 Denethor's madness and despair has been compared to that of Shakespeare's King Lear.Both men are first outraged when their children (Faramir and Cordelia, respectively) refuse to aid them, but then grieve upon their children's death – which is only perceived in case of Faramir.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.