I want to give a great shout out to noWizardme for facilitating this discussion in my absence. I am having my wisdom teeth pulled this weekend and will be very much drugged up on the couch (watching the Extended Editions of the LOTR, I might add). Thank you Wiz, for stepping in for me. Hope you all have a great discussion. Feel free to personally message me with anything extra you want to discuss and I will respond when I am back online. Enjoy!



This is one of my favorite chapters in The Lord of the Rings for several reasons. For one thing, this chapter is very insightful into the mind of one of my favorite (and I think one of the most important) characters—Faramir. In fact, Tolkien mentioned in his letters that of all of his characters, Faramir is the one he most aligns himself with; “As far as any character is 'like me' it is Faramir – except that I lack what all my characters possess (let the psychoanalysts note!) Courage.” (Letters, Ltr 180, 1956) Clearly, Tolkien thought Faramir was a character worth paying attention to. He was also the most unexpected. There is another quote in the Letters in which he claims, “A new character has come on the scene (I am sure I did not invent him, I did not even want him, though I like him, but there he came walking into the woods of Ithilien): Faramir, the brother of Boromir.” (Letters, Ltr 66, 1944)

Another reason I love this chapter is because of the title, The Window on the West. Tolkien places a significant emphasis on the West in many of his stories of Middle-earth, and it has always been a favorite topic of mine. I wrote a paper on it a few years back and my main point was that while west is a direction, the West is a destination. This chapter focuses on the West as opposed to the evil in the East, but there is something bigger at work in the background of this world. “We of my house are not of the line of Elendil, though the blood of Númenor is in us,” Faramir says (pg. 312). Despite being so many generations removed from the drowning of Númenor, Faramir still associates his ancestors with the events of the West. He continues to express that growing up, Boromir was always disappointed that their father was only a steward and not a king. This need to power and glory goes back to the days of Númenor and the greed of Man. There is also a powerful moment that many people have overlooked when reading this chapter. “Before they ate, Faramir and all his men turned and faced west in a moment of silence… ‘We look towards Númenor that was, and beyond to Elvenhome that is, and to that which is beyond Elvenhome and will ever be.’” (pg. 320) Some scholars say this is the closest thing to prayer that we see in this world which Tolkien made adamantly clear was pre-religion.

There is about two pages (maybe less in the larger paged editions) where Faramir is explaining the history of Númenor and the fall of man in the west. He says so wisely, “Death was ever present, because Númenoreans still, as they had in their old kingdom, and so lost it, hungered after endless life unchanging.” (pg. 322) I don’t know how you feel about this, but I love it! We are not told how old Faramir is, but we cannot imagine him too old. Boromir was his senior but Men do not live as long as elves, and knowing that Aragorn is 87, Faramir cannot be much older than 40. He is wise beyond his years and Denethor’s insult later about being a “wizard’s pupil” cannot be without merit.

I think this chapter is also an incredible window into a brotherly relationship that we never actually get to see. There is a wonderful extended scene in Peter Jackson’s The Two Towers in which we do get to see this relationship, and I must admit, even though it is not in the books, it is one of my favorite scenes. It really humanizes these two strong men. They are treated so drastically different by their father, yet they have a deep love and understanding for one another that is truly endearing. Faramir says in the book, “I can well believe that Boromir, the proud and fearless, often rash, ever anxious for the victory of Minas Tirith (and his own glory therein), might desire such a thing and be allured by it.” (pg. 315) He admits that his brother had a weakness and that he fully believes Frodo’s claim that Boromir was seduced by the Ring’s power.





Food for Thought:

1. There is a line where Faramir says “You passed through the Hidden Land, but it seems that you little understood its power. If Men have dealings with the Mistress of Magic who dwells in the Golden Wood, then they may look for strange things to follow. For it is perilous for mortal man to walk out of the world of this Sun, and few of old came thence unchanged.” He is talking about Lothlorien and the Lady Galadriel. How do you feel about his statement? Do you think this makes looks Faramir looks naïve and superstitious? How do his feelings compare with Boromir’s reaction in The Fellowship?
2. What are your thoughts on Faramir and his men facing west in a moment of silence before the meal? Knowing that Tolkien specifically designed a world that existed before religion, how do you explain this act of reverence? What could be their motives?
3. Obviously a sort of rapport was established between Faramir and Frodo in this chapter. When you first read this book, did you trust Faramir after you read this chapter? What makes him a trustworthy character?
4. How does this chapter rank with you as far as importance goes in this series? Am I alone in thinking that Faramir’s inclusion is not only vastly informative but also necessary?
5. Any other thoughts you have on this chapter????



