Could Will Have Its Way

'After her [Finduilas's] death Denethor became more grim and silent than before, and would sit long alone in his tower deep in thought, foreseeing that the assualt of Mordor would come in his time. It was afterwards believed that needing knowledge, and being proud, and trusting in his own strength of will, he dared to look in the palantír of the White Tower.'

Why then? I wonder ... what did he hope to see?



' "What then would you have," said Gandalf, "if your will could have its way?"

"I would have things as they were in all the days of my life," answered Denethor.'


ROTK, "the Pyre of Denethor"