April 23, 2002

Re: Gandalf the Grey Area
Greg H.

This is a reply to Curious George's questions about Gandalf. Gandalf is a Maia, which is a minor deity. He certainly didnt die, in the sense that applies to us. What happened is that his physical form was destroyed and his spirit (and the spirit is the essential part of the gods in Tolkien's works, since they can fasion a new form at will) fled back to the West. He was returned back to Middle Earth by the Valar (major deities) with a new form and more power vested in him.
Galadriel, an elf (but the oldest and most powerful elf in Middle Earth), certainly could not invest Gandalf with more power, him being more powerfull than her (though perhaps of a different sort) even in his grey form.
In the book Gandalf dosnt seem to have any power over gravity, and I think that such power would be against his deepest nature. I also dont believe that his staff is the source of his power. It may help focus that force, much like his elven ring, which dosnt give immortality to its wearer (nor does the One Ring, though none of its wearers die while it is on their finger!). Gandalf's elven ring (Nenya?) was designed to preserve and strenghen but not in an active manner such as giving its wearer immortality.