 According to Michael D. C. Drout, both Denethor and Lear "despair of God's mercy", extremely dangerous in a leader who has to defend his realm.Alex Davis, in the "J.R.R.Tolkien Encyclopedia", writes that many critics have examined his fall and corrupted leadership, whereas Richard Purtill identifies Denethor's pride and egoism, a man who considers Gondor his property.