Faramir

Faramir [1] was Denethor II’s second child after Boromir. He was Captain of Rangers of Ilithien, and in his brother's demise, he became the White Tower's Captain as well. Faramir was Ilithien’s first Prince, and he was wedded to Eowyn of Rohan.

Etymology

The name of Faramir traces to a Quenyan origin along with other Kings of Gondor, including their heirs.

Biography

Early Life

TA 2983 was the year Denethor II, and Finduilas gave birth to Faramir. Finduilas was the daughter of Adrahil from Dol Amroth. The year after, Ecthelion II, his grandfather, died and transferred the throne to Denethor II, who became the Ruling Steward of Gondor. Faramir’s mother, Finduilas, died early when he was only five and caused his father, Denethor II, to disengage from his own family. Despite the apparent way that Denethor II favored his brother, Boromir, over him, their closeness as siblings never wavered. Boromir was his protector and helper, and Faramir regarded him highly. Although they both have grey eyes and dark hair, their characters are worlds apart. Boromir was the courageous warrior, daring and fearless, while Faramir was gentler and had more inclination towards music and lore. This interest drove Faramir close to Gandalf the Grey. Faramir took advantage of his close relationship with Gandalf and absorbed as much as he could from his mentoring. Denethor, however, did not support Faramir being a Wizard’s pupil as he did not like nor trust Gandalf. Despite his quiet nature, Faramir had battle skills in terms of his robust leadership. He is capable of making quick and firm decisions in the war that helped a lot. In the War of the Ring, he was Captain to the Rangers of Ilithien, who were often at war with Sauron's allies in their sphere. Faramir was a valiant warrior in defense of Gondor but will not go to war with anyone for no good reason.

War of the Ring

Defending Osgiliath

June 3018 marked the year when Sauron's army assaulted Osgiliath, by the Witch-king's command. His presence caused soldiers to retreat to Anduin. Upon the destruction of the remaining bridge, brothers Boromir and Faramir and their companies were successful in holding Anduin’s west shores by swimming to it.

A Fateful Dream

Before the attack, Faramir saw a vision in his sleep and heard a voice speaking this riddle:
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Faramir dreamt about it two times, and his brother had the same vision once. They both decided to tell their father, who informed them about Imladris, being the same place as Rivendell, Elrond’s home, but in Elven language. Faramir offered to go for the sake of Gondor, and he was the one entrusted by Gondor's Council of Elders. However, both Denethor and Boromir decided against it, and Boromir went in his stead. He knew that the quest would put Faramir’s life in danger, so he took the errand from his brother. He traversed towards Rivendell for four long months and even lost his horse along Tharbad, but he set foot on Rivendell right before the Council of Elrond.

On February 29, 3019, around midnight, Faramir was guarding Osgiliath’s western shore. He saw a floating boat in Anduin River and swam towards it, only to find Boromir’s dead body with numerous wounds. His broken sword was with him, but the Great Horn was missing. Faramir and his father both heard the Horn’s blow, three days away from coming from the North.

Discovering the One Ring

When Faramir took over Boromir’s position as Captain of White Tower, he encountered Samwise Gamgee and Frodo Baggins in the battle with Southrons. He knew that they were the Halflings he heard in his dream. He invited them over to Henneth Annun to question them further. Because of Faramir’s intuitive probing and discernment, he knew that Frodo carried with him an evil weapon from the Dark Lord and realized that his brother, Boromir, desired this Ring, Isildur's Bane. Faramir stayed true to his character and appeased Frodo's fears about his revelation by vowing not to take the Ring even if it is right in front of him. He showed wisdom by knowing that this evil weapon can never be used for anything good. He also realized the danger that his brother, Boromir, faced because of this. That night, Gollum was caught fishing at the Forbidden Pool close to Henneth Annun and this is indictable by death. Upon Frodo’s pleading, Faramir spared Gollum’s life and questioned the creature. He then welcomed Frodo and Sam to Gondor’s lands and the creature stayed under the protection of Frodo. Afterward, he sent them on their way with enough supplies to last them their quest. Before they parted, Faramir gave Frodo warnings about Gollum and his evil nature and not to trust the creature so much, especially that the path through Cirith Ungol which he suggested had a wicked reputation.

