Quote:
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Gandalf's ability, "to trick, cajole, manipulate and otherwise sneakily get non-allies and former allies working together again."
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When I first read this
lindil I thought,
'but that's Gandalf's purpose'. However,it is only
after the events in 'The Hobbit' that we learn about the existence of the elven rings and Narya's enhancing effect on Gandalf's powers of persuasion.
As I am reading 'The Hobbit' with a class of eleven to twelve year olds I am going to ask them what they think of Gandalf's manipulations. He certainly does seem to resort to trickery and 'forceful' suggestion (I hesitate to use the word bully) in order to get people to do as he wants.
I do think, however, that he has changed considerably by the time of The Lord of the Rings. It is a much gentler Gandalf that we see in Rohan, with Theoden. Here he offers advice:
"Counsel I could give, and words I could speak to you. Will you hear them?"
But doesn't seem manipulative...of course, Theoden has just lost his son, Gandalf himself has returned from the dead, maybe that accounts for his change in attitude.
An interesting topic, Lindil. I'd be fascinated to hear what others think.