the white is stronger than the Grey. Why?

[The Barrow-Wight]

<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Wraith of Angmar
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Re: the white is stronger than the Grey. Why?

The Istari (the wizards) were sent to Middle-Earth by the Valar with a definite purpose but a very vague idea of the methods they were to employ to accomplish their goals.

Gandalf slowly but surely manipulated the enemies of Sauron until all the pieces were in place. Unfortunately, when he was at the height of his purpose, he unexpectedly met the Balrog in Moria. With his human body dead, his spirit (as Gandalf he was really a spiritual being inhabiting mortal flesh) returned to Aman. There he was revitalized and returned to his body where it lay in Middle-Earth.

But at the same time the Valar were restoring Gandalf to health (in whatver manor it is that they do such a thing) they were seeing that Saruman had fallen from his task and was actually opposing it. They made the decision that Gandalf returned would have to do the work of two wizards (or 3 or 5, depending on how you look at it). To do this they allowed Gandalf to reveal more of his spiritual power than before, no longer hiding his true nature as he had done as 'the Grey'.

In the end, with the Ring destroyed, Gandalf no longer exhibited any of his 'enhanced' powers. In fact, he really just seems to have acted as an old man after that. Saruman also was nothing but an 'old man' after the Ring was gone and the purpose of the Istari was complete. But because he had turned to evil, his true spiritual form was denied its return to Aman. In the Scouring of the Shire you see his spirit rise up and 'look' westward, only to be blown away in the wind.

The Barrow-Wight (RKittle)
<font size="2">I usually haunt http://www.barrowdowns.comThe Barrow-Downs</a> and The Barrow-Downs http://www.barrowdowns.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgiMiddle-Earth Discussion Board</a>.</p>