I do not doubt Denethor had similarities with both of his sons.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by FotR; Appendix A; The Stewards
Boromir, five years the elder, beloved by his father, was like him in face and pride, but in little else. Rather he was a man after the sort of King Eärnur of old. taking no wife and delighting chiefly in arms; fearless and strong, but caring little for lore, save the tales of old battles. Faramir the younger was like him in looks but otherwise in mind. He read the hearts of men as shrewdly as his father, but what he read moved him sooner to pity than to scorn. He was gentle in bearing, and a lover of lore and music, and therefore by many in those days his courage was judge less than his brother's. But it was not so, except that he did not seek glory in danger without a purpose. He welcomed Gandalf at such times as he came to the City, and he learned what he could from his wisdom; and in this as in many other matters he displeased his father.
|
Here there is a picture drawn of Denethor and his sons. They are both like and not like him, as one would expect.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by RotK; Minas Tirith
He loved him [Boromir] greatly: too much perhaps; and the more so because they were unlike.
|
The last quote shows that Gandalf thought they were not alike, Denethor and Boromir. He figured that he loved Boromir so much because he was not like himself. His resentment of Aragorn is another matter, due perhaps to his guess that Aragorn, or Thorongil as he also knew him, was of the royal line of the North.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Appendix A; The Stewards
Denethor <...> had discovered who this stranger Thorongil in truth was, and suspected that he and Mithrandir designed to supplant him.
|
However, even with Aragorn their thoughts were basically similar and he reminded Pippin of Aragorn, rather than of Boromir.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by The Stewards"
in one matter only were their counsels to the Steward at variance: Thorongil often warned Ecthelion not to put trust in Saruman the White in Isengard, but to welcome rather Gandalf the Grey. But there was little love between Denethor and Gandalf.; and after the days of Ecthelion there was less welcome for the Grey Pilgrim in Minas Tirith.
|
Also note that Boromir had accepted Aragorn, Denethor did not. Faramir too had accepted Aragorn.