November 29, 2003

Faramir's Quality?
jazz_man

Ok, i've heard hundreds of arguments on this topic, and many of them are credible. But no matter how you look at it, it doesn't stop the fact, that it defers from the storyline of the book. Now after the explanation given by philipa Boyen (whatever her name is is) in the appendices of the TTT, and the added scenes in the EE, you begin to delve a bit farther into Faramirs personality and what hes going through. Take just a few things into mind before you judge Faramirs quality in the movies. First, hes constantly faced with the fact that he wishes to please his father and prove himself. He wants to contributemsomething that will really mean something to his father. It's always pressing his mind. Second, it has been explained, that to just make it seem like the ring holds absolutely no hold on Faramir at all, would just destroy the nature of the ring that the crew has been trying to build throughout the movies. It has to be expressed that no one is free of the rings call, no matter how pure of heart you can be, you can always feel its call, and it will make you doubt. That is the whole nature of what the RING represents. It brings out the worst in someone, it makes them act irrationally, and do things that they would otherwise not do. And finally i have to look at it like this. Gondor has been under attack for years now, and they recieve no help. In this situation, you bring about an aura of mistrust for the gondorians. The people of Gondor literally have no one they can trust. They are trying to fight back against Sauron in any way they can. Now Gollum has a striking resemblance to some kind of twisted little orc. Combine this with fact that hes in the heart of what is now becoming the land of the enemy, guiding two suspicious "Little" people who refuse to tell their errand, and added to the fact he decides to go for a swim in the one pool in Middle Earth thats could secure his death. Now when all of this is put against him, I dont think Gollum is gonna recieve a most gracious welcoming party by the soldiers of Gondor. Under the laws of Gondor, Gollum should have died. Also Faramir knows what Gollum is leading them towards, he's heard the rumors of Shelob and knows that Gollum knows it to. It is at this moment when Faramir learns of their way to enter Mordor that Faramir holds no compassion for Gollum at all. You can really say that his compassion for the hobbits leads him to strangle Gollum in the tunnel. It is only for the hobbits sake that Faramir lets Gollum live. We must remember, though we can feel sorry for Gollum, he is none the less an enemy, yet ironically, an enemy who saves the day. Faramir knows he is an enemy, and becausehe now holds a compassion for these hobbits, it just leads Faramir to dislike Gollum more so. Thats just how i feel on the matter. Sorry for the length.