Well, Gandalf, it's nice to see you again, but... - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Rhod the Red · 05-09-2006, 05:02 AM

Gandalf doesn't really change in my view, after dying. He's just more explanatory of the world-situation. He explains things more, beginning in Fanghorn Forest to Gimli, Legolas and Aragorn.

Glaurung · 05-23-2006, 08:19 AM

Rhod the red, I'm afraid I have to disagree with you in this. Gandalf does change. He is somehow more distant and more god-like, and therefore less like an individual character.

I think I would have enjoyed LotR more if Gandalf had died. It would in my opinion make the story somehow deeper by making the readers understand that there is no second chance. War against evil (if you want to put it like that; I myself prefer not to use that rather idiotic phrase) takes its casualities, and in war both heroes and ordinary soldiers die. The death of Gandalf would have been a perfect example of this.

Had Tolkien originally meant Gandalf to die or not, it still seems like he hadn't. The way Gandalf just appears with a "hello, I didn't die after all, nice to meet you" feels rather improper. But then again, I am a tragedy-loving person so I might not be the best one to comment on this topic.

05-09-2006, 05:02 AM	#1
Rhod the Red Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: May 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 257	Gandalf doesn't really change in my view, after dying. He's just more explanatory of the world-situation. He explains things more, beginning in Fanghorn Forest to Gimli, Legolas and Aragorn. __________________ Head of the Fifth Order of the Istari Tenure: Fourth Age(Year 1) - Present Currently operating in Melbourne, Australia

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05-23-2006, 08:19 AM	#2
Glaurung Pile O'Bones Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Dancing in rain Posts: 16	Rhod the red, I'm afraid I have to disagree with you in this. Gandalf does change. He is somehow more distant and more god-like, and therefore less like an individual character. I think I would have enjoyed LotR more if Gandalf had died. It would in my opinion make the story somehow deeper by making the readers understand that there is no second chance. War against evil (if you want to put it like that; I myself prefer not to use that rather idiotic phrase) takes its casualities, and in war both heroes and ordinary soldiers die. The death of Gandalf would have been a perfect example of this. Had Tolkien originally meant Gandalf to die or not, it still seems like he hadn't. The way Gandalf just appears with a "hello, I didn't die after all, nice to meet you" feels rather improper. But then again, I am a tragedy-loving person so I might not be the best one to comment on this topic.