Well, Gandalf, it's nice to see you again, but... - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Legolas · 05-08-2006, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goldberry101

I think I preferred Gandalf the Grey to Gandalf the White. It would have been kind of sad, but what I think is sadder is the way Gandalf changed. After he "died", or whatever happened he loses all that attract you to Gandalf in the first place. Mostly his mysteriousness. When he is Gandalf the White, he's so up front and open (or more so than Gandalf the Grey)

I don't think it is necessarily a result of the change from Grey to White. I think it's largely situational - at the point in the plot that Gandalf the White appears, everything is looking much worse for the good side. Time is running outThe Fellowship has split. Frodo and Sam are alone on the outskirts of Mordor; Merry and Pippin are in the hands of Saruman's orcs. Rohan is being attacked, providing a distraction from the goal of Ring destruction that must be dealt with nonetheless.

After the Sauron conflict is settled, we see glimpses of Gandalf the Grey's familiar personality, though those scenes are shorter now as Tolkien still had a story to finish.

Rhod the Red · 05-09-2006, 05:02 AM

Gandalf doesn't really change in my view, after dying. He's just more explanatory of the world-situation. He explains things more, beginning in Fanghorn Forest to Gimli, Legolas and Aragorn.

Glaurung · 05-23-2006, 08:19 AM

Rhod the red, I'm afraid I have to disagree with you in this. Gandalf does change. He is somehow more distant and more god-like, and therefore less like an individual character.

I think I would have enjoyed LotR more if Gandalf had died. It would in my opinion make the story somehow deeper by making the readers understand that there is no second chance. War against evil (if you want to put it like that; I myself prefer not to use that rather idiotic phrase) takes its casualities, and in war both heroes and ordinary soldiers die. The death of Gandalf would have been a perfect example of this.

Had Tolkien originally meant Gandalf to die or not, it still seems like he hadn't. The way Gandalf just appears with a "hello, I didn't die after all, nice to meet you" feels rather improper. But then again, I am a tragedy-loving person so I might not be the best one to comment on this topic.

05-09-2006, 05:02 AM	#2
Rhod the Red Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: May 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 257	Gandalf doesn't really change in my view, after dying. He's just more explanatory of the world-situation. He explains things more, beginning in Fanghorn Forest to Gimli, Legolas and Aragorn. __________________ Head of the Fifth Order of the Istari Tenure: Fourth Age(Year 1) - Present Currently operating in Melbourne, Australia

05-23-2006, 08:19 AM	#3
Glaurung Pile O'Bones Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Dancing in rain Posts: 16	Rhod the red, I'm afraid I have to disagree with you in this. Gandalf does change. He is somehow more distant and more god-like, and therefore less like an individual character. I think I would have enjoyed LotR more if Gandalf had died. It would in my opinion make the story somehow deeper by making the readers understand that there is no second chance. War against evil (if you want to put it like that; I myself prefer not to use that rather idiotic phrase) takes its casualities, and in war both heroes and ordinary soldiers die. The death of Gandalf would have been a perfect example of this. Had Tolkien originally meant Gandalf to die or not, it still seems like he hadn't. The way Gandalf just appears with a "hello, I didn't die after all, nice to meet you" feels rather improper. But then again, I am a tragedy-loving person so I might not be the best one to comment on this topic.