Eucatastrophe is one of cinema’s most common narrative techniques because of the plot options it enables and because character-defining moments come more often in the face of impending destruction than in its aftermath. Few stories reveal their character’s quality in these moments of looming doom quite like Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Though each of his characters either puts their faith in some degree of hope or despair, Jackson’s intended takeaway on the subject is evident in the comparison of Théoden and Denethor. Each approach the two characters take towards protecting their land and citizens, the upbringing of their family, and their relationship with Gandalf reflects the differing nature of their characters, revealing the necessity of maintaining hope in dire situations.
Perhaps most telling of the difference between Théoden and Denethor in terms of optimism is how they protect their citizens. Théoden is selfless in this sense. Though his grasp over the kingdom of Rohan he rules is loose at the beginning of The Two Towers, it’s important to remember that he’s not himself but rather an agent of Saruman via his right-hand man Grima Wormtongue’s corrosive persuasion. When Gandalf helps him regain control, he immediately displays his authority to protect the people of Rohan by moving them to Helm’s Deep in hopes of avoiding further bloodshed at the hands of Saruman’s enclosing Uruk-Hai army. Thomas McPartland addresses this in The Lord of the Rings: Mythopoesis, Heroism, and Providence, “Once he is released from the stupor placed upon him, Théoden immediately rises again to his former glory as king and confronts Saruman’s forces in the Battle of Helm’s Deep, and goes on to lead the Riders of Rohirrim to the aid of Gondor in the Battle of Pelennor Fields (McPartland).” As McPartland points out, Théoden musters his soldiers for the fight at Helm’s Deep and Pelennor Fields. He does this despite the near impossibility of victory. Théoden even ends up giving his life for his people because the alternative would be to do nothing, effectively giving up on his people and likely inspiring the same behavior in them. Though none of his options are attractive, he must take them because he understands the severity of Saruman’s growing hold over his lands and that Rohan and its inhabitants would surely perish if this hold became permanent.
This unfaltering courage Théoden displays is in direct contrast to Denethor, who acts selfishly rather than selflessly when it comes to protecting his citizens. The steward of Gondor acts as if the growing threat of Mordor is not a problem until they are literally at his doorstep. “As the threat to Gondor grows his wisdom fails him... He is effectively worn down by information emphasizing the utter might of Mordor, increasingly dashing his hopes, fueling his fears, and ultimately feeding―the despair of his heart until it overthrew his mind (McPartland).” As McPartland highlights, Denethor’s worn-down mental integrity renders him unable to separate the oncoming threat from Mordor with the oncoming “threat” of the return of the true king Aragorn. Because this would entail his loss of power, Denethor acts out of his selfish desire to hold onto rule over Gondor and refuses aid from Aragorn and Rohan. The irony here is that by doing so, he is endangering the lives of his citizens. Such an act is entirely uncharacteristic of Théoden, who is not only prepared to sacrifice his authority honorably but also to give his life to Rohan.
A similarity between Denethor and Théoden that they respond to differently is losing their firstborn sons to the war for the ring. Their deaths represent a massive blow to each character as a father and ruler in terms of their legacy. While both situations are enormously discouraging, Théoden’s is arguably more so. He has lost his final son. Though he still has his niece and nephew, Eowyn and Eomer, his rule over Rohan will not be furthered by his immediate bloodline, as it no longer exists. “Théoden does have moments of self-doubt and depression, understandably though, as he has awoken from Grima Wormtongue’s stupor into a much darker world, one ensnared in war and responsible for the death of his son (Lall).” As Lall points out, Théoden struggles upon his return to the problems facing Rohan, but even in their face, he still maintains hope and, by extension, his honor.
On the other hand, Denethor embraces despair, a decision that accordingly corrupts his honor as a ruler and a father. He loses his firstborn Boromir, but unlike Théoden, his bloodline still might be furthered by his youngest son Faramir in the desired scenario that the true king of Gondor Aragorn doesn’t return. The combination of Faramir’s near-fatal battle wounds (for which Denethor is also directly responsible) and Mordor’s imminent breach of the city’s gates catalyzes Denethor’s total embrace of the enclosing despair. As a result, he naively attempts to burn himself alive with his son before Mordor can have their way with them, completely neglecting that Faramir is merely unconscious yet very much still alive. Thankfully Pippin manages to rescue Faramir before the flames engulf him, while Denethor is struck into the blaze by Gandalf as he tries to thwart Pippin’s attempt to save Faramir. Denethor then proceeds to run out of his throne room engulfed in flames and leaps to his death into the depths of the warring city from its highest point, a disturbing and discouraging sight for the soldiers and citizens of Gondor to behold. So even though Théoden’s situation is arguably more oppressively dreadful, he still puts aside his losses to fight for the protection of his people, as opposed to Théoden, who sulks in his despair to the point where he intentionally throws away any hope of furthering his line.
