Maybe this has been brought up before; I haven't had time to read it all, so tell me if I'm repeating someone.
Gandalf could have defeated the WK. Correct me if I'm wrong, but does the prophecy not say that the Witch-King will not be
killed by a living men. If that is so, then Gandalf could not have
destroyed him, but he could have beaten him and driven him back. If Gandalf did that, I would count that as defeating the WK, if not for good.
But there is no way to tell that he would have defeated him. He is a Maia, but in physical form. Isildur beat Sauron while Sauron was physical. But was the Witch-King stronger than Isildur? He would have to be to defeat Gandalf, an incarnate Maia. Yet the WK was defeated by Eowyn and Merry. It's so confusing.
Basically, I'm saying he could have, not would have.
Essex, I really like what you said earlier about smaller, weaker people beating the bigger, stronger people. And I can easily see the examples thoughout Tolkien's works.
- Bard beat Smaug.
- Gandalf beat the Balrog. (Gandalf might not be weaker, but the Balrog is definitely bigger!)
- Gondor/Rohan beat Mordor's army.
- Sam beats Shelob.
- Frodo (indirectly) beats Sauron.
- Eowyn/Merry beat the Witch-King.
It's a very nice theme to have, and I'm glad you pointed it out.
