I simply loved this theory,
Pitchwife!
Ingenious.
It reminds me of the debate on the werewolves: there is an idea that they were all Gorthaur's children/cubs - when he assumed a wolf-form himself and showed his attentions to female wolves.
Not that I believe this to be true...
On the other hand, I don't believe that shape-shifting is simply a spell that can be
learned by anyone. Remember, the Maia Sauron lost his own ability to shape-shift after the Downfall. If it were but a simple spell, he would have found it, undoubtedly. But it must have been his own inherent ability as a Maia.
We are not even expressly told that the Istari had this ability themselves. The words that Rhadagast "
was a master of shapes and changes of hue" are a bit ambigous and might be part of the earlier conception (see below). Saruman surely could look like Gandalf, if he wished so, but it was more like disguise than true shape-shifting. There is no indication that Gandalf could shape-shift. In fact, I am sure he couldn't - otherwise he wouldn't need Eagles to fly. and Shadowfax to ride.
I believe that in early Tolkien's writings (Lay of Leithian, Tale of Beren and Luthien, the Hobbit, and even the beginning of LOTR), shape-shifting was considered no big deal, a rather simple thing to do. Not only Sauron and Turingwethil could shape-shift, but also Luthien and Finrod, Beren, Beorn and his people, Radagast, the nazgul (who in the drafts
assumed the shape of giant vultures). But then, while Tolkien was writing the Return of the King, he greatly restricted the shape-shifting ability, leaving it maybe for only the strongest Maiar and Valar. Nazgul assuredly lost the ability to shape-shift, and I think the Istari and Sauron lost it at this point as well.
Yet as the two first volumes of LOTR were likely already in print, Tolkien failed to edit some remnants of the earlier ideas. I think the words about Radagast are among these. But the worst bug is left in TT:
Quote:
|
Gandalf: “For he was a Nazgul, one of the Nine, who ride now upon winged steeds. […]But they have not yet been allowed to cross the River, and Saruman does not know of this new shape in which the Ringwraiths have been clad.
|