Faramir

Faramir, born in 2983 TA, was a son of Denethor II and a younger brother of Boromir. He was the Captain and later became the Steward of Gondor.

Unlike his brother who liked fightings and was an excellent swordsman, Faramir was more interested in arts and music. However, he was a man of great courage but did not like war for its own sake.

We meet Faramir in "The Two Towers". He together with the three pathfinders was on the watch for the Haradrim in the Ithilien lands, conquered by the Enemy. Faramir was "clad in green and brown green and brown of varied hues, as if the better to walk unseen in the glades of Ithilien. Green gauntlets covered his hands, and his face was hooded and masked with green, except for his eyes, which were very keen and bright." Like his father and brother, Faramir was cautious and very suspicious of strangers. (We can observe that when he was questioning Frodo and Sam). But that was not surprising - the war made him wary, let alone an unbelievable story told by Frodo.

Faramir was not quick at making decisions, and despite an edict to kill anyone who would trespass on the Ithilien lands, he did not put to death Frodo and Sam. That proved that he was humane to others. He loved his motherland and for its welfare he could do practically anything.

Faramir was capable of admitting his mistakes and weaknesses. Thus, he asked Frodo to forgive him for having been too suspicious and for having forced him to tell more than was allowed about his companions and the Ring. The story of Aragorn, the King-to-be of Gondor, got Faramir interested. He did not feel annoyed and was ready to accept Aragorn's right to the throne, as the latter was the true descendant of Isildur.

Faramir longed for peace to be in Gondor. It did not matter to him who would be the King - all that he wanted was the White Tree to blossom and Minas Tirith to regain its greatness. Faramir perceived war as a vital necessity: "War must be, while we defend our lives against a destroyer who would devour all". Like his father, Faramir abandoned all hope to defeat the Enemy, but deep inside he hoped that some help would come.

It seemed there was no limit to his caution. Like in Lorien, he blindfolded the hobbits' eyes, so the latter would not find out a secret path. To reward the hobbits for their patience, Faramir led them to "the Window of the Sunset, Henneth Annun, fairest of all the falls of Ithilien, land of many fountains." Faramir cherished his ancestors' traditions. So, when saying farewell to the hobbits, he kissed them on the forehead, according to an old custom.

Faramir could put his listeners at ease. For instance, Sam was very suspicious and wary of Faramir at first, but then felt so comfortable in his company that even blabbed out about the Ring. Having known about the powerful artefact, Faramir rejected the lure of the Ring. Instead it helped him to form a picture of what had happened.

Peregrin Took once said: "Proud and grave he stood for a moment as he spoke to the guard, and Pippin gazing at him saw how closely he resembled his brother Boromir - whom Pippin had liked from the first, admiring the great man's lordly but kindly manner. Yet suddenly for Faramir his heart was strangely moved with a feeling that he had not known before. Here was one with an air of high nobility such as Aragorn at times revealed, less high perhaps, yet also less incalculable and remote: one of the Kings of Men born into a later time, but touched with the wisdom and sadness of the Elder Race. He knew now why Beregond spoke his name with love. He was a captain that men would follow, that he would follow, even under the shadow of the black wings." Beregond considered Faramir to be "less reckless and eager than Boromir, but not less resolute".

Because of his mild character and his friendship with Gandalf, Faramir fell into disgrace of his father, who condemned his son for his generosity. When speaking with Denethor, it was felt that Faramir blamed himself for his brother's death. When fighting with the Haradrims, Faramir was struck with a Southron arrow. He fell into a dark fever. When Denethor, his father, became mad with despair he tried to burn his son on a Pyre. Faramir was saved by Pippin who called for Gandalf and the guards in time. Aragorn eventually healed Faramir's fever and the Black Breath.

After his father's death, Faramir became the Steward of Gondor. At the end of the War of the Ring, Elessar, who became the King of Gondor, made Faramir Prince of Ithilien. Faramir met his wife-to-be, Eowyn of Rohan, in the Houses of Healing. He was amazed by her beauty and courage. After the final victory over the Enemy, at the feast which was held on the occasion of the coronation of Aragorn, the two sweethearts became engaged. Later they wed.

Faramir passed away in FA 82. He would always be remembered not only as a just Steward, who let the throne to the true King, but also as a brave warrior, King and wise man. Faramir became the symbol of the unity of Gondor and Rohan.