Gandalf is symbolized as a bearer of hope to both rulers. He goes to each of them after transforming from ‘Gandalf the gray’ into ‘Gandalf the white,’ a literal beacon of light in a world that’s descended into darkness. Though he comes to both men with informed advice for dealing with Sauron, Gandalf is received in Gondor differently than in Rohan. Even though Théoden does meet Gandalf and Aragorn with some hostility after regaining his control, this is a result of the insult he takes in Aragorn questioning his authority about the decision to seek refuge at Helm’s deep,
GANDALF. “‘This is but a taste of the terror Saruman will unleash... Ride out and meet him head-on. Draw him away from your women and children. You must fight.’
ARAGORN. ‘You have 2,000 good men riding north as we speak. Eomer is loyal to you. Your men will return and fight for their king.’
Théoden. ‘They will be 300 leagues from here by now. Eomer cannot help us. I know what it is you want of me, but I will not bring further death to my people. I will not risk open war.’
ARAGORN. ‘Open war is upon you. Whether you will risk it or not.’
Théoden. ‘When last I looked, Théoden, not Aragorn, was king of Rohan.’” (TT, 17).
That said, through the sorrow over his dead son, it is evident he is thankful for the aid of Gandalf and accordingly makes successful use of it through his self-maintenance of hope that ultimately translates to victory at the Battle of Helm’s Deep.
However, in Gondor, Gandalf is essentially treated by Denethor as if he were the enemy due to his perceived responsibility for the death of Boromir,
DENETHOR. “‘Perhaps you come to tell me why my son is dead?’
GANDALF. ‘My lord, there will be a time to grieve for Bormomir, but it is not now. War is coming. The enemy is on your doorstep. Where are Gondor’s armies? You still have friends. You’re not alone in this fight. Send word to Théoden of Rohan.'
DENETHOR. ‘You think you are wise Mithrandir. Yet for all your subtleties you have not wisdom. Do you think the eyes of the white tower are blind? I have seen more than you know. With your left hand, you would use it as a shield against Mordor, and with you’re right you’d seek to supplant me. I know who rides with Theoden of Rohan. Word has reached my ears. This Aragorn, son of Arathorn. And I tell you now: I will not bow to this ranger from the North. Last of the ragged house long bereft of lordship.’
GANDALF. ‘The authority is not given to you to deny the return of the king Steward.’
DENETHOR. ‘Rule of Gondor is mine! And no others!’”(ROTK, 11).
His bitter treatment of Gandalf is another piece of evidence highlighting Denethor’s proclivity for despair. Gandalf is a bringer of hope, and if utilized, that hope can be successfully inspirational as it was with Théoden at the battle of Helm’s Deep. However, Denethor doesn’t see Gandalf’s presence as hopeful but as disparaging; because what he truly wants is to remain ruler of Gondor, but if Gandalf had his way (his way being the only scenario giving middle earth a chance of survival), then Aragorn would likely return to Gondor as its king. Because Denethor is unable to prioritize the welfare of his people in light of his oncoming dethroning, he cannot heed Gandalf’s constructive advice. Therefore he is unable to embrace hope.
So if Jackson intentionally emphasizes Theoden as an agent of courage in contradiction to Denethor, it is in each character’s deaths that we might interpret the importance of embracing hope. “Both Théoden and Denethor perish — but one dies honorably in battle, holding on to hope, sacrificing for his own people and for all the free peoples of Middle-earth… while the other embraces despair and takes his own life (Lall).” Lall helps us realize that we are often thrust into situations without desirable outcomes, whether on middle earth or in the real world. Though these scenarios aren’t usually as drastic as in The Lord of the Rings, Jackson communicates that we should embrace hope rather than despair because of the moral selflessness it inspires. It is far more externally beneficial to embrace hope in the darkest of situations, as Théoden did when he died honorably defending his people, instead of succumbing to despair as Denethor did, which resulted in his suicide. I’m sure Jackson would agree it is no coincidence that Gandalf takes over and successfully leads the defense of Gondor in Denethor’s stead, for it is the bravery, sacrifice, and persistence in the hope that the white wizard shares with leaders like Aragorn and Théoden that enable him to defend the city. And it is the hope he and Aragorn inspire in their followers that ultimately enables the distraction Frodo and Sam take advantage of to destroy the ring, without which Middle Earth would have undeniably fallen into Sauron’s darkness. If anything though, hope ought to be embraced for the maintained possibility of eucatastrophe. In other words, you never know when the eagles might come.
Richards, Evan. “The Cinematography of the Lord of the Rings”, EVANERICHARDS.COM, https://www.evanerichards.com/2010/951, Accessed December 2, 2019.
Lall, Nikki. Analysis of Stewardship & Kingship in Lord of the Rings.
Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. Directed by Peter Jackson, New Line Cinema, 2002.
Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Directed by Peter Jackson, New Line Cinema, 2003.
McPartland, Thomas J. The Lord of the Rings: Mythopoesis, Heroism, and Providence. 2011. Kentucky State U, MA thesis.