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Old 12-27-2008, 08:06 AM   #1
Selmo
Shade of Carn Dûm
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: The Shire (Staffordshire), United Kingdom
Posts: 273
Selmo has just left Hobbiton.
Gandalf certainly knew that there were problems in The Shire for the four Hobbits to sort out but we can only speculate on how much he knew.

Would his presence during the Scouring have made much difference? A fight with Saruman's men was inevitable. I can see Gandalf drawing his sword to protect any hobbits who happened to be within his reach but not to lead an attack; that was not his way.

As for confronting Saruman, I believe that Gandalf had gone to the limit of his powers when, at Orthanc, Saruman was humiliated, cast from the Order and had his staff broken. Gandalf could do no more.
Merry and Pippin had been exposed to Saruman's only remaining weapon, his Voice. They had seen him crawl. They could not be awed by him.

Gandalf was right to leave things to the hobbits, The only difference his interference would have made would have been to make the hobbits believe that they would always have to rely on Outsiders to solve their problems.
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Old 12-27-2008, 05:45 PM   #2
Gordis
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Minas Morgul
Posts: 431
Gordis is a guest of Tom Bombadil.
What was the difference of the situation in the Shire in 3019 from hundreds of similar situations before? - there was none.

For instance, it was quite plain since TA 1050 that the force that occupied Dol Guldur was no good one. From 2060 the Istari believed it was one of the nazgul living there. So, why couldn't they gather all their Maiar band and go finish the bad Necromancer, while he was still weak?

It was also plain since at least 1409 that the King of Angmar was an evil fellow and his removal would be quite beneficial for Arnor, Rivendell and all ME. So- why couldn't the Istari seek him out and vanquish by superior magic?

Same with Castamir. Kill the guy in time and lots of lives would have been saved. Yet not a single attempt at that was made by Gandalf, Radagast and Saruman. They were prohibited to display their Power and openly fight against their foes.

Instead, they had to encourage Elves and Men to unite and oppose evil. I don't think it had ever been easy for Gandalf to send those dear to him forth, often to certain death, while remaining behind the scenes, secure in his Power. Yet it was his doom. The Valar sent him to be the Steward, but neither the King, nor the wet-nurse of the ME peoples. Men, Elves and Hobbits had to take care of their problems themselves.

Last edited by Gordis; 12-27-2008 at 05:49 PM.
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