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absynthe--minded · 3 years

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You’ve maybe posted about this already, but what are your thoughts about denethor? (Since my feelings about Denethor and his kids have evolved as I have aged, and I’m interested to hear your take)

Oh.

Oh boy.

Okay.

I think all perspectives on Denethor (and on all controversial characters) have a space in fanwork, even when I’m frustrated by them or find them inaccurate to what I observe in the text. This might get heated but it’s not an attack, you know? also I’m going to be discussing my read on canon as opposed to what I think the Objective Facts of the text are - there’s different ways to interpret this stuff and this is only mine.

That being said.

Denethor, by my reading, is incredibly abusive, and his dignity and his intelligence and his admittedly impressive ability to resist Sauron don’t change that.

When we see Denethor in The Return of the King, he’s in the depths of an incredibly bad depressive episode that’s bringing out the worst in him. I think it’s important to note that he wasn’t not depressed before - Finduilas’s death broke him, in a very real and measurable way, and we’re told that he responded to this by alternately lashing out at and loving his sons. I think it’s interesting that Boromir and Faramir fit the golden child/scapegoat model we see in a lot of parental abuse situations, right down to the fact that Faramir seems to know that his failures as a military commander wouldn’t have been criticized to hell and back if Boromir had been the one failing. It’s not the existence of bad results that Denethor is unsatisfied with, it’s the one getting the bad results.

I think Denethor is threatened by a change in the status quo, too - he and the other Stewards are essentially absolute monarchs in all but title and they have less check on their power than the former Kings did, and if Aragorn comes to the throne he loses that power. I’d go so far as to say his political ambitions would have been a major check to Aragorn’s aims even without Sauron and grief fucking him over - back in his youth, he was jealous of “Thorongil”/Aragorn-in-disguise for how highly esteemed the man was, so I get the sense he was a bit of a schemer who knew what he wanted and that Finduilas was a supporter of his aims. He perceives Gandalf as a threat, and Gandalf is kind to Faramir, which only increases his frustration with the designated scapegoat child.

I don’t personally have enough attachment to Denethor to be too annoyed with what was done to him in the Jackson RotK - in that film he’s a metaphor for the old society that must be changed or removed for any lasting healing to come, and he serves that purpose well. And - here’s the controversial part - I don’t actually think his abuse of Faramir was invented for the film? It was more explicit, but it’s still there.

like - let’s take a look at the text:

‘As the dark drew on I knew that haste was needed, so I rode thence with three others that could also be horsed. The rest of my company I sent south to strengthen the garrison at the fords of Osgiliath. I hope that I have not done ill?’ He looked at his father.

‘Ill?’ cried Denethor, and his eyes flashed suddenly. ‘Why do you ask? The men were under your command. Or do you ask for my judgement on all your deeds? Your bearing is lowly in my presence, yet it is long now since you turned from your own way at my counsel. See, you have spoken skilfully, as ever; but I, have I not seen your eye fixed on Mithrandir, seeking whether you said well or too much? He has long had your heart in his keeping.

‘My son, your father is old but not yet dotard. I can see and hear, as was my wont; and little of what you have half said or left unsaid is now hidden from me. I know the answer to many riddles. Alas, alas for Boromir!’

‘If what I have done displeases you, my father,’ said Faramir quietly, ‘I wish I had known your counsel before the burden of so weighty a judgement was thrust on me.’

‘Would that have availed to change your judgement?’ said Denethor. ‘You would still have done just so, I deem. I know you well. Ever your desire is to appear lordly and generous as a king of old, gracious, gentle. That may well befit one of high race, if he sits in power and peace. But in desperate hours gentleness may be repaid with death.’

‘So be it,’ said Faramir.

‘So be it!’ cried Denethor. ‘But not with your death only, Lord Faramir: with the death also of your father, and of all your people, whom it is your part to protect now that Boromir is gone.’

‘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.’

For a moment Faramir’s restraint gave way. ‘I would ask you, my father, to remember why it was that I, not he, was in Ithilien. On one occasion at least your counsel has prevailed, not long ago. It was the Lord of the City that gave the errand to him.’

‘Stir not the bitterness in the cup that I mixed for myself,’ said Denethor. ‘Have I not tasted it now many nights upon my tongue foreboding that worse yet lay in the dregs?’

This is an abusive interaction. This is abuse, as I read it. Dismissal, mocking of the child’s interests, public reprimand with no care for who’s watching, confirmation that yes actually I would rather you have died, and even some DARVO (Deny Attack Reverse Victim and Offender) going on at the end where Denethor turns on Faramir for bringing up the fact that he’s responsible for Boromir’s death. At no point does he apologize, at no point does he admit that he was wrong to do this, and at no point does he ever recognize that he’s been treating his younger son like garbage because it’s easier than dealing with his complicated emotions regarding his wife’s death. Denethor is laying the destruction of all Gondor on his son’s shoulders for no reason other than “you did something I don’t like and I know I’m right about what’s going to happen.”

It’s not his fault he’s grieving, it’s not his fault he’s being attacked psychically by Sauron. It is his fault that he’s not wise enough or kind enough to recognize his actions are still his responsibility. Look at Frodo, look at Boromir, hell, look at Sméagol - they’re all impacted by Sauron, and all of them ultimately still claim responsibility for their actions in some capacity and make at least token efforts to fight back. Denethor doesn’t do that.

Ultimately I can’t like somebody who’s that way, you know? I respect that he went through a lot, I recognize his grief and his growing stress and despair at his attempts to protect his people, but you can’t just let all that misery rot you, you have to fight back.

#replies #but-what-if-i-fly #tolkien #absynthe's meta

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