 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.The medievalist Elizabeth Solopova comments that unlike Aragorn, Denethor is incapable of displaying what Tolkien in "" called "northern courage", namely, the spirit to carry on in the face of certain defeat and death.