Faramir Character Analysis in The Two Towers

While preparing to battle the men of Harad in Ithilien, Faramir, the Captain of Gondor and the brother of Boromir, meets Frodo and Sam on their way to Mordor. Though initially suspicious of the hobbits, who know more than they’re telling him and might be implicated in Boromir’s death, Faramir eventually decides to trust and assist them. When he learns that Frodo bears the Ring, he laments Boromir’s weakness in attempting to steal it to protect Gondor and swears that he doesn’t want it for himself. Faramir is more thoughtful than his brother and has no love for war or power. When Gollum is caught trespassing, Faramir shows mercy, allowing him to live, and gives the hobbits supplies for their journey.

Faramir Quotes in The Two Towers

The The Two Towers quotes below are all either spoken by Faramir or refer to Faramir. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

‘Not were Minas Tirith falling in ruin and I alone could save her, so, using the weapon of the Dark Lord for her good and my glory. No, I do not wish for such triumphs, Frodo son of Drogo. […] War must be, while we defend our lives against a destroyer who would devour all; but I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend: the city of the Men of Númenor; and I would have her loved for her memory, her ancientry, her beauty, and her present wisdom.’

Related Characters: Faramir (speaker), Sauron, Frodo Baggins, Isildur

Related Symbols: The Ring

Page Number and Citation: 314

Explanation and Analysis:

In this passage, Faramir, though he doesn’t know that Isildur’s Bane is the One Ring, assures Frodo that he has no desire for the power Isildur’s Bane would give him and no love for war. Faramir understands both that Middle-earth is in a decline from its former nobility and that Sauron is likely to hasten that decline and bring the world to ruin. Still, he recognizes, as his brother Boromir couldn’t, that to use Sauron’s concept of dominating power to defeat him wouldn’t do the world any good and would only perpetuate violence and domination. Thus this speech is a Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro

‘All is lost. Even if my errand is performed, no one will ever know. There will be no one I can tell. It will be in vain.’ Overcome with weakness he wept. And still the host of Morgul crossed the bridge.

Then, at a great distance, as if it came out of memories of the Shire, some sunlit early morning, when the day called and the doors were opening, he heard Sam’s voice speaking. ‘Wake up, Mr. Frodo! Wake up!’

[…]

Frodo raised his head, and then stood up. Despair had not left him, but the weakness had passed. He even smiled grimly, feeling now as clearly as a moment before he had felt the opposite, that what he had to do, he had to do, if he could, and that whether Faramir or Aragorn or Elrond or Galadriel or Gandalf or anyone else ever knew about it was beside the purpose.

Related Characters: Frodo Baggins (speaker), Samwise “Sam” Gamgee (speaker), The Wraith-king, Faramir, Aragorn, Elrond, Galadriel, Gandalf

Related Symbols: The Ring

Page Number and Citation: 357-358

Explanation and Analysis:

This passage occurs as Frodo watches an enormous army led by the Wraith-king depart from Minas Morgul towards Gondor. Realizing that the army is only a small part of Sauron’s forces, Frodo sinks suddenly into hopelessness, fearing that Sauron will conquer the world before he can destroy the Ring. He fears decimation of the world for its own sake, but also because of the idea that, if everyone is dead, no one will be left to remember him. No one will comfort him or acknowledge his pain at the end of the long, terrifying road to Mordor. His many struggles Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minim

Faramir Character Timeline in The Two Towers

The timeline below shows where the character Faramir appears in The Two Towers. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...are surprised to discover that the hobbits aren’t orcs. The tallest man introduces himself as Faramir, Captain of Gondor. Frodo and Sam call themselves travelers, but Faramir insists that there are... (full context)

...name Boromir but believe Frodo when he references the riddle that sent Boromir to Rivendell. Faramir, who is heading to a battle, leaves two guards to protect the halflings and plans... (full context)

...the two men to watch his first battle as the Men of Harad flee and Faramir pursues them. A man dies in front of Sam, who doesn’t like the sight. Suddenly,... (full context)

