Skip to main content

tolkiens legendarium - Why doesn't Gandalf whip it out in the major battles?




  • The dragon in LOTR is powerful.

  • Powerful things can exert lots of power

  • The exertion of lots of power is useful for winning wars one wants to win

  • Gandalf fights in wars he wants to win

  • Gandalf is a more powerful thing than the dragon is. (Evidence: He slays it)

  • So Gandalf can exert lots of power


  • Gandalf does not exert lots of power in the wars he wants to win.


What gives?



Answer



First of all, I assume you mean the Balrog on Moria, which is not a dragon. My answer reflects that assumption.


Now, to the issue itself: Gandalf slays the Balrog, true, but he is slain himself. It is evident from his behavior (and see also this question) that he does not see himself to be more powerful than the Balrog. It is only by the grace of higher powers that he is given a new body and returned to the world.


Power isn't a simple metric on a linear scale. Gandalf's power lies more in giving hope, teaching wisdom and swaying the hearts of men. He isn't a fighter (despite the sword he carries) and he isn't a D&D-style fireball-hurling wizard. He is a Maia of wisdom, not of war (again, see the link above).


Just because he had power doesn't mean it was applicable to warfare. And even if he did have the power to take the Balrog with him, it doesn't mean that power would help an army in a direct conflict. See how he helped the Rohirrim at Helm's Deep - not by magic, but by coordinating other human armies to come to their help, as well as the Ents. That's Gandalf's power.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

story identification - Animation: floating island, flying pests

At least 20 years ago I watched a short animated film which stuck in my mind. The whole thing was wordless, possibly European, and I'm pretty sure I didn't imagine it... It featured a flying island which was inhabited by some creatures who (in my memory) reminded me of the Moomins. The island was frequently bothered by large winged animals who swooped around, although I don't think they did any actual damage. At the end one of the moomin creatures suddenly gets a weird feeling, feels forced to climb to the top of the island and then plunges down a shaft right through the centre - only to emerge at the bottom as one of the flyers. Answer Skywhales from 1983. The story begins with a man warning the tribe of approaching skywhales. The drummers then warn everybody of the hunt as everyone get prepared to set "sail". Except one man is found in his home sleeping as the noise wake him up. He then gets ready and is about to take his weapon as he hesitates then decides ...
Post a Comment
Read more

harry potter - Did Dolores Umbridge Have Any Association with Voldemort (or Death Eaters) before His Return?

I noticed that Dolores Umbridge was born during the first Wizarding War, so it's very likely she wasn't a Death Eater then (but she is pretty evil -- who knows?). After that Voldemort was not around in a way that could affect many people, and most wouldn't know he was planning to rise again. During that time, and up through Voldemort's return (in Goblet of Fire ), did Umbridge have any connection with the Death Eaters or with Voldemort? Was she doing what she did on her own, or was it because of an association with Voldemort or his allies? Answer Dolores Umbridge was definitely not a good person. However, as Sirius points out, "the world isn't split into good people and Death Eaters". Remember that he also says that he doesn't believe Umbridge to be a Death Eater, but that she's evil enough (or something like that). I think there are two strong reasons to believe that: Umbridge was proud to do everything according to the law, except when she trie...
Post a Comment
Read more

tolkiens legendarium - Did Gandalf wear his Ring of Power throughout the trilogy?

After Gandalf discovered that Sauron was back and sent Frodo on his quest to Rivendell, did he continue to wear Narya (one of the Three Rings)? It seems like a huge risk to continue to wear it after the Nazgûl (Ringwraiths) started to try and reclaim the One Ring; if they managed to get the ring to Sauron, couldn't he be corrupted by his power? Whatever powers Narya bestows upon him couldn't possibly be worth the huge risk, could it? Answer When Sauron forged the one ring and put it on his finger, the other ring bearers were immediately aware of him and his intentions and removed their own rings. There is no reason why they couldn't merely do so again. As soon as Sauron set the One Ring upon his finger they were aware of him; and they knew him, and preceived that he would be master of them, and of all they wrought. Then in anger and fear they took off their rings. "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age," Silmarillion
Post a Comment
Read more