First, I find it fascinating that Faramir says other men do maintain
communication with Elves, and have sought out the Golden Lady, although they
seldom return. This reminds me of Smith of Wootton Major, in which an
apparently ordinary child is given a passport to Fairie, and throughout his
life disappears into Fairie for long stretches at a time. I wonder if
there were apparently ordinary members of Gondor who were given that same
passport, and often, like Bilbo, took one last trip from which they did not
return? Lorien seems like a more isolated land than Rivendell, but I can
imagine Galadriel extending such an invitation to the occasional mortal!
Second, I find it disconcerting that Faramir understands his brother's
weakness, and also understands that the men of Gondor are becoming more like
the men of Rohan, then in the next breath proudly says "we" men of Gondor
seldom boast and never lie! He is exhibiting more pride here than is
warranted under the circumstances. On reflection, he might acknowledge
that few men, even in Gondor, hold themselves to Faramir's standards, and that
the hobbits had good reasons to be
wary.
My Tolkien blog.________________________________________
"‘I think he was a silly little man,' said Councillor Tompkins. ‘Worthless, in fact; no use to Society at all.'
"‘Oh, I don't know,' said Atkins, who was nobody of importance, just a schoolmaster. ‘I am not so sure: it depends on what you mean by use .'
"‘No practical or economic use,' said Tompkins. . . .
. . .
"‘It is proving very useful indeed,' said the Second Voice. ‘As a holiday, and a refreshment. It is splendid for convalescence; and not only for that, for many it is the best introduction to the Mountains. It works wonders in some cases. I am sending more and more there. They seldom have to come back.'"
