Reconciliation
 

Do you think that the symbolism of Gandalf crowning Aragorn is significant? Like, one of the Ainur has crowned the King of Gondor, Arnor, and the Númenórean people....does this mean that the Valar aren't mad anymore? And did Aragorn ask Gandalf to do that for this purpose, or just 'cause he was the leader of the White Council and the Fellowship?

IMHO the Valar showed that they weren't mad any more when they sent the Istari to assist the people of M-E against Sauron. Otherwise why should they have bothered?

The crowning of Aragorn by Gandalf, I think was just the final touch to Gandalf's labours, leaving the M-E in the hands of the strong and valiant King of Men. Gandalf had taught Aragorn, advised on him, led him part of the way to Gondor. By asking Gandalf to crown him (thus breaking the tradition of Gondor) Aragorn showed respect and gratitude to Gandalf. It won't be just, of course to say that it was Gandalf who made Aragorn King, but his role was the greatest.

A believe it is said in the LotR (I forget who is speaking) that the War of the Ring is Gandalf's war against Sauron. Is that mistaken? Gandalf the Grey, and yet more as the White, serves as the mediator between all the Free Peoples, be they Men, Elves, Dwarves, Ents, or Hobbits, for he is the only one who is on good terms with all of them. Thus it is he who brings the alliance together, and by having Gandalf crown him, Aragorn is saying (probably among other things) that it is indeed Gandalf's right as priest-after-a-fashion (thinking archeypically here) to crown the King of the New Age. For Aragorn is not merely crowned King of Gondor, but of the reunited realms of Men in the west of Middle Earth. Suddenly all Dwarves and Elves find their realms surrounded by that of King Elessar. So this is also an olive branch of sorts to all Free Peoples who are not Human, saying "I humble myself before the one you know as the Bringer of our alliance and our peace, for he has been my guide and friend and I therefore will be your friend." Maybe I'm finding more implications than are actually there, but this seems to me to be latent in Tolkien's resolution of the War.

That makes perfect sense to me, lmp, particularly considering the subsequent withdrawal of the Valar (and, I'm assuming Maiar) from the doings of Middle-Earth. The Free Peoples have been granted a leader who is one of their own, who they entrust with the task of caring for everybody. So it's not just a reconciliation but a coming of age.

--Belin Ibaimendi

[ September 03, 2002: Message edited by: Belin ]