Just say 'no,' Faramir

[Fingolfin II]

Boromir was a man who loved glory and battles, like King Earnur, whereas Faramir could still fight, but wasn't as rash and more ready to listen. The reason Denethor loved Boromir more was because he was different to himself, and his desire for the Ring was - if this makes any sense at all - almost unselfish. Boromir wanted victory for Gondor and would do anything to gain victory; including trying to take the Ring. True, he also wanted it for his own glory, but I think this quote sums up why he wanted it-

'True-hearted Men, they will not be corrupted. We of Minas Tirith have been staunch through long years of trial. We do not desire the power of wizard-lords, only strength to defend ourselves, strength in a just cause.'

Now, to get back to the topic. Faramir was in the presence of Frodo less than Boromir and was wiser than him in the respect that he knew what the Ring was capable of. So did Boromir, but his desire to achieve victory for Gondor, as well as his personal glory, blinded him of the dangers that the Ring had for mortals.

Faramir was wiser in lore than Boromir, but as Lily Bracegirdle pointed out, Faramir had never even seen the ring. If you saw something that you really wanted, would you want it more than someone who hasn't even seen it? We must give Boromir the credit that even though he fell to the temptation of the One Ring, he fell for the right reasons. However, Faramir avoided the Ring also for the 'right' reasons.

The 2 answers I can come up with are Faramir had more Numenorean blood in him then Boromir and he was much wiser in lore he knew what the ring was capable of. I do agree, I think Faramir learned from the mistake of Boromir.

Faramir and Boromir had the same amount of Numenorean and Elvish blood in them. It is stated in the book that Faramir was alike to his father, in that they both saw far and read men's hearts and minds, but Faramir was driven to pity, rather than scorn of them (or something along those lines). Boromir earned his fiery temperament and love for battles from someone other than his father- once more, it's a question of genetics. I suppose that Faramir's pity of Men has stemmed from his mother's side and the Elven characteristics that are expressed more clearly in him than in Boromir.

However, we know that several Elven brothers shared different temperaments- take the two half-brothers Fëanor and Finarfin for example. Feanor was more 'the Boromir type' as he was rash and desired glory through controlling his own land, rather than be 'controlled' by the Valar. Finarfin, however, may not have been 'greater' in the sense that he wasn't as skilled as making gems, etc., but he was wiser and more gentle than Fëanor- like Faramir.

That doesn't mean he was more cowardly in battle though. Far from it. Faramir is known and acknowledged as a great captain in Gondor by all people- except his father. He was wise enough and great enough to resist the Ring without knowing the full dangers of it, while Boromir knew, or learnt this, for a long time.

In the end, I'd have to say that Faramir resisted the lure of the Ring because he was a) less proud and glory-seeking of himself than his older brother and b) more wise in the fact that he knew his limitations and what he could achieve- mastery of the Ring was something beyond him or anyone in Middle-Earth, apart from Sauron.