When Gandalf finally revealed himself, I admit I gasped out loud and yelled out to Jeff, who was in the kitchen, "YAY!!! GANDALF'S ALIVE!!!" He was highly amused at my reaction. :-)
I still don't completely understand why he has decided to permanently change his trademark colour from grey to white, especially with Saruman being so closely associated with white.
Was somewhat surprised by the revelation that it -wasn't- Gandalf who appeared to them that other night, and stole away their horses. If it was Saruman, then why the attention paid to the fact that the figure wore a hat, not a hood, and that the horses sounded happy, not fearful? I'm sure I'll find out eventually.
The messages from Galadriel to Aragorn and Legolas were pretty foreboding! To what purpose, I have to wonder? They obviously weren't meant to be "you can do it, guys!"-types of encouragements...geez. The message for Legolas sounds a lot like an epitaph: "Legolas Greenleaf long under tree / In joy thou hast lived." As for Galadriel's warning that he "beware the Sea", couldn't she have been a bit more specific?
I got a kick out of seeing how Gimli's mood changed when he found that Galadriel had sent him a message after all. :-) Gimli's starting to grow on me; wasn't sure if I liked him at first. Now I find his character more appealing that Aragorn's. Aragorn's a noble figure, to be sure, but by now you can probably tell that I tend to be drawn more to the quirky rather than noble. Hm...then how does that explain why I like Galadriel so much?
I suppose because she is such a wonderful combination of wisdom, humour, regal yet practical, and compassion, admitting her weaknesses and being proud of her strengths.
re: movies. Cate Blanchett actually looks like I picture Galadriel as I read the book. I loved her in Elizabeth (who, by the end of the movie, had all the characteristics I listed above), and am looking forward to seeing her in the upcoming movie.
Yikes, sounds like battle scenes are approaching. I'm generally not keen on that sort of exposition (laborious strategic descriptions, and so on), and am bracing myself for worst, just in case.
But at least Gandalf's alive. :-)
Replies: 17 comments
I find that each time I read the story, I might be more interested in a particular character or type of character than I was previously. Tolkien did an absolutely marvelous job with all of them. I find it funny that some critics say that LOTR doesn't have good character development. Perhaps they are thinking of the standard way it is done in modern novels. But LOTR is more of a heroic epic. I like the way the characters are fleshed out in LOTR. I think the approach is sort of a "show me, don't tell me" method. Tolkien could have written in a character description of Pippin, for example, that he is impetuous and inquisitive. But isn't it better to draw that conclusion ourselves by observing his actions? That's how we have to do it in real life after all. We can only know the people in our lives by observing their actions and listening to their words. This is exactly how we get to know the characters in LOTR, and they are all interesting and believable.
Don't worry about any upcoming battle scenes.
Posted by Ufthak @ 2001 May 20 11:17 PM EST
All will be revealed - in time...
Like the images revealed in her mirror, Gladriel's words are indeed cryptic - but useful and significant
Gimli and Legolas make a great pair - yin and yang.
Great to see you hooked on the story, and thanks so much for sharing your journey with all.
Posted by Christopher B. @ 2001 May 20 11:23 PM EST
You're right. Strider (sorry, I mean Aragorn) is somewhat on the noble, hoity, toity side of things. But I always felt safe when he was in the story, like he could always get the other characters out of trouble. Of course, I also felt that with Gandalf. So when they were together, enemies beware! You must admit, the team of Gandalf,Aragorn,Gimli, and Legolas is pretty cool and imposing.
Posted by Roland @ 2001 May 20 11:35 PM EST
at last! i couldn't wait till you reached this chapter. i'm so happy at your reaction *sigh* even though i presume you suspected Gandalf was alive all along.
and there's nothing to worry about battle scenes- in fact one or two of the most dramatic scenes are reserved for battle- it's not a military account or anything like that =]
Posted by yiorgos @ 2001 May 21 05:53 AM EST
I don't know whether you've been told about all the history of the elves and stuff, but there's a place called Aman away off to the west, where mortals can not go (because it is out of the circles of the world...), but when elves are weary of the mortal world they can depart there. Galadriel actually went there but came back again ; but that's another story. Suffice to say that she believes that she may not be allowed back, which is part of the reason she refused the ring: "I pass the test I will remain Galadriel ... and go into the west" (or something like that) It is also why at the end of her lament she says something along the lines of Sii vanwa naa, romello vanwa Valimar!, valimar=aman. "Now it is lost, lost to those of the east, Valimar" (free translation). BTW there are other things in that song that could be spoilers if you read carefully ;)
Greg
Posted by Tirno @ 2001 May 21 06:38 AM EST
White is more the colour of the highest of their order... HINTHINT Is Saruman realy white? read on
Oh! You know how people you dont take to seem to die off in you... try not to be to attached in the coming chapters, as one of the people you may like is the next important one to die (but that's for in some 200 pages ;)
Greg
Posted by Tirno @ 2001 May 21 06:45 AM EST
One more post...
