Were the Istari Unable or Unwilling...

[Sardy]

Originally Posted by mhagain

So.... was he made stronger, or was it just the case that the prohibition was relaxed (even a little) for him? And relaxed by whom? Almost certainly not Manwe, I don't think he would have had the authority to recall one of his own order from what was a very real "death". Did the Head Honcho Eru step in?

Very interesting point! Though it's never mentioned or referred to in the text, I can imagine Gandalf, after his "death" under Moria, returning to Valinor and confronting the council of the Maiar... making a powerful case for taking more action in Middle-earth, a stronger stand against Sauron... convincing them to not only give him a second chance and send him back, but allowing him greater versatility and less restriction in hius actions...

[Bêthberry]

Reading over this highly interesting thread gives me a wicked idea that is tantalising to entertain.

Why were the istari limited to old men? After all, the species Men includes women. I think Esty's REB III deserves to have an old female emissary. Maybe she even suffers from the wretched injunction not to use her full powers but always to defer to male authority. Yes, yes, fifty ways to keep a good woman down.

Now that's a possibility to ponder . . .