Work-Life Balance

[altariel]

He will be late again for dinner.

Work-Life Balance

Minas Tirith, in the Fourth Age

He will be late again for dinner. It cannot be helped. Tomorrow morning the council meets, and he has not touched those papers yet. Across the room his daughter prowls. Recently she has been watching every scratch of his pen, every forkful of food.

“Out with it,” he says, at last.

“You never do anything for yourself! You should… you should find yourself a hobby!”

She is beautiful, on the cusp of womanhood. Fierce as her mother on his account. His life’s work: leaving her the world he never had.

“I already have a hobby, blackbird. I call it Gondor.”

Comments

[altariel.livejournal.com]

I like Isabeau's interpretation of him as a canny operator if not book smart. You'd have to be fairly smart to be that well regarded as Captain-General, even if your Quenya isn't up to much. Or do you think Denethor is entirely the brains there.

[espresso-addict.livejournal.com]

I think he's probably perfectly fine at planning and executing self-limited military campaigns, and he doesn't waste men (as you say of Travis/Servalan) nor forget an army marches on its stomach. But as to government or a long-drawn out military campaign, I think he does as his Steward tells him. It's the unquestioning loyalty that buys him Denethor's love.

ETA: I'd buy he was a good judge of character, perhaps, which is a decent transferable skill.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

He's also kind: Pippin admires his kindness, and he's the "protector" of young Faramir.

It's the unquestioning loyalty that buys him Denethor's love.

Yes, I think that's definitely a substantial part of it, although I do think that there's something about Boromir that Denethor unconditionally loves, and its probably something to do with that kindness, turned into generosity of spirit. Something expansive and unreserved that Denethor doesn't have (nor Faramir). I imagine Ecthelion being much the same, and I bet that contributes to the part of Denethor's love for Boromir that is unconditional. Boromir provides something that Gondor needs that Denethor thinks that he (Denethor) cannot supply.

[espresso-addict.livejournal.com]

Oh, indeed, Boromir has many good qualities, but I'm not sure he really has what it takes to be the head of a large nation engaged in a long war with a superior power. Not at that age, anyway.

I imagine Ecthelion being much the same, and I bet that contributes to the part of Denethor's love for Boromir that is unconditional.

This is very plausible, as I think is the idea that his sunniness reminds Denethor of the Finduilas he married.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Oh, indeed, Boromir has many good qualities, but I'm not sure he really has what it takes to be the head of a large nation engaged in a long war with a superior power.

Fair comment. I can see a situation in which Boromir would make a popular and well-loved figurehead, inspiring people in time of war, and Faramir would fill in many of the other gaps. Sort of like Eärnur and Mardil - hey, and we know how well that turned out!

[espresso-addict.livejournal.com]

Indeed, he's more suited to be a king than a steward.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

And knows it.

[espresso-addict.livejournal.com]

That's the thousand gold piece question, I think. If he were to be humble enough to accept the advice of Faramir & other advisors all might work out to the good, but if the power of the position went to his head and he started thinking he was actually in charge...

[altariel.livejournal.com]

I'd like to think he'd be able to keep on listening to Faramir. Faramir shows himself capable of disagreeing with his father, a much more intimidating figure, and so I can't see him having difficulties in calling out his brother.