Siege of Gondor

Faramir and his company stayed on the island at River Anduin, Cair Andros, that protects the way to Minas Tirith in the North. The sky was completely dark so Faramir decided to send some in his group to strengthen the garrison in the South at Osgiliath while some went directly to Minas Tirith. On the way, Nazgul on fell beasts hunted them. Faramir, as Captain, was the only one on a horse, and a master of men and beasts went back for those who have fallen. Gandalf mediated and had he not, every one of them would have perished.

Upon their arrival to Minas Tirith [2], Faramir reported what happened to his father and Gandalf, including his meeting with Frodo and Sam. Denethor was outraged that Faramir refused to get the Ring from the hobbit and said that had it been his brother, Boromir in his place, he would have done what his father expected. He then sent Faramir to guard Western Osgiliath against the Enemy, who outmanned them greatly. Faramir obeyed his father despite his disagreement with his strategy.

The Witch-king and his army won Osgiliath and killed and wounded some of Faramir’s men, including Faramir himself. He retreated to the Causeway Forts and opted to stay in the rear to protect the company at Pelennor Fields. Faramir took a severe wound by a poisoned arrow on their way back. Fortuitously, Gandalf and Faramir’s uncle, Prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth, met with him with cavalry troops. Imrahil brought Faramir back to Denethor and informed him of his son’s wonderful accomplishments.

In his regret for having sent his son needlessly and to his peril, even when he disagreed with this strategy, Denethor decided on a strange thing. He believed that the Ring was seized, and he looked at the Palantir and asked his men to prepare a funeral for him, and the dart of the Witch-king poisoned Faramir, whom he said. Pippin Took, the hobbit serving for Boromir's death, told him that Faramir wasn't dead, but Denethor remained firm in his decision and let go of the hobbit.

Pippin then went to warn the tower guard Beregond and Gandalf. Beregond loved his Captain and left his post despite the risk to his life, to stop the servants from setting the pyre on fire. Gandalf took Faramir from the pyre and heard him call out to his father. Denethor came, bringing his knife, and was trying to bring Faramir back to the pyre, but Beregond covered Faramir with his body. Denethor realized how futile his efforts are and just lit the pyre and laid his body on it, and he was burned alive.

Recovery and Last Days of the Third Age

Faramir stayed in the Houses of Healing, and Aragorn came to heal him with athelas. It was not a poisoned dart from the Witch-king that almost killed him similar to Snowmane. It was Haradrim's arrow coupled with his sorrow and exhaustion from a strained relationship with Denethor, his father, as well as the Nazgul's Black Breath, that gravely wounded him. The Nazgul were under Sauron's command to hunt down Faramir from the time he left Ithilien. When Faramir awoke, he instantly recognized his rightful King, Aragorn, even without proof.

When Aragorn left with his soldiers for Black Gate, he told the Warden to the Houses of Healing to let Eowyn and Faramir stay to rest for ten more days, at the very least. Eowyn wanted to be taken to the City’s Steward so she would be released and join the war. Faramir took pity on her and admired her beauty, so he told her that they share the same fate. He helped fulfill her request for her room to look east towards Mordor and told her to come see him when she wants to talk. They walked in the garden almost every day, and Merry Brandybuck told him of Eowyn’s sadness about being trapped, waiting for Theoden’s waning, and how Aragorn rejected her love.

