May 25, 2002

Re: Gandalf: Alchemist and Magician
R+C

IMHO, Simon has a really insightful point. The most poignant and influencal action Gandalf could have taken was to be sacrificed for the greater good of Middle Earth. There was never a self-serving bone in his body, everything he did was for the greater good. As one of the Istari, (probably Maiar in physical form, sent to Middle Earth by Eru) Gandalf's mission was not to right the wrongs done by the Evil forces extant at the time, but to influence and guide the inhabitants of Middle Earth to come to a self-realization of the potential they had within themselves, and that they could bring about the fulfillment of an enormous task, through realization of that potential. The fact that certain now familiar members of the Hobbit race were chosen to fulfill that task doesn't particularly mean that only those individuals were uniquely capable of it. They were the ones appointed by circumstance and fate. The indication of the group potential can be seen in "The Scouring of the Shire" when a "critical mass" is reached through the catalystic influence of the four returning fellowship members. This is an important message, not just for our time, but for all times. Thus is Gandalf a Christ-like figure, because the message is not to worship his being, but to be inspired to better ourselves in our daily lives through the example his life sets for us to follow. A most worthy exponent of the Alchemystical and Magical Truths.