What's in a Staff?

[Ibrîniðilpathânezel]

Interesting. I don't have my copy of the letters at hand, so I can't quote directly, but I do know that Tolkien said that Gandalf's wanderings "out of thought and time" meant that he left the Circles of the World, and was sent back by "the Authority," aka Eru. Whether or not his journey from life and back included any time spent in Valinor, he does not say. But he was returned directly to the top of Zirak-zigil, literally naked, and was reclothed by Galadriel and the Elves of Lothlorien. One can presume that either Gandalf took Glamdring with him, or Gwaihir picked it up for him, but no mention of him having a staff with him is made. Therefore, it would appear to follow that the staff he had as Gandalf the White came from the Elves of Lothlorien. If it had any special "power," I would think it either came from Galadriel, or from Gandalf himself.

I have speculated in other writings that in the fashioning of these "signets of office," each of the wizards might have been required to place something of their own power into them, not to imbue them with mundane magical ability, but as a pledge to their position as Stewards. Others would not be able to use it to make magic, but it would give the wizards a taste of what they would be dealing with in the matter of the Rings, and perhaps make them more inclined to stick to their purpose, as the power would (by plan) be returned to them only when they returned to Valinor, and were able to resume their natural forms. This is wholly speculation, mind you; there's absolutely no proof to support it, except perhaps in Saruman's statement about Gandalf wanting the staffs of all the Five Wizards, which indicates some degree of more than symbolic importance to the items (this thought, of course, is contradicted by the puzzling fact that when Gandalf was a prisoner in Orthanc, Saruman let him keep his staff. We know this because he had it and used it, if I recall correctly, when Gwaihir plucked him off the top of the tower).

Ah, so much speculation, so little proof....

[Andsigil]

Perhaps Saruman invested much of his own power into his staff in order to increase his strength, much like Sauron did with the One Ring. Both beings were Maiar, after all.

Gandalf, always wary of worldly trappings and vigilantly keeping his eyes on his mission, chose to keep most of his own power inside of himself. This is why he was able to fight the Balrog without it.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Andsigil

Perhaps Saruman invested much of his own power into his staff in order to increase his strength, much like Sauron did with the One Ring. Both beings were Maiar, after all.

Sauron's motives for endowing the Ring with much his native power were fairly singular though: he had to make it exceptionally strong, so that it could control the other Rings of Power.
I don't see Saruman having any incentive to follow suit, especially since he was so well versed in ring-lore that he likely knew just how vulnerable Sauron had made himself by dividing his power.

[Boromir88]

Originally Posted by Ibrîniðilpathânezel

This is wholly speculation, mind you; there's absolutely no proof to support it, except perhaps in Saruman's statement about Gandalf wanting the staffs of all the Five Wizards, which indicates some degree of more than symbolic importance to the items (this thought, of course, is contradicted by the puzzling fact that when Gandalf was a prisoner in Orthanc, Saruman let him keep his staff. We know this because he had it and used it, if I recall correctly, when Gwaihir plucked him off the top of the tower).

I think Saruman's statement actually further strengthens the symbolic argument, because it's just Saruman ranting about Gandalf becoming power-hungry:

"Later! Yes, when you have the Keys of Barad-dur itself, I suppose; and the crowns of seven kings, and the rods of the Five Wizards, and have purchased yourself a pair of boos many sizes larger than those that you wear now."~Voice of Saruman

It's all symbolic for Saruman calling Gandalf power-hungry, concluded in Tolkien's interesting spin on a common phrase for someone becoming "too big for their own boots."

Saruman is claiming Gandalf wants the Keys to Barad-dur (power over Sauron).

crowns of seven kings (note: "of" seven kings, not "of the") - a symbolic statement by Saruman saying Gandalf wants power of seven kings, or power over Men, power over the physical realm of Middle-earth. If Saruman was referring to specific seven kings, it would be "of the" as he does in his next statement

rods of the Five Wizards - the staffs being a symbol of the Istari power, Gandalf wants power over the Istari, power over the spiritual realm.

What's ironic is Saruman is projecting his desires onto Gandalf.

Originally Posted by Inziladun

I don't see Saruman having any incentive to follow suit, especially since he was so well versed in ring-lore that he likely knew just how vulnerable Sauron had made himself by dividing his power.

I don't know, of course as with almost anything you can argue multiple views, but I think Saruman's ego became so big he let that get in the way of his (at one point) reasoned judgement:

"For I am Saruman the Wise, Saruman Ring-Maker, Saruman of Many Colours!"~Council of Elrond

Gandalf notes that Saruman has a ring, it is debatable whether Saruman made it or not (since Tolkien cut out parts of earlier drafts where it is explicitlly stated that Saruman made his own Ring)...However, Saruman does use the title "Ring-Maker" which is a title that Sauron is also known as. Saruman's ego was becoming Sauron and conceived himself to become even more powerful than Sauron. I think he would have done anything to emulate, or try to achieve Sauron's power, since his ego takes over for rational judgement.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Boromir88

Gandalf notes that Saruman has a ring, it is debatable whether Saruman made it or not (since Tolkien cut out parts of earlier drafts where it is explicitlly stated that Saruman made his own Ring)...However, Saruman does use the title "Ring-Maker" which is a title that Sauron is also known as. Saruman's ego was becoming Sauron and conceived himself to become even more powerful than Sauron. I think he would have done anything to emulate, or try to achieve Sauron's power, since his ego takes over for rational judgement.

If that was the case, I think it much more likely he would have tried to transfer his power into the ring, in imitation of Sauron, rather than into his staff.

[Lush]

I can certainly see symbolism in the staffs, as well.

As can I.

But seriously, what strikes me about the staffs in particular is how Tolkien avoids making them gimmicky. I think they very obviously have a lot of visual power as well - in terms of delineating a certain kind of authority.

[Pitchwife]

Originally Posted by Lush

As can I.

No doubt. Rings and staffs - Dr Freud, can you please shut up?
But seriously:

Originally Posted by Ancalagon'sFire

The term ash-staff also intrigues

Using mythological meta-reasoning, it's only logical that Gandalf's staff would be made of ash. Gandalf is, among other things, very reminiscent of Odin in his persona as The Wanderer (described in the Edda and Sagas as a bearded old man wearing hat and cloak, and using his spear as a walking-stick), and Odin is intimately connected with Yggdrasill, the World-Ash (which is named thus ['the steed of Ygg', Ygg being another name for Odin] because Odin was hanged in its branches in a ritual of shamanic initiation).

Originally Posted by Ancalagon'sFire

Gandalf is most associated with the staff

Indeed. His very name derives from this association: Norse Gand·alfr = 'elvish wight with a staff' (Tolkien's translation).

Originally Posted by Ibrin

this thought, of course, is contradicted by the puzzling fact that when Gandalf was a prisoner in Orthanc, Saruman let him keep his staff.

If the staffs of the Istari were something like badges of office, symbols of the authority bestowed on them by the Valar, Saruman would have had no right - and hence, no power - to take Gandalf's staff from him as long as Gandalf remained faithful to his mission; only the Valar themselves (as the issuers of the staff) could do this, or someone acting on their behalf, like Gandalf the White did when he broke Saruman's staff, revoking Saruman's authority when it had become clear he had deserted the mission.