Gandalf
by Boddah
Our next subject of analysis is the famous wizard Gandalf. Gandalf was the most famous of the Maiar of Valinor. In Valinor, he was known as Olórin and was said to be the wisest of the Maiar. The Maiar were sort of deities, if you will (although their power paled in comparison to that of the Valar). They were much more powerful than the regular men so let us call them divine.
Olórin had many names in Middle Earth. Gandalf (‘Elf of the wand’) was his name among the Northern Men. To the Dwarves, he was known as Tharkûn (‘Staff-Man’). To the Elves, Mithrandir (‘the Grey Pilgrim,’ ‘the Grey Wanderer,’ or ‘the Grey Messenger’). In the South Incanus, and in Rohan Greyhame (‘Greymantle’). Olórin lived at the gardens of Irmo, and was a student of Nienna. Irmo was the name of the Vala who is better known as Lórien. Nienna helped nurture the fruit of the Two Trees, which grew to be the Sun and the Moon. Olórin was part of the Order of the Wizards; they were basically people who appeared as Men but had magical powers that were unrivaled. The leader of the Order was Saruman, and Olórin quickly developed a competitive relationship with him.
Gandalf was the last of the Five Istari (Istari were the Wizards) to land on Middle-Earth. He landed at the Gray Havens in approximately 1000 Third Age. He appeared to be the oldest and simplest of the Wizards, but Círdan felt a strange power around him, and he gave him Narya, the Ring of Fire. He lingered in the northwest of Middle-Earth for quite some time, and he befriended Elrond and Galadriel. It is said he may have known Galadriel from back in Valinor. His history is vague up until 2063 Third Age when he enters Dol Guldur. Dol Guldur was Sauron’s fortress in Mirkwood, and the Necromancer (Sauron’s alias) flees Dol Guldur, and Gandalf loses track of him.
In 2463 Third Age, the White Council was formed. The Council was the best of the Wizards and Elves who banded together to fight the power in Dol Guldur. In 2845, Gandalf reenters Dol Guldur, and this time finds out the Necromancer is indeed Sauron. He also finds Thráin II the Dwarf who is on the verge of death. Thráin II gives Gandalf the map and key of Erebor.
In 2940, Third Age Gandalf meets the son of Thráin II in Bree. His son, Thorin II Oakenshield, receives the key and map from Gandalf. This starts the Quest of Erebor. The Hobbit is all about the Quest of Erebor, and it leads to Bilbo finding the Ring. This quest also leads Gandalf to his sword, Glamdring.
Gandalf really went on the Quest just to investigate the Necromancer further. Twice he leaves the group, and goes off on business he does not discuss. Bilbo finds the Ring, and Gandalf immediately gets suspicious of the Hobbit. After a private confrontation, he gets the truth out of Bilbo, and is deeply troubled by it. He again disappears, and does not return until the Battle of the Five Armies. He takes Bilbo to the Shire after the battle, all the while revealing to him how serious the Ring is, and reveals his ‘business’ to him: the White Council attacked Dol Guldur, and drove the Necromancer out.
In the years 2941-300 Third Age he gathers all the information he can about the Ring and Sauron. He tries to visit the Shire as often as he can, and strengthens his relationships with Bilbo and his heir Frodo. In 30001 Third Age, he attends Bilbo’s Eleventy First birthday party. After Bilbo tricks his audience one last time, Gandalf confronts him, and convinces him to leave the Ring with his heir, Frodo. Due to the Ring’s power, Bilbo gets very defensive, and accuses Gandalf of trying to steal his ‘precious’. Gollum called the Ring his precious as well. Gandalf gets serious quickly, and intimidates the Hobbit into leaving it behind. Bilbo was the first Ring Bearer to give it up out of free will. Over the next few years, he (Gandalf) travels abroad again. He meets with Aragorn, and captures the creature Gollum. After interrogation, he learns that Sauron had captured Gollum, and tortured him into telling the tale of the Ring, so Sauron positively knew where the Ring was now.
After confirming his suspicions, he lectures Frodo in the history of the Ring, and commands he take it to Rivendell so they can decide what to do with it. Gandalf leaves once again, and is told by Radagast the Brown (another Istar) to seek out Saruman to discuss the reemergence of the Nazgûl. Gandalf leaves a note for Frodo with an innkeeper in Bree, and makes towards Isengard. Saruman tries to convince Gandalf to join him and Sauron discreetly, but Gandalf learns Saruman has been corrupted, and he refuses Saruman’s offer. Gandalf is locked up on the top of Orthanc, the Tower of Isengard. He is eventually rescued by the Eagle-lord, Gwaihir.
After the Council of Elrond takes place, and they decide that they must destroy the Ring by casting it into the Cracks of Doom, the Fellowship sets off consisting of: Frodo, Sam, Pippin, Merry, Legolas, Gimli, Aragorn, Boromir, and Gandalf. They make their way to the Mines of Moria. There they meet the Balrog (a giant fiery creature similar to a demon)also called Durin’s Bane. Gandalf fought the Balrog one on one, and it ended up in him and the Balrog falling down the abyss that is Moria. He followed the creature for eight days until they reached the top of Zirakzigil; here they fought for two days and nights. Finally, on the third day, the Balrog was thrown down the mountain, which shattered the mountainside, Gandalf died at the encounter. Gandalf was revived by Eru and returned as Gandalf the White.
Gandalf arrives in Rohan, and sees the King has been greatly decayed by the agent of Saruman, Gríma Wormtongue. Gandalf the White breaks the agents hold on the King, and they ride off to continue the war. After Saruman’s defeat at Isengard, Gandalf breaks his staff, and kicks him out of the Order of Wizards. He then goes on to Gondor to defend Minas Tirith. He buys the city time by dueling with the Witch-king of Angmar (Lord of the Nazgûl). This gives the Rohirrim enough time to aid the city. He leads one last attack on the Black Gate of Mordor. This was to distract Sauron for Sam and Frodo were scaling Mount Doom as the battle took place.
After the war, Gandalf crowns Aragorn as the King of Gondor and Arnor. Some years later, he finally departs Middle-Earth with Frodo, Galadriel, Bilbo, and Elrond into the Undying Lands, after spending more than 2,000 years on Middle-Earth.