Sam feels like he’s only slept for a few minutes when Faramir returns in the late afternoon with two or three hundred men. Sam stands off to... (full context)

Frodo assures Faramir that Boromir would answer his questions, if he were there, and also knows about Frodo’s... (full context)

...Sam interrupts the conversation to say that Frodo doesn’t deserve such treatment and to tell Faramir that he’s “got no sense,” helping the enemy by accusing Frodo of treachery. Faramir reprimands... (full context)

Faramir tells them that Boromir was his brother. Eleven days ago, Faramir dimly heard Boromir blow... (full context)

Though Frodo is tired and grieving, he has a task to do, and he begs Faramir to let him go. Faramir would rather take him back to Minas Tirith to speak... (full context)

Faramir is certain that Boromir died well for a good purpose and apologizes to Frodo for... (full context)

When Faramir mentions the Grey Pilgrim, Frodo tells him that Gandalf, too, is dead. Faramir notes that... (full context)

Faramir doesn’t seek that sort of power and doesn’t love fighting. He only loves the things... (full context)

...he’s being watched, he catches a glimpse of Gollum but doesn’t say anything about it. Faramir asks Frodo’s permission to blindfold him for the last part of the journey, and Frodo... (full context)

Faramir invites the hobbits to sleep while their meal is prepared, then goes to speak to... (full context)

Faramir doesn’t have much hope for Gondor’s survival during the coming war, even if Aragorn joins... (full context)

The stewards of Gondor were wiser. Faramir explains that generations ago, Gondor found allies in the people that would become known as... (full context)

Sam asks Faramir for stories about elves, but Faramir doesn’t know much elven lore. He adds that another... (full context)

When Faramir says that her beauty sounds perilous, Sam tells him that people bring “their peril with... (full context)

Faramir stands, musing to himself about how he has the hobbits in his power, and repeats... (full context)

The hobbits return to their seats and Faramir praises Frodo for taking on such a heavy burden before offering them another chance to... (full context)

Faramir wakes Frodo up before dawn to ask his advice about something, and Sam follows. One... (full context)

Faramir asks what the creature is and why it should be spared. In all their time... (full context)

...Gollum swims out of the water and begins chewing on a silver fish. Frodo tells Faramir that because Gollum is “wretched,” “hungry,” and “unaware of his danger,” Gandalf would have forbidden... (full context)

...Ring. As he goes, Frodo is disgusted and wishes he could turn back and tell Faramir to shoot, but Gollum has “a claim on him” as his servant. When Frodo gets... (full context)

Frodo fears that, if Faramir ties Gollum up, Frodo’s efforts to bring Gollum inside will look to Gollum like treachery.... (full context)

Gollum is brought to speak to Faramir and begs to be released, whining that he’s “done nothing.” Faramir asks if he’s really... (full context)

Faramir also declares Sam and Frodo free in Gondor as long as they don’t return to... (full context)

Faramir tells Frodo that his intended path is unwise and that Gollum is wicked. He offers... (full context)

Faramir doesn’t know what Frodo should do, only that he doesn’t want Frodo to walk to... (full context)

Frodo and Sam rest, then eat again, and Faramir gives them some provisions for the road. His scouts have reported that the land is... (full context)

Faramir blindfolds Gollum as they leave but offers to let Sam and Frodo see the way... (full context)

As they travel on, Frodo cautions Gollum not to speak ill of Faramir and his men, who were merciful to him. They stop before nightfall so Frodo can... (full context)

The army is heading towards Osgiliath. Frodo is suddenly afraid that Faramir will be in danger, that his entire quest is too late, and the armies of... (full context)

...but it only cuts one cord, which snaps back and lashes his hand. Sam wishes Faramir’s curse (death if he doesn’t serve Frodo well) on Gollum. Frodo hands the phial to... (full context)

Faramir Character Analysis

Faramir Quotes in The Two Towers

Book 4, Chapter 5 Quotes

Book 4, Chapter 8 Quotes

Faramir Character Timeline in The Two Towers