The Return of the King Love

Pippin, didn't your mother ever tell you to think before you open your big fat mouth? Guess not. Even now, after surviving some extremely tricky situations with his fellowship companions, Pippin's impulse to blurt everything out rears its ugly head. But you have to admire his loyalty. He is proud to have known Boromir, and he doesn't try to hide it. He blabs as a gesture of love and respect, so hey, at least he meant well.

Gandalf's warning to Pippin about Denethor's crafty nature means that we distrust Denethor even before we meet the manipulative old sod in person. While this description of Denethor as "proud and subtle" appears in Gandalf's mouth as a piece of dialogue, it is also an example of direct characterization, in which the novel is basically coming out and telling us that Denethor is a powerful guy, but also bad news in many ways. To prove this assertion of Denethor's manipulativeness, Gandalf tells Pippin that Denethor will try to use his own love of Boromir (which is genuine, for what that's worth) to get information out of Pippin. That's just tacky.

Shmoop admits it: we're having some trouble figuring out the tone of this oath-swearing scene between Merry and Théoden. When Pippin promises his loyalty to Denethor, Denethor accepts because Pippin "touched his heart, as well as [...] pleasing his humor" (5.1.93). So there is some mockery, but Denethor is also moved by Pippin's oath. In this case, Merry is clearly moved with love for Théoden. He even tells Théoden that he will be as "a father" to Merry. But whether the king is mostly touched or mostly amused is unclear. And what does he mean by that bleak, "For a little while"? Does Théoden foresee his own demise? Does he not want to be a father to Merry, or at least not for long? What do you think Théoden's feelings are in this scene?

When Éowyn tries to convince Aragorn not to go along the Paths of the Dead, she tells him point blank that the men who are accompanying him on this way are risking their lives not because they think it's a dandy plan, but because they love him. Éowyn's use of the word "love" has a double-meaning. When she's talking about Aragorn's companions, she means the friendship kind of love (at least, we assume). But she is also implicitly confessing her own feelings for Aragorn. She wants to go along, too, because she loves him, and not in a friendly sort of way.

Here's the thing about Faramir. He's high and mighty (like Aragorn), sure, but he's also "less incalculable and remote," and therefore much more likeable and approachable to folks like Pippin and Beregond. While Tolkien wants to describe the deeds of borderline superhuman figures like Aragorn or Gandalf, they are often so wise or so distant that it becomes difficult to identify with them personally (especially Gandalf the Perfect). In order to give something as epic as The Lord of the Rings an emotional anchor for the reader to sympathize with, he has to include some slightly less "remote" figures. While the hobbits fill that role for the most part, the occasional character like Faramir also helps us to remember that not every wise person is unemotional and inaccessible.

We know that something is off with Denethor not just because he is dead set on burning himself and his son alive (though that is a pretty good indication that he is not a well man), but also because Denethor's actions in this scene remind us of the unjust orders Théoden gave while under the control of Saruman back in The Two Towers. Remember when he arrests Éomer for threatening Gríma Wormtongue in Book 3, Chapter 6? In the The Lord of the Rings, when a ruler starts turning on his own family and setting his soldiers against each other, it's a sure sign that he is possessed by some sort of Big Bad. Sauron's main weapon is corruption, and he loves taking good things and making them awful. For Denethor to decide to burn his son out of twisted love and guilt must have been a major coup for Sauron. The guy has actually managed to turn a father's love to murderous insanity. Nice job, Sauron.

We don't mean to sound cynical, but this is awfully convenient. Both Boromir and Denethor, the two proudest members of the line of Stewards of Gondor, have managed to die. So the only member of the family of Stewards left when Aragorn enters the City is humble and gentle Faramir, who will never protest Aragorn's claim to the throne. What's more, even if he were inclined to protest, he now owes his life to the healing hands of Aragorn. The moment he opens his eyes after his illness, his eyes are filled with "a light of knowledge and love" for Aragorn. Faramir welcomes Aragorn with open arms. So the passing of the office of the Steward of Gondor to Faramir is not only a good thing for the anti-Sauron crowd; it is also highly convenient for Aragorn, since it smoothes over any problems of transition of power between the Stewards and the new King.

When Gimli confesses his utter terror in the Paths of the Dead, it's Legolas who tells him that what kept Gimli going was love of Aragorn. Aragorn's great leadership ability is not just that he is a clever strategist or a brave guy. It's also that he has this charisma that inspires people to love him, and to follow him out of that love. Faramir, too, inspires love in his followers. How else can we explain the devotion of Beregond, who willingly draws his sword on his fellow Guards in order to save his hero? This pattern raises the question: is love the foundation or result of leadership skills? And what kind of love is there between a leader and his or her followers—romantic, familial, something else?

If there's one thing we're sure of when it comes to Sam, it's that this dude loves Frodo. Honestly, it seems like that love totally defines him. What's so great about this is that his devotion helps to protect Sam from any desire to steal the Ring from Frodo. He is so all about Frodo that he doesn't even give a thought to his own danger in this scene; all he can think of is storming the orc tower so that he can  find his captured friend. If love is what protects Sam from the Ring and what drives him to help Frodo finish the quest—in other words, if love leads to all of these important triumphs for the side of Good—then do you think love might be moral value or virtue in and of itself? What is the relationship between love and ethics in the Lord of the Rings series? How does love lead individuals to behave morally? Are there examples in which love is also the basis of immoral action, too?

We guess that, if Frodo had decided to complete his quest because he wanted to enjoy the Shire, that would be a selfish (though understandable) motive. The fact that Frodo carries the Ring to save the Shire even though he doesn't get to live there to enjoy it is where the moral lesson comes in. To use a trite expression, Frodo loves the Shire (and its inhabitants) enough to let it go.