Denethor

Denethor II (2930-3019), son of Ecthelion II and Steward of Gondor, set the prosperity and safety of his homeland above all, and was willing to take any risk to safeguard the Gondorean borders from any threat, particularly that from Mordor. Proudly upholding the honor of his family and disregarding all kind advice of Gandalf the Grey, he soon fell from pride to conceit. Denethor was never on friendly terms with Gandalf, considering him a ‘bearer of ill tidings’ and never heeded his advice even when much more than his pride was at stake. Being interested in the lore of Gandalf must have brought Faramir, Denethor’s younger son, into the Steward’s disfavor.

Denethor was appalled by Aragorn being the true heir of Isildur, for he considered him to be a hapless vagabond of some unknown descent.

Denethor’s part in the fate of the Ring is ambiguous. On the one hand, he would eagerly lay down his life to protect the City. On the other hand, however, his conceit and stubbornness almost brought him to forfeit what he valued most. Deploring the death of his beloved son Boromir, and also beguiled by the visions in the Palantir, Denethor went insane, first foolishly risking the lives of his people and his only living son, and then almost burning the wounded Faramir and himself on a pyre he had set for the in the Kings’ Tomb. Faramir was saved, but nothing could be done for Denethor, and, catching fire on the pyre he had set, he threw himself down the rampart of his Citadel.