Faramir's age.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Bêthberry

If death is supposed to be a gift to the race of man, then why is longevity such an important issue? Why are the "high" supposed to live longer and why is a decrease in life span a sign of weakness or decline?

Good question!

It seems to me the obsession with living long is associated with the Númenórean-descendants, and a lingering pall of the fear of death that led to the fall of Númenor itself. It was a matter of pride to many of them, and it led to further trouble in their exile in Middle-earth. The idea of mixing their blood with the Northmen, leading to a decreased lifespan, was one of the primary causes of the Kin-strife in Gondor that nearly destroyed them.

Overall, I think the importance of the increased lifespan was more pronounced with people of the sort of Denethor, not so much Faramir and Aragorn.