The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - Eminence Grise-or "Grey is the new White"

davem · 06-14-2005, 01:40 PM

Of course, Grey is seen as being 'lesser' than White in that the Sindar are seen as lesser than the High Elves - the Calaquendi, or Elves of the Light. There is a clear hierarchy of Light Elves, Grey Elves & Dark Elves (Avari). But Middle earth in the Third Age is a 'Grey' world, a 'betwixt & between' world, straddling the 'Light' of earlier ages & the Darkness of later ones, so Gandalf the 'Grey'could be seen as symbolic of the Age in which he was present.

I can't help feeling that Grey is symbolic of 'passing' into the twilight. Gandalf the White is actually further from the world than Gandalf the White had been - he is closer to the Ainur he had been in Valinor, than the wizard he was. White is still the colour of holiness, but it is perhaps an increasingly 'otherworldly' holiness. When extreme 'Black' in the form of Sauron is removed from the world, so, it seems, is extreme White.

Don't know where I'm going with this, but I can't see that Grey is seen as 'superior' by Tolkien to White. I can only think that Grey is meant to symbolise a kind of 'not belonging' to the world - being 'in' the world, but not 'of' it. Grey, therefore, is the colour of those who 'wander', who are without a 'home' - or who are far from their home. The Grey Elves are 'wanderers', sojourners in Middle earth - their 'home' is beyond the Sundering Seas. Gandalf is in the same position. As are the Numenoreans, exiled forever from their lost home. The Fellowship members are all in the same position. So, Grey is the colour of sadness, bereavement & exile.

Or something like that...

06-14-2005, 01:40 PM	#9
davem Illustrious Ulair Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the home of lost causes, and forsaken beliefs, and unpopular names,and impossible loyalties Posts: 4,240	Of course, Grey is seen as being 'lesser' than White in that the Sindar are seen as lesser than the High Elves - the Calaquendi, or Elves of the Light. There is a clear hierarchy of Light Elves, Grey Elves & Dark Elves (Avari). But Middle earth in the Third Age is a 'Grey' world, a 'betwixt & between' world, straddling the 'Light' of earlier ages & the Darkness of later ones, so Gandalf the 'Grey'could be seen as symbolic of the Age in which he was present. I can't help feeling that Grey is symbolic of 'passing' into the twilight. Gandalf the White is actually further from the world than Gandalf the White had been - he is closer to the Ainur he had been in Valinor, than the wizard he was. White is still the colour of holiness, but it is perhaps an increasingly 'otherworldly' holiness. When extreme 'Black' in the form of Sauron is removed from the world, so, it seems, is extreme White. Don't know where I'm going with this, but I can't see that Grey is seen as 'superior' by Tolkien to White. I can only think that Grey is meant to symbolise a kind of 'not belonging' to the world - being 'in' the world, but not 'of' it. Grey, therefore, is the colour of those who 'wander', who are without a 'home' - or who are far from their home. The Grey Elves are 'wanderers', sojourners in Middle earth - their 'home' is beyond the Sundering Seas. Gandalf is in the same position. As are the Numenoreans, exiled forever from their lost home. The Fellowship members are all in the same position. So, Grey is the colour of sadness, bereavement & exile. Or something like that... __________________ “Everything was an object. If you killed a dwarf you could use it as a weapon – it was no different to other large heavy objects."