All page references are from the Ballentine copy, 2001. If anyone cares, it’s the movie cover—DON’T JUDGE ME! I usually don’t use movie cover but this is my reading copy so I write in it and note it all up. I have much nicer editions that don’t get marked up

Obviously a sort of rapport was established between Faramir and Frodo in this chapter. When you first read this book, did you trust Faramir after you read this chapter? What makes him a trustworthy character?

‘For so we reckon Men in our lore, calling them the High, or Men of the West, which were Númenóreans; and the Middle Peoples, Men of the Twilight, such as are the Rohirrim and their kin that dwell still far in the North; and the Wild, the Men of Darkness.

'I believed that you were a friend before the letter came,' he said, 'or at least I wished to. You have frightened me several times tonight, but never in the way the servants of the Enemy would, or so I imagine. I think one of his spies would - well, seem fairer and feel fouler, if you understand.'

Frodo to Strider, FOTR Book I.10 Strider

'For his works fill the heart with loathing; but my heart was filled with grief and pity.'

[my bolds]

Though it seems odd that Faramir would ask Frodo why Halflings don't observe the same custom--they're not from Numenor. Doesn't he know that the Rohirrim don't have this custom either, or basically anyone not from Gondor?

But there you touch upon another point in which we have changed, declining from Númenor to Middle-earth. For as you may know, if Mithrandir was your companion and you have spoken with Elrond, the Edain, the Fathers of the Númenóreans, fought beside the Elves in the first wars, and were rewarded by the gift of the kingdom in the midst of the Sea, within sight of Elvenhome. But in Middle-earth Men and Elves became estranged in the days of darkness, by the arts of the Enemy, and by the slow changes of time in which each kind walked further down their sundered roads. Men now fear and misdoubt the Elves, and yet know little of them. And we of Gondor grow like other Men, like the men of Rohan; for even they, who are foes of the Dark Lord, shun the Elves and speak of the Golden Wood with dread.

‘Yet there are among us still some who have dealings with the Elves when they may, and ever and anon one will go in secret to Lórien, seldom to return. Not I. For I deem it perilous now for mortal man wilfully to seek out the Elder People. Yet I envy you that have spoken with the White Lady.’

‘I can foresee very little of your road; and how your task is to be achieved I do not know. The Shadow has crept now to the feet of the Mountains, and draws nigh even to the borders of the Greyflood; and under the Shadow all is dark to me. You will meet many foes, some open, and some disguised; and you may find friends upon your way when you least look for it".

'So that is the answer to all the riddles! The One Ring that was thought to have perished from the world. And Boromir tried to take it by force? And you escaped? And ran all the way — to me! And here in the wild I have you: two halflings, and a host of men at my call, and the Ring of Rings. A pretty stroke of fortune! A chance for Faramir, Captain of Gondor, to show his quality!'.... He stood up, very tall and stern, his grey eyes glinting.

Frodo and Sam sprang from their stools and set themselves side by side with their backs to the wall, fumbling for their sword-hilts.... But Faramir sat down again in his chair and began to laugh quietly, and then suddenly became grave again.

'Alas for Boromir! It was too sore a trial!' he said. 'How you have increased my sorrow, you two strange wanderers from a far country, bearing the peril of Men! But you are less judges of Men than I of Halflings. We are truth-speakers, we men of Gondor. We boast seldom, and then perform, or die in the attempt. Not if I found it on the highway would I take it I said. Even if I were such a man as to desire this thing, and even though I knew not clearly what this thing was when I spoke, still I should take those words as a vow, and be held by them.

'But I am not such a man. Or I am wise enough to know that there are some perils from which a man must flee. Sit at peace

...'but I am afraid my only answer to you, Sam Gamgee, is this. If I had killed the real Strider, I could kill you. And I should have killed you already without so much talk. If I was after the Ring, I could have it — NOW!'

He stood up, and seemed suddenly to grow taller. In his eyes gleamed a light, keen and commanding. Throwing back his cloak, he laid his hand on the hilt of a sword that had hung concealed by his side.... Sam sat wide-mouthed staring at him dumbly.

'But I am the real Strider, fortunately,' he said, looking down at them with his face softened by a sudden smile. 'I am Aragorn son of Arathorn; and if by life or death I can save you, I will.'....

FOTR Book I.10 Strider