These are the archives from 2010-2018 for the discussion forum hosted by the UNM Hobbit Society at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM, USA. The purpose of our group is to meet and associate with others interested in Tolkien, and to learn more about the author, his written works, and his sources through discussion, guest lectures and academically oriented activities. This blog is intended to expand discussion among UNM Hobbit Society members beyond what meeting times allow.
I wonder about this a lot. I think that all of Tolkien's characters require a fully fleshed out backstory. If Gandalf wasn't a Maiar and was just a race of only a few wizards, there would be no explanation for why he was there, why he didn't seek power, and why he knew it was his time to leave Middle-Earth before the Fourth Age.
There were other things he could have been, but if he was any of the Children of Ilvutar, it would massively diminish his role in the goings-on of all people in Middle-Earth and lose the thread that connected them in Lord of the Rings.
If he held the same role in Lord of the Rings and wasn't a Maiar or Valar (but Valar wouldn't really reflect the decay of Faërie realms in the Third Age), it would totally compromise the most basic structures set up in the Silmarillion.
I think Gandalf's only choice was to be a Maiar for the rest of Tolkien's stories to mesh.
I believe that is is highly important for it explains Gandalf's longevity in which I had been very curious about. It makes since that he is a Maiar for it would explain the kind of power that radiates from the old man. I knew that wizardry can grant additional life but not for as long as Gandalf has been around. It also kind of makes me wonder about some of the other mysterious characters from The Lord of the Rings are Maiar too. Like the other wizards mentioned (Saruman and Radagast) and Tom for instance. There are so many mysteries surrounding Tolkien's works and I often wonder if fantasy will always leave you with more questions unanswered than answered.
2 comments:
I wonder about this a lot. I think that all of Tolkien's characters require a fully fleshed out backstory. If Gandalf wasn't a Maiar and was just a race of only a few wizards, there would be no explanation for why he was there, why he didn't seek power, and why he knew it was his time to leave Middle-Earth before the Fourth Age.
There were other things he could have been, but if he was any of the Children of Ilvutar, it would massively diminish his role in the goings-on of all people in Middle-Earth and lose the thread that connected them in Lord of the Rings.
If he held the same role in Lord of the Rings and wasn't a Maiar or Valar (but Valar wouldn't really reflect the decay of Faërie realms in the Third Age), it would totally compromise the most basic structures set up in the Silmarillion.
I think Gandalf's only choice was to be a Maiar for the rest of Tolkien's stories to mesh.
I believe that is is highly important for it explains Gandalf's longevity in which I had been very curious about. It makes since that he is a Maiar for it would explain the kind of power that radiates from the old man. I knew that wizardry can grant additional life but not for as long as Gandalf has been around. It also kind of makes me wonder about some of the other mysterious characters from The Lord of the Rings are Maiar too. Like the other wizards mentioned (Saruman and Radagast) and Tom for instance. There are so many mysteries surrounding Tolkien's works and I often wonder if fantasy will always leave you with more questions unanswered than answered.
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