The Importance of Being Denethor

[Encaitare]

Excellent argument, Kransha; you have made me see Denethor in a new light. I especially liked the earlier draft you gave of Denethor's answer to Faramir's "Do you wish, then, that our places had been exchanged?"

I have very little to add, but there's just one thing I'd like to throw out here:

Indeed he was as like to Thorongil as to one of nearest kin, and yet was ever placed second to the stranger in the hearts of men and the esteem of his father.

While Denethor does not hate Faramir, per se, he definitely plays favorites. It's interesting that he should do so when he failed to gain all of Ecthelion's love and attention. I mean, why do something to your own son that you know, from experience, is hurtful? Just seems a bit odd to me.