highest ledge of Minas Tirith, killing himself.
See Also
| Preceded by: Ecthelion II |
26th Ruling Steward of GondorIII 2984 – 3019
|
Followed by: Faramir (titular only) |
