February 25, 2003

Faramir
Jadehunter

I liked the movie Faramir. Someone on the regular message boards asked why Faramir said at the end 'Now we understand each other'. They also argued about his character, or lack thereof.
I wrote this in reply, and liked it, so I thought I'd share it with everyone.


At the point where Faramir says 'We understand each other', We also just discovered (or are about to discover) that Faramir is under a death-sentence if he does not bring Frodo to Gondor. And Faramir has just seen that the Ring can corrupt even the most innocent and pure of heart, by its powerful effect on Frodo.

Movie-Faramir is played as a cautious man, opposite of Boromir's brashness. When he learns Frodo has the ring, he knows it is his duty to take the ring and Frodo to Gondor. Those are his orders, and he will be killed if he does not obey. However, he is cautious. Sam has told him that the ring will Corrupt, but he doesn't really, quite believe it. He can't believe the ring could corrupt his good and noble brother, and he knows Boromir is dead, and they are alive. For all he knows, Boromir was going to bring the ring to save Gondor, and Frodo and Sam murdered him to take it and give it to Sauron. All he knows about them for /sure/ is that there is a great affection between Frodo and Sam.

Still, he doesn't take the Ring from Frodo, which would be the natural thing to do under the circumstances (and is what Boromir would do). He suspects there might be truth to what they say, but he isn't sure. So he leaves the Ring with Frodo to take them both to Gondor, so he can have more time to decide. At Osgiliath, he sees that Frodo is confronted with the death of many of Faramir's men, that Frodo can see what Gondor is suffering. Frodo still insists on not taking the ring to Gondor. Then Frodo is about to put on the Ring in front of the Nazgul, and Sam stops him. The key thing that Faramir sees, though, is not this. He sees that Frodo /almost kills/ Sam. The only thing Faramir knows about Frodo that is true is his link with Sam. But, now, he sees that something, a thing that can only be the ring, almost makes Frodo kill Sam.

Now, Faramir knows that Frodo's story has to be true, because what other reason can explain what happened? He understands Frodo's mission. At the same time, he knows that Frodo has seen the devastation of Mordor on Gondor, and that Frodo knows that Faramir will die if he does not bring the ring to his father, so he knows Frodo can see why he did what he did.

Thus...
And now, I think, we understand each other.

Jadehunter.