A Probably too Sympathetic View of Gríma

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Anguirel

you can't deny that, but for Grima's dreadful faults of character and cowardice, he and Faramir might have quite a few similarities.

I think the main difference between Grima and Faramir is that the latter does not seek power, while the former seeks it to such an extent that the very process of gaining it corrupts him. Both are slightly at odds with the perceived 'norms' of their respective cultures (and in Faramir's case, family expectations), but Faramir lives on the edges of his society while Grima seeks to get right to the centre of it. Neither of these ways of being is what they should do, as both go to extremes in doing what they do, Faramir almost seeming to want to escape, while Grima craves acceptance. Both are introverts, but while Faramir is damaged by his need to retreat, Grima is damaged by his need to have power, to be an infiltrator of the highest circle of his society.

Faramir of course gets his chance for 'redemption' of sorts by rejecting the ring, but Grima refuses to be redeemed in any way. Faramir does not suffer from an excess of pride, but Grima does, and it is this which brings him so low, literally, by the end of his life.