Denethor in Tolkien's Letters
compiled by Rogorn
Denethor in Tolkien’s letters
In their way the Men of Gondor were similar [to the elves]: a withering
people whose only 'hallows' were their tombs. But in any case this is a
tale about a war, and if war is allowed (at least as a topic and a
setting) it is not much good complaining that all the people on one
side are against those on the other. Not that I have made even this
issue quite so simple: there are Saruman, and Denethor, and Boromir;
and there are treacheries and strife even among the Orcs.
So I feel that the fiddle-faddle in reviews, and correspondence about
them, as to whether my 'good people' were kind and merciful and gave
quarter (in fact they do), or not, is quite beside the point. Some
critics seem determined to represent me as a simple-minded adolescent,
inspired with, say, a With-the-flag-to-Pretoria spirit, and wilfully
distort what is said in my tale. I have not that spirit, and it does
not appear in the story. The figure of Denethor alone is enough to show
this; but I have not made any of the peoples on the 'right' side,
Hobbits, Rohirrim, Men of Dale or of Gondor, any better than men have
been or are, or can be. Mine is not an 'imaginary' world, but an
imaginary historical moment on 'Middle-earth' – which is our habitation.
Curious fact that even in the much less well preserved house of the
stewards Denethor had come out as almost purely
Númenórean.
Denethor was tainted with mere politics: hence his failure, and his
mistrust of Faramir. It had become for him a prime motive to preserve
the polity of Gondor, as it was, against another potentate, who had
made himself stronger and was to be feared and opposed for that reason
rather than because he was ruthless and wicked. Denethor despised
lesser men, and one may be sure did not distinguish between orcs and
the allies of Mordor. If he had survived as victor, even without use of
the Ring, he would have taken a long stride towards becoming himself a
tyrant, and the terms and treatment he accorded to the deluded peoples
of east and south would have been cruel and vengeful. He had become a
'political' leader: sc. Gondor against the rest.
In all debatable matters of importance domestic, or external, however,
even Denethor had a Council, and at least listened to what the Lords of
the Fiefs and the Captains of the Forces had to say. Aragorn
re-established the Great Council of Gondor, and in that Faramir, who
remained by inheritance the Steward (or representative of the King
during his absence abroad, or sickness, or between his death and the
accession of his heir) would [be] the chief counsellor.
