[obloquy]

Originally Posted by The Saucepan Man

Angmar was undoubtedly more powerful at the Siege of Minas Tirith than he was as the leader of the Black Riders. Sauron saw to that.

Good reference, Saucepan. I admit the W-K certainly seems more menacing on the Pelennor than at any point previous. I differ in my reading of that portion of the letter, however, in that I believe Tolkien may be referring to the effect of his narrative choices on the reader rather than any actual enhancement of the Witch-King by Sauron within the story. Still, even if your interpretation is correct, I maintain that he could not be enhanced enough to become a peer of Gandalf--not by a long shot.

What I find persuasive is that the confrontation between Angmar and Gandalf at the Gate of Minas Tirith is intended by Tolkien to be a moment of tension.

It is, yes. But I feel a much different tension than you and some others seem to since I now know the relative power levels of the parties involved, and also that this is not to be a duel. Gandalf's side at this point could still lose the battle, and the Witch-King could still be victorious. Gandalf, as mighty as even I give him credit for, could still be slain if he was not backed by an army. So this tension is not due to doubt whether Gandalf will stand against the Witch-King mano a mano, but whether Black will prevail ultimately. Once again, boiled down to simple logic: Gandalf and Sauron are peers; Sauron is far mightier than his Lieutenant, the Witch-King; therefore Gandalf is far mightier than the Witch-King. There is, of course, still the question of the limits Gandalf was subject to. Were they wholly removed when he became "the White"? Or was he sent back merely "clothed" rather than once again fully incarnate? As I've argued before, G had the power to own the crap out of the Balrog but he sacrificed himself in observance of his rules; if these rules were still in effect, the outcome of a duel between he and the Witch-King may have been similar--though not because the W-K was a more powerful being.

Like Pippin, we the readers are meant to fear that Angmar may actually be capable of defeating Gandalf. Were we to believe otherwise, there would be no tension here at all.

Once again, in case anyone skipped my above paragraph, the tension comes from doubt as to which side will win, not who's going to come out on top when G and W-K square off.

But seriously, I have little problem with him being referred to as such. There are perfectly good precedents to support it, as davem, points out. And, since we all know who we are talking about by the reference, it hardly matters much.

No, those are bad precedents.