March 25 marked the day when Faramir gave Eowyn something from his mother – a dark blue veil with silver stars sewn on it, as they looked out the window towards Mordor. As they saw menacing darkness from afar, Faramir revealed to Eowyn his vision of Numenor’s downfall and how this darkness brings him back to his dream when it overtook Middle earth as a great wave enveloping Numenor. At this time, Faramir and the people in the city felt joy and hope inside their hearts, and Faramir planted a kiss on Eowyn’s eyebrow. Despite this, Eowyn still felt sad and unfulfilled. After a few days, when she received the mantle from Faramir, he shared that he understood how she feels – how she wants to be out of the trap. How frustrating for her love for Aragorn to be unreciprocated, which may have pushed her to desire to go in battle and die a glorious death. Faramir said that he felt pity towards her before, but now it turned to love. This declaration completely healed Eowyn, and she realized that what she felt for Aragorn was only love's shadow. She began to love Faramir back.

Later Years

Faramir served as Ruling Steward of Gondor, though briefly, and spearheaded all preparations for the arrival of King Aragorn. On May 1, the official day of coronation for Aragorn, Faramir surrendered his white rod of the Steward representing his service and was on his knees. However, Aragorn refused his resignation and gave back the rod. He further announced that he is appointing Faramir and all his descendants as Stewards of Gondor. Faramir then asked all of the people of their acceptance of Aragorn as King, and when everyone agreed, he took the crown and gave it to Aragorn, who became King Elessar. Faramir was appointed Prince of Ithilien while Beregond was the Captain of the White Company, King Elessar’s guards.

Faramir, being Prince of Ithilien, and the Prince of Dol Amroth, became the highest-ranking noblemen of Gondor and, subsequently, chief commanders of King Elessar. Faramir was also tasked to be the local march-warden of the main outpost of Gondor in the east. Apart from this, he has duties to rebuild and restore lost territories, cleaning them of bandits as well as orcs, and driving away from the evil vestiges in Minas Morgul. Faramir dutifully fulfilled his role as Steward to the King, being his chief counselor and acting King in his stead when he is not around.

Faramir marries Eowyn at a later time, and they chose to live in Emyn Arnen. They bore a son and named him Elboron, who would take his father’s Stewardship of Gondor in his death, on top of being Lord of Emyn Arnen and Prince of Ithilien. Faramir died when he was 120 years old, in FO 82. His long life was attributed to his absolute Dunedain ancestry that he inherited being part of Gondor’s nobility. Barahir came from his lineage, who may be Elboron’s son.

Character Significance

As Tolkien described him, Faramir was extremely merciful, painstakingly just, impartial, and quite humble. He once said that Faramir wasn't his creation, but he has taken quite a liking to his character. When he was drafted into World War I as a soldier, Tolkien identified with Faramir’s character, who revels not in sword fighting for fighting’s sake, but merely in defense of his country. He went so far as to say that of all the characters in his writing, Faramir is most like him. This fact is the inspiration behind Faramir’s dream of a massive wave, which is a real occurrence in Tolkien's life and his family's. He mentioned in one of his letters that when Faramir was talking about his vision of a Great Wave, he was speaking for Tolkien. This dream or image has been with Tolkien ever since and has been passed on to his son, Michael.

Portrayal in Adaptations

David Wenham was the actor who played Faramir in the film trilogy by Peter Jackson. He appeared in The Return of the Kinga and The Two Towers. How he was portrayed in the movies was a far cry from the Faramir depicted in the books. In the Two Towers, when Faramir met Sam and Frodo in Ithilien, he captured them and took them in as prisoners. He then thoroughly questions Gollum and finds out how his brother, Boromir, died and that Frodo is carrying with him the One Ring. He wanted to impress his father so badly that he decided to bring Frodo and the Ring to him in Minas Tirith.

In Osgiliath, he then realizes how evil the Ring was, and so he sets Frodo and Gollum free. In the extended edition, a flashback is shown depicting the complicated relationship that Faramir has with his brother, Boromir, and his father, Denethor. In the Return of the King movie, Mordor’s armies attacked Osgiliath while Faramir was in command. When he fled to Minas Tirith, his father was so angry that he pushed him to go on a suicide quest to reclaim Osgiliath. Denethor also expressed his anger by revealing that he wished that it was Faramir who died instead of his brother, Boromir.

