Gandalf - geat or a joke of a wizard?

[FlameofAnor]

Like it was mentioned, Gandalf was a Istari Wizard - one of five. He was one of the more powerful beings in existence, sent on divine purpose. In the midst of a Hobbit and a band of Dwarves, though, he is but a wizard - a 'conjurer of cheap tricks,' if I may borrow the saying. No doubt powerful, but to simple folk like Hobbits and Dwarves, not much more than that. To prance around like some deity shooting lightning from his fingers, glowing like an angel would no doubt, for one, make him unapproachable, and two, give away his whereabouts and intentions to the enemy.

Don't forget about Radagast the Brown, too. Tolkien says he was counted in the same class as Gandalf, but, according to the lore, his stayed out of the affairs of Men and Elves, and lived in the forest, going so far as to forsake his purpose.

I think when we think of a 'wizard' nowadays, we think of a powerful conjurer like we see in movies and other fantasy stories. I don't think Tolkien wanted his wizards to be quite so stereotypical, Mickey Mouse in a point hat, type characters. Plus, I like Gandalf's bit of subtly when dealing with minor enemies, like those creatures. It makes his confrontation and power against more sinister forces, like the Balrog, more epic.