Highlights
- The relationship between Boromir and Faramir in Lord of the Rings is defined by their familial bond, which sets them apart from other friendships explored in the series.
- Despite their differences in personality, Boromir and Faramir share a strong love and admiration for each other, supporting and protecting one another throughout their lives.
- Boromir’s death deeply impacts Faramir, leading to his growth as a leader and his determination to carry on his brother’s legacy, showcasing the lasting and genuine love between the two siblings.
Many friendships and relationships are explored throughout Lord of the Rings. Within the Fellowship, different races and cultures work together, put their differences aside, learn from each other, and eventually achieve their common goal. This can be seen in dynamics such as Aragorn and Boromir, Legolas and Gimli, and Gandalf and Pippin. But one essential relationship that explores a whole different dynamic is the one between the brothers Boromir and Faramir, sons of Denethor II, Steward of Gondor.
The link that connects Boromir and Faramir is, evidently, a familial one, which adds to the complexity of their dynamic and sets it apart from other relationships in the series, since they have known each other for the entirety of their lives. While their bond is mostly shown when they fight alongside each other to defend their native Kingdom of Gondor, the relationship between the brothers is crucial to the overall plot of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. While they may look similar in appearance, the same can’t be said about their personalities. Boromir is shown to be a stronger and fearless warrior, and Faramir’s more gentle nature and strategic thinking often made people underestimate his skill on the battlefield. As complicated as their family may seem, their care for one another adds a layer of emotional depth to the story, as well as familial tensions, character development, and foreshadowing about each of the siblings’ eventual fates.
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What Was Boromir and Faramir’s Relationship Like?
|
Boromir |
Faramir |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Played by |
Sean Bean |
David Wenham |
|
First Appearance |
The Fellowship of the Ring |
The Two Towers |
|
First Line |
“You’re no elf.” |
“My men tell me that you are Orc Spies.” |
|
Final Line |
“I Would Have Followed You, My Brother, My Captain, My King” |
“Where does my allegiance lie if not here? This is the city of the men of Numenor. I would gladly give my life to defend her beauty, her memory, her wisdom.” |
Before Aragorn was crowned King of Gondor, Denethor II served as the kingdom’s twenty-sixth and final Steward. Prior to his tragic death, had the Stewardship continued, Boromir would have become the next ruler of Gondor. Denethor married Finduilas of Dol Amroth and had two sons, Boromir and Faramir. However, his wife died shortly after giving birth to their youngest, Faramir, leaving Denethor resentful towards him. On the surface, Boromir and Faramir may seem like typical siblings, and while Denethor’s evident favoritism towards his oldest son could have caused a rivalry and tension between the brothers, it instead made their bond stronger. Boromir took care of Faramir, and their bond became very strong during their childhood, and maintained that love and closeness into adulthood.
Boromir was a brave and fearless warrior, and a great leader on the battlefield. He was confident and proud of his own abilities and strength, which made him appear arrogant at times, but was ultimately selfless and had a strong sense of duty to serve and protect Gondor and his people. However, his ambition and desire for power and victory made Boromir tempted by the One Ring, as he believed that it could be used to defeat Sauron and save Gondor. Although his intentions were noble, this temptation ultimately led to his tragic death. Faramir, on the other hand, while also skilled in battle, was a scholar with a more strategic way of thinking and a strong moral compass. Besides a sense of duty to his kingdom, he also had a love of learning, and he developed a friendship with Gandalf, who offered him his wisdom and mentorship. His smart and gentle nature allowed Faramir to have the vision of a true Steward. He never felt tempted by the One Ring and understood how important it was for it to be destroyed. Despite the siblings’ differences, the love they shared for each other was evident.
Their differences may appear to be contradictory, but Boromir and Faramir had a lot in common as well, and these similarities also contributed to the bond they shared. They were both brave and skilled fighters, and they fought together in the Battle of Osgiliath, where they defended the city but were outnumbered and were two of the few who managed to survive. Boromir was extremely protective of his younger brother, and Faramir felt the same way. They didn’t allow Denethor’s attitude to stand between them, there was no jealousy but rather support and admiration for the other’s accomplishments. Faramir looked up to his brother and always spoke highly of him. He knew that the mistakes Boromir made were because of his sense of duty to his people. Throughout the story, it is clear that Boromir and Faramir were on good terms and shared a great love.
How Did Boromir’s Death Affect Faramir?
After a group of Uruk-hai captured Merry and Pippin, Boromir ran to their aid and blew the Horn of Gondor as a call for help. When Aragorn and Legolas arrived to help, it was too late, and Boromir had been fatally wounded by multiple arrows. Boromir’s death deeply impacted the members of the Fellowship, but it also greatly affected his brother. Faramir found out about Boromir’s death when he was guarding the shores of Osgiliath and stumbled upon a bout with his brother’s dead body near the Anduin River. When Faramir encountered Frodo and Sam, he informed the Hobbits about his brother’s death, believing they may have been involved. After learning about Boromir’s temptation and the cause of his death from Sam, he was tested with the One Ring. However, unlike Boromir, he was able to resist the temptation and refused to take it, proving the strength of his character, and instead he sent the Hobbits to continue their quest to destroy it.
Faramir suffered a great deal of loss throughout the series, but Boromir’s death is perhaps the one that shows his growth the most. He grieved deeply for his brother, and the moment he encounters Boromir’s body is one of the most devastating scenes in the trilogy, proving how much love he felt for him. This loss also made Faramir Denethor’s only remaining heir, which gave him a greater responsibility to protect Gondor and be a symbol of hope to its people. After Denethor learned of Boromir’s death, the Steward was left devastated, claiming he wished Boromir and Faramir would have switched places.
Since you are robbed of Boromir, I will do what I can in his stead. If I should return, think better of me, Father.
Faramir overcame Denethor’s underestimation and proved himself to be just as great of a leader as his brother after successfully defending Osgiliath from enemy forces, which was pretty much a suicide mission that he took at the request of his father.
Faramir was gravely injured during this mission and was sent to Gondor’s Houses of Healing to recover, where he met Éowyn, whom he would later marry. Although Faramir went on to live a good life and serve as captain of the King’s guard, the loss of his brother continued to affect him. He became more resilient, compassionate, and a better leader, which ultimately led to the defense of Gondor. Faramir and Boromir’s relationship continued to evolve after Boromir’s death, as Faramir carried forward his brother’s legacy for the rest of his life, proving that their love for each other is one of the most genuine and lasting in Lord of the Rings.
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is one of the most iconic names in entertainment. The franchise started with novels from J. R. R. Tolkien before being adapted onto the big screen by Peter Jackson in one of the most critically-acclaimed film trilogies of all time. There have also been numerous The Lord of the Rings video games of varying quality.
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