Did Gandalf have a Plan "B"?

[Puddleglum]

Originally Posted by Raynor

Did the Valar really lack the means to actually help Middle-Earth more though? ... send one Vala, one is enough to get the job done.

I don't think the question is whether they could have, on their own, removed Sauron - rather the question is whether that would have been the best thing for Men (and others of Eru's creation).

In the same 1954 letter, Tolkien was explicit in their intent.

"Why they {the Istari} should take such a form is bound up with the 'mythology' of the 'angelic' Powers of the world in this fable.
At this point in ... history the purpose was precisely to limit and hinder their exhibition of 'power' on the physical plane so that they should do what they were primarily sent for: train, advise, instruct, arouse the hearts and minds of those threatened by Sauron to a resistance with their own strengths; and not just to do the job for them."

In Unfinished Tales (essay on The Istari) Tolkien writes,

"And this the Valar did, desiring to amend the errors of old, especially that they had attempted to guard and seclude the Eldar by their own might and glory fully revealed."

Putting these together, I would say the idea is that children (Elves and Men *are*, after all, the Eruhini - the Children of Eru) eventually need to learn to stand on their own two feet - even if that means stumbling and bruising themselves in the process of learning to walk.

However, the Children were not simply "thrown in the deep end to sink or swim on their own".

The Istari essay notes that "Manwe, even after the Downfall of Numenor ... was still not a mere observer. It is clearly from Valinor that the emissaries came who were called the Istari." and "To the defeat of Morgoth (Manwe) sent his hearald Eonwe. To the defeat of Sauron would he not then send some lesser (but mighty) spirit of the angelic people, one coeval and equal, doubtless, with Sauron in their beginnings, but not more so? Olorin was his name."

The Valar had a plan, a "mere prudent plan" (as Tolkien put it) to aid the Children, while still letting them learn to walk. Parents know how this is often a difficult balancing act in raising of kids - no less so here.

The plan, prudent as it was, failed with the sacrifice of Gandalf on the bridge. And at that point the Father (Illuvatar, after all, means "All Father") stepped in and amended the plan so that it would succeed. Sauron WAS overthrown, and (primarily) by the resistance of and efforts *OF* the Children.

Remember what Gandalf (Olorin) said to the Hobbits (RoTK, "Homeward Bound"

"You must settle its (your) affairs yourselves; this is what you have been trained for. Do you not yet understand?"

There is far more to life and history than simply getting to the end, or surviving. Growth & Wisdom - these come only with struggle. And they often come EVEN to those who lose their physical lives in the process. Sauron did great harm, but he was still (in the end) nothing more than a tool in Eru's hands in accomplishing Eru's purposes in Eru's creation. Just a tool - one who was simply "Used" (how galling it might be for the wilted spirit of Sauron, gnawing itself in the wastes, to realize, in all of its posturing, in spite of having "used" so many others, *IT* was the one being, simply, "used".)
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[ed. Ummm, Simultaneous posting - gotta love it <g>]