The meaning of my second to last post was that Legolas, on approaching the sea would no longer be happy w/ Middle-Earth and would yearn for Aman (maybe...)
Posted by Tirno @ 2001 May 21 06:49 AM EST
I am so glad you made it to Gandalf's return without an over-zealous reader spilling the beans. :-) Your reaction to his unveiling made me laugh, I still have the urge to shout YEAH whenever I read about his return.
Posted by Cameron @ 2001 May 21 09:20 AM EST
Oh dear...concerned about battles. Well did you think Sauron was going to roll over and present his belly? But don't worry Tolkien is a strategic warrior not an overly gruesome one. While there are battles coming they are necessary to the story. "In the heat of battle, the mettle of a man is wrought" or so goes a Medieval Knight's Crusader codex. Some interesting (and dare I say humorous) moments actually crop up.
Strange thing is, that the battles that may ensue are that things that I believe Peter Jackson may have the most difficult job preparing for the movies. He once described what the > would look like if he could get the actual people who fought in it to recreate it. It was a stirring description that, near the end had me thinking "Gee that sounds just about how I imaged it would be like". He then showed just how difficult a job he had in front of him by saying "It would be great, but it still wouldn't be >" So if PJ thought that he had a difficult time bringing the battles to the screen, given all the other triumphant things he has supposedly done, then Debbie image what you have in store!
TTFN
Posted by Rallas @ 2001 May 21 11:06 AM EST
Hey...looks like the parser doesn't like amp;gt; and amp;lt; signs.
In my previous read "name of battle removed for safety" for the amp;gt;
Posted by Rallas @ 2001 May 21 11:09 AM EST
Whoa whoa whoa! Take it easy Tirno! Those aren't what I'd call genuine spoilers, but you're getting close.
I'm glad you like Cate Blanchett. I'm really looking forward to seeing what she can do as Galadriel.
Posted by Phil @ 2001 May 21 01:26 PM EST
Debbie,
You don't know how much I had to bite my tongue when you were lamenting Gandalf's death earlier. An interesting note regarding his fight with the Balrog is that both the Wizards (Istari) and the Balrogs have the same roots. Both were Maiar in the early times (as was Sauron himself). The Maiar were the second highest level of being created by Iluvatar, behind only the Valar. The Balrogs were seduced to evil by Morgoth (who was a Valar who fell away from Good). Essentially, the Balrog likely was a being who had been known to Gandalf before he fell to evil.
Posted by Jeff Bohnhoff @ 2001 May 21 05:34 PM EST
I, too, have been following this page with delight, experiencing vicariously the discovery of Middle Earth for the first time.
As your first impressions of characters like Gimli, Sam, etc. have changed, so you will suddenly find Aragon growing on you. It is not his time, yet...
Posted by Steve @ 2001 May 21 05:41 PM EST
As I know one would have had to read "The Silmarillion" to know this I don't think it is a spoiler. When the elves first set out for Valimar they went in three groups. The part of the third group never left middle-earth. They are the Sindarin. It is inherent in the Sindarin that if they hear the cry of the gulls that it awakens a longing to complete the journey. Legolas, though he lives amongst sylvan elves is Sindarin. As to what happens? Keep reading.
Posted by J'nae Rae Campbell @ 2001 May 21 10:50 PM EST
Funny how Aragorn is now "noble" whereas you highly mistrusted Strider. Tolkien definately shows his characters; he saves exposition for the landscape.
I've read LOTR over a dozen times (lost count) and I'm only 22. I still get something new and different each time I read it.
Posted by Christopher @ 2001 Jun 01 08:01 AM EST
I was relieved to find Gandalf alive at this point.
Posted by Glen @ 2001 Jun 01 02:29 PM EST
Gandalf's encounter with the Balrog is like his rebirth. When he speaks of lying naked after the battle it is signfiicant. He is remade after the battle. He even says he is Saruman as he should have been. He was Gandalf the Grey, now he is Gandalf the White (and you'll recall Saruman changed to many colors. He spoiled the white robes by trying to change them).
Posted by GEM @ 2001 Jul 05 03:25 AM EST
