high, purged of the gross: the movies

[Nurumaiel]

Helen encouraged me to jump in and join the discussion, and I'm doing so now that I have a spare moment. I'd like to briefly add my view on the topic of FARAMIR.

Back when TTT came out, I was one of those who believed Faramir could have been better but thought he was still okay. I've changed my view since then, because of two things I will just mention so as not to bore you with lengthy, off-topic details: an RPG character called Liornung and the Chapter-by-Chapter discussion, which brought recollections of hearing LotR for the first time as a very small child and pondering why I was so attracted to him and thought him one of the best characters in the entire book.

I shan't go so far as to say his character was totally butchered, for it seems to me he did retain at least some honor and nobility, but there is surely a world of difference between movie Faramir and book Faramir.

Faramir in the book has always been to me high and purged of the gross. I defined him as the following: noble, honorable, and simple.

Noble because of what he was. His actions and manner of speech towards Frodo and Sam and others he came in contact with were noble and kingly. Not in the sense of superiority, that is that he was of noble birth and made others realize it and make themselves feel low. From the dictionary: "Having or showing qualities of high moral character, such as courage, generosity, or honor: a noble spirit." That seems to describe Faramir rather well.

Honorable because, as Essex pointed out, he was a man of his word. When he said he would do or would not do something, he kept his word. He was highly moral and I think has earned respect from readers for this. He possessed honorable traits, such as keeping his word.

Simple is a word often used for one who is 'stupid,' but I use it in a different meaning here. Faramir was not concerned with gaining high ranks and having all that would give him luxury and power. This is why he didn't take the Ring, I think. He was tempted by it, but he did not care perhaps for the things it offered; power, fame, etc. One of the definitions dictionary.com provides is "humble or lowly in condition or rank," but simple can also be used to mean that one is not obsessed in gaining higher rank and power. Another definition it gives is 'not guileful or deceitful; sincere.' Again, sounds like Faramir. The same site defines 'simplicity as "Absence of luxury or showiness; plainness." The same thing can apply here, as well: simplicity as the lack of desire to have luxury and to be showy. Helen, perhaps we should add 'Simplicity' to our list?

Sam told Faramir that he had shown his quality; the very finest. I agree with Sam. Yet these words cannot ring true in regards to the movie Faramir.