1 question might also be: you have no clue what Gandalf the White was holding back. Show me where in any book that it says Gandalf the White could defeat Sauron.
Think about it! he has been givven the ability to blast a gaping hole in the world, but will he do it? no because he cares to much. Souron on the other hand was in the biggining givven that same power but does it not say in the silmarilion that darkness (evil) has a degenerating effect on all even those who call opon evil to do there will. Therefore gandalf hammer souron but chose no to because Arda would be nothing so he waits and wathes, keeps a very close eye on souron.
Done
__________________ Facebook
Cheers starlock, your a champ.
i don't think Gandalf ever truley intended to use magic in the event covered in LOTR. i think he fealt, and i'm sure i've read tolkien saying this, that he did not want men to grow reliant upon other powers to save them from all predicements.
if you look at Gandalf's early years, he would disguise himself as an elf walking past another making a sugestion, or as a voice on the wind to inspire elves with ideas to create.
i think the only real reason you saw gandalf use any magic at all was because he felt soley responsible for the involvement of the hobbits, the one race that had managed to avoid all the happenings in the world, and wanted to protect them.
no, it means Sauron was more powerful than Gandalf...
i'm not debating that... i'm talking about why Gandalf didn't fireball the Uruk Hai at Helmsdeep, or ray of enfeeblement the troll, or chain lightening the mordor orcs, or whatever AD&D crap everyone seemed to be expecting when they saw these films and asked me why gandy didn't use LVL 30 l337 PWR!!!!!11!!!1
i know a few nerds who's idea of what constitutes as a wizard is warped by all that AD&D and other RPGs. I really feel sorry for people who can't appreciate that...
check out the encylopedia of Arda... there are some tiny references to the green and red wizards...
essentially what it states is that Saruman, Rhatagast and Gandalf stayed in the west while the others wandered into the unknown lands of the east never to been seen again.
you have to remember the birthplace of the elves is the in east as well as the "Unwilling" caste of elves.
The Valar instructed Gandalf not to use more overt magic than he had to. Part of the rationale for that had to be that use of magic can create more problems than it solves (kind of like technology). As a Maia, Gandalf probably had a role in the creation of Ea (the world). He was powerful, but I believe he left most of his power and knowledge behind when he was incarnated as an Istari, as a sort of safety measure. It's like you don't want to carry more explosives around in your truck than you need.
Gandalf was able to accomplish his mission using his brains, his charisma, hard long work, and a bit of magic. He did not need to use more magic than he did, nor would the use of more magic have helped. For example, he had to let Frodo/Sam/Gollum fly under Sauron's magic radar to get to Mt. Doom. If Gandalf attempted to intervene more than he did with that, he might have blown their cover.
Gandalf would have been more powerful than Sauron if he claimed the One Ring, but he was too good and wise to do that. Sauron put most of his power into the Ring. That's why he was vanquished when it was destroyed.
Agreed EruMelkor I've read a quote not by a character but its dealing with if Gandalf took the one ring and I will look through all my books and references if need be. Basically what it says is that if Gandalf the White took the one ring he would indeed cast down Sauron. However, the ring would corrupt Gandalf and he would be a more terrible dark lord than Sauron himself. He would remain righteous but self righteous and force the people under his rule to do his bidding for his perceived "Greater Good".
Gandalf or Olorin as his true Maiar name is, was also very wise the wisest of all 5 to pass into Middle-Earth Celebrimbor of the harbour sensed this in him on arrival and thus entrusted Narya the elven ring of fire to his keeping. Because of this wisdom Gandalf would not use his power unless in the dire most need.
__________________ Yet the making of things is in my heart from my own making by thee; and the child of little understanding that makes a play of the deeds of his father may do so without without thought of mockery, but because he is the son of his father.
Gandalf himself said "don't tempt me Bilbo! I dare not take the Ring even to keep it safe. I would try to use the Ring to do good but through me it shall do terrible tasks" or something like that. Meaning Gandalf's will isn't strong enough to control the Ring. He would have ended up like Saruman the Many Colours.
And do you mind telling me where you got your information from thefallen544?