LotR --- Appendix A: I, (iv) -- Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Guinevere

Of special interest is the story of Thorongil und Denethor, and the childhood of Boromir and Faramir. These are like missing pieces of a puzzle to understand their characters better, and in my head all these informations are merged, so I have a feeling that they are real persons I know.
Being a mother of two lads I wonder a bit that there was "no jealousy or rivalry" between Boromir and Faramir. Specially because Tolkien wrote in a letter about Faramir that he had "a bossy brother"!!
Btw do any of you know the childhood pictures of Boromir and Faramir by
Kasiopea ?

I also like this part of the appendices for the background on Boromir and Faramir. I often think that even though Boromir had such a strong personality and was clearly very much favoured by his father, it does come through in the text itself that the brothers had a good relationship. Maybe it was one founded on mutual respect and understanding where they were both 'placed' within the relationship , almost as though they were a 'complement' to one another. Having had brothers with opposing personalities, I can see how it would be necessary for both to understand and respect one another; often the bossier one needs a calmer, more reflective 'half' to calm him down.

I love the illustrations you linked to by the way - I saw some of these at Tolkien 2005, and not only was I impressed by those of the Steward's family, but I especally like the illustration of Luthien and Huan as it's so bold.

One aspect of this part of the appendices that excites me is the mention of Kings who built and commanded navies. I'd love to read some more tales about this - and I think there has been an RPG on the theme here recently (must check out how this went). Yet this is all in the distant past - is it yet another example of how far the Gondorians had become stagnant and ceased to 'move on'?

[Aiwendil]

Maybe it was one founded on mutual respect and understanding where they were both 'placed' within the relationship , almost as though they were a 'complement' to one another.

This reminds me of a quote from "Myths Transformed" about Manwe and Melkor:

He [Melkor] was to make / devise / begin; Manwe (a little less great) was to improve, carry out, complete.

. . . which seems to hint at a similar complementarity between those two, the original brothers of Ea.