Editing Denethor (section)

{{Short description|Fictional character, steward of Gondor, in "The Lord of the Rings"}}
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'''Denethor II''', son of Ecthelion II, is a fictional character in [[J. R. R. Tolkien]]'s novel ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''. He was the 26th ruling [[Steward of Gondor]], dying by suicide in the besieged city of [[Minas Tirith]] during the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]].

Denethor is depicted as embittered and despairing as the forces of [[Mordor]] close in on [[Gondor]]. Critics have noted the contrast between Denethor and both [[Théoden]], the good king of [[Rohan (Middle-earth)|Rohan]], and [[Aragorn]], the true king of Gondor. Others have likened Denethor to Shakespeare's [[King Lear]], both rulers falling into dangerous despair.<!--summarizes cited text in article body-->

In [[The Lord of the Rings film trilogy|''The Lord of the Rings'' film trilogy]], [[Peter Jackson]] chose to depict Denethor,  played by [[John Noble]], as greedy and self-indulgent, [[Peter Jackson's interpretation of The Lord of the Rings|quite unlike Tolkien's powerful leader]].