Aragorn vs Denethor
Jul. 13th, 2008 09:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
inzilbethIn any number of books about LotR, Tom Shippey's 'Author of the Century' is the first to spring to mind, it is likely that the similarities and contrasts between Theoden and Denethor will be discussed. The main points usually being: they were both elderly rulers; they both lost their son and heir in battle; they both succumbed to despair. How they both dealt with that despair of course marks their differences. All this is perfectly reasonable except that the, to my mind, far more interesting and significant contrast, that between Aragorn and Denethor, I have never seen discussed in print anywhere.
I had begun to wonder if I was completely wrong in my view, so imagine how pleased I was when a few days ago I discovered that a friend I chat with, a long time LotR fan, agreed with me on every point!
In fact the similarities between Aragorn and Denethor I would almost call laboured. They are the same age, born within a year of each other; they are both of pure Numenorean descent; their facial features are remarkably similar, as Pippin observed. Denethor is described as 'more kingly than any man that had appeared in Gondor for many lives of men; and he was wise also, and far-sighted, and learned in lore. Indeed he was as like to Thorongil as to one of nearest kin...' Appendix A RotK. There can be no doubt as to the similarities between these two men.
But the one major difference between them, pride, proved to be critical. Denethor had it in abundance, to the point where he trusted no one unless they were under his command and control. Aragorn, as we all know, was humble and prepared to put his trust in others, even those seemingly weak and ineffectual. We see the greatest differences between them when the chips are down. Denethor lost all hope of victory and so in despair he gave up, deciding to take the life of not only himself but also that of his surviving son. Aragorn in contrast, not only saved Faramir and countless others, but selflessly put his life, his hopes, his dreams to one side to do everything he possibly could to achieve victory [he's not our hero for nothing that guy!]. Of course in Denthor's defence, he was poorly used by Sauron who exploited his weaknesses.
In effect the two men were mirror-images of each other or opposite sides of the same coin, if you like. They could each have been the other but for this one trait, which it must be said, is a major Middle-earth sin. And so we have Denethor representing many of the undesirable traits in a ruler and Aragorn all the good ones. Surely this is a major Tolkien theme and I am surprised I have yet to come across an in depth discussion of this in any book. [Unless of course some one can put me right on this!]
One thing I do find particularly interesting, is the passage in UT regarding Denethor's use of the palantir. Here we learn that he first looked into the stone in order to spy on Thorongil, thus making Aragorn an unwitting agent in Denethor's subsequent downfall.
In fact the similarities between Aragorn and Denethor I would almost call laboured. They are the same age, born within a year of each other; they are both of pure Numenorean descent; their facial features are remarkably similar, as Pippin observed. Denethor is described as 'more kingly than any man that had appeared in Gondor for many lives of men; and he was wise also, and far-sighted, and learned in lore. Indeed he was as like to Thorongil as to one of nearest kin...' Appendix A RotK. There can be no doubt as to the similarities between these two men.
But the one major difference between them, pride, proved to be critical. Denethor had it in abundance, to the point where he trusted no one unless they were under his command and control. Aragorn, as we all know, was humble and prepared to put his trust in others, even those seemingly weak and ineffectual. We see the greatest differences between them when the chips are down. Denethor lost all hope of victory and so in despair he gave up, deciding to take the life of not only himself but also that of his surviving son. Aragorn in contrast, not only saved Faramir and countless others, but selflessly put his life, his hopes, his dreams to one side to do everything he possibly could to achieve victory [he's not our hero for nothing that guy!]. Of course in Denthor's defence, he was poorly used by Sauron who exploited his weaknesses.
In effect the two men were mirror-images of each other or opposite sides of the same coin, if you like. They could each have been the other but for this one trait, which it must be said, is a major Middle-earth sin. And so we have Denethor representing many of the undesirable traits in a ruler and Aragorn all the good ones. Surely this is a major Tolkien theme and I am surprised I have yet to come across an in depth discussion of this in any book. [Unless of course some one can put me right on this!]
One thing I do find particularly interesting, is the passage in UT regarding Denethor's use of the palantir. Here we learn that he first looked into the stone in order to spy on Thorongil, thus making Aragorn an unwitting agent in Denethor's subsequent downfall.
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Date: 2008-07-15 07:18 pm (UTC)'Free will' is very important in Tolkien's world and both Aragorn and Denethor had plenty of scope to exercise it. Aragorn had lots of choices. He could easily have taken the ring and justified it to himself when he saw how irresponsibily the hobbits behaved in Bree. But he didn't; he trusted Gandalf's judgement. When he finally made it to Minas Tirith, he could have taken the crown there and then and tried to ride out the storm like Denethor did. But he didn't. He chose to ride to the Black Gate. It was the sensible option for Middle-earth as a whole but an extremely self sacrificing one for those who actually went.
As to Denethor, he undoubtly had more than his share of problems. Losing his wife so young and then his eldest son, as well as living with Sauron on his doorstep for most of his life would indeed be challenging for anyone. But as Aragorn pointed out to Boromir at the Council of Elrond, the fight against Mordor was not Gondor's alone. Aragorn too had fought Sauron all his life and without any of the status or physical luxuries that Denethor as Steward had enjoyed. He spent decades ensuring the scorn and derision of people like Bill Ferny. For a man born to be a king, how hard was that? And all the while denied what must men take for granted; the right to marry the woman he loved.If anyone could become bitter over the hand dealt to him it would be Aragorn. But he didn't. He kept hope in his heart and he retained his humanity throughout.
Gosh, I have gone on rather. Now I've probably put you off posting here ever again!