I never liked him with any origin, but he really comes across as a "greater good" opportunist in the human noble origin. Note: I've only played Dalish, mage, and human noble. Duncan can be a douchebag in all of them but human noble stuck out the most. The pc can express no interest in becoming a Grey Warden but once Ser Gilmore is killed Duncan states "the blight demands" he leaves with a recruit. So indifferent to the fact that this grieving human noble's house has just been massacred with their parents dying on the floor, Duncan invokes the rite of conscription to force them into the Wardens. To me this is wrong on so many levels.
1. Duncan is denying the pc the opportunity of vengeance against Howe.
2. Becoming a Warden is a practically a death sentence either from the joining itself, being slain by darkspawn, or the taint killing them. That makes what Duncan does close to regicide.
3. Duncan treats this as "the price" for helping the human noble leave. Putting aside just how much Duncan's "help" is needed, his attitude is basically "I've saved your life, now I own it." That's some gratitude for the hospitality the Couslands have shown you Duncan...
4. Duncan chooses one of the most inapproprate times to spring such a life changing decision on the pc by force. The circumstances made it easy, but they are far from ethical...
..Which brings me to the ethics of the Grey Wardens. There is this accepted "the wardens do what they must" mentality which justifies whatever action they make as long as it's surmised to help the "greater good;" a dangerous mentality similar to the Architect's and Loghain's. Who sanctioned the wardens to do "whatever is necessary?" And how is doing things like recruiting a pc who has just lost their family "necessary?" It's convenient for the wardens, but far from necessary. But that's what it comes down to: convenience.
This mentality has little justification either. The only true "need" for a Grey Warden is the killing blow of an archdemon. That requires one live Grey Warden for every blight to make the killing blow. That's five or even less if Morrigan's ritual was done. More would be needed to ensure one survives to make that blow, but their isn't any actual need for Grey Wardens between blights. All people need is a storage of archdemon blood and easily obtained darkspawn blood for when a blight comes. When that happens any rapist, cutpurse, murderer, feeble old man, etc. can make that final blow. "The best" are not needed. They're convenient.
This insight takes away much of the justification to maintain the ritual's secrecy including things like Duncan murdering Jory for being frightened. During a blight many would gladly sacrifice themselves to stop an archdemon. If not for glory, then for the realm, incentives for their family, etc. Real life example: In WWII many Japanese volunteered for suicide missions as kamikaze pilots for causes far less noble and victory far less certain.
I suppose much of the irritation with Duncan that occurs even after his death is because Alistair continues to idolize him. It's one of Alistair's few attributes that I strongly dislike. If you don't like Duncan and his Grey Warden mentality you net strong disapproval. Telling Alistair that Duncan "got what he deserved" after learning how he tricked you into a death sentence actually ends a romance. Alistair's obviously blind to Duncan's ethical indifference despite often taking the moral high ground himself.
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