In his guilt, Faramir agreed to the mission and was severely wounded in the end. Faramir was then brought back to Minas Tirith without consciousness, and Denethor went mad and planned to burn his son and himself on the pyre. Through the intervention of Pippin and Gandalf, Faramir’s life was spared. He was revived from all of these and was there during the crowning of Aragorn as King, along with Eowyn. The extended version of the film shows how he fell in love with Eowyn in the Houses of Healing when they were both recuperating from their battle wounds.

Movie Critique

Quite many of Tolkien's book fans were disappointed by how Faramir was portrayed in the movies, saying that it inflicts serious damage to his real character. Some of them even labeled his film adaptation of Faramir as “Far From The Book Amir,” and “Filmamir,” among others. Peter Jackson had several explanations for the deviation from the book portrayal of Faramir. According to him, the movie needed a new climax for Sam and Frodo since their scene at Cirith Ungol was moved to the third movie installation. Because of this, they had to add more scenes to Faramir with the two hobbits. Another explanation was for character development. Faramir had to be portrayed to have struggled with a difficult decision to deepen his personality.

All men are tempted to claim the One Ring, and it will be inconsistent with its power over men if Faramir will be immune to it. As far as the film audience was concerned, the Ring may not be as powerful as it was set out to be if some men like Faramir can resist its enticement. However, books fans were still unhappy even with the explanations provided by Peter Jackson. According to them, Faramir’s character portrayal was no longer distinct from that of Boromir's. Because Tolkien identified with Faramir’s character like he once said, he also would not like Faramir in the film. Jackson countered this claim and said that Faramir was consistently differentiated from Boromir in the movie because Boromir was entirely incapable of resisting the charm of the Ring.

Faramir, on the other hand, after the realization of what Boromir has gone through, and what Sam and Frodo have to endure to protect the Ring, decided to let them go. He had his personality and morals in check, as he did in the book. Another criticism of the movie was how the Rangers treated Gollum. Book fans said that Faramir was a kind-hearted man, easily moved by compassion, would never have let his men treat anyone the way they did Gollum in the movie, despite his wickedness. He always acts out of his goodness. They pointed out that in the book, he instructed his men to watch Smeagol but to treat him gently. The extended version of the film The Two Towers, Jackson showed how strained the father-son relationship is between Denethor and Faramir. Denethor was favoring Boromir over him and neglecting him altogether. This favoritism gives the impetus for Faramir to desire to bring the Ring to his father to please him.

In the books, there was a familiar strained relationship between him and his father, but it has never influenced his decisions at Ithilien. The Definitive Edition scenes, nevertheless, brought the sympathetic Faramir back by giving him a line in the movie, which was initially spoken by Sam in print but offered to Faramir to strengthen his portrayal. Lastly, throughout the film, it was evident that Faramir single-handedly took command of his forces to defend Gondor when Boromir died and left everything to his responsibility.

However, in the books, a considerable number of commanders and captains took charge of defending Gondor. He gave justice to his role in the movie, though, and he was able to lead Gondorian forces in a long-drawn-out battle from midnight to the afternoon of the next day while multitudes of orcs poured over Anduin. This scene gave time for Gandalf to take over Minas Tirith and spearhead the approaching siege. The actor David Wenham joked around that he landed the role because he had a reasonably large nose along with his co-actor Sean Bean, who played his brother, Boromir. A slight change in the film also was their fair hair and presence of beard, which was different from their dark hair and lack of stubble in the book.

Games

In the game, The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II (RTS), Faramir is one of the heroes and is dubbed by Paul Mercier.

Radio

In the adaptation over BBC Radio, it was Andrew Seear who played Faramir.​