Tony Meade
Active Member
SESSION 98
Comment on Gandalf’s veiled power:
Comment on Gandalf’s veiled power:
- Gandalf’s physical body is not a manifestation of his will, but he is truly incarnated, and is subject to the same fears and hurts as other incarnated beings.
- He does use the metaphor of uncloaking in terms of revealing his power, not his true form.
- Note: It’s easy to project the later writings in Unfinished Tales back into the original text of The Lord of the Rings, and Tolkien was a careful reader of his texts, but he was not thinking of those interpretations when he wrote the original texts. These were his later thoughts and theories.
- Gandalf’s metaphorical cloaking has to do with his restraint and humility, regarding his power.
- Note: The idea of angelic visitors who conceal themselves in a form is parallel to the way that the Ainur usually move among the people of Middle-earth, but the wizards are different. Olórin had appeared as an elf in the First Age, but now, as Gandalf, his body is permanent.
- If Gandalf were seen through the eyes of someone in the wraith world, its conceivable that he would look similar to the humans or hobbits, unlike Glorfindel, even showing his power.
- Why do they melt the splinter? It is not simply a foreign object Frodo’s body, but is physical manifestation of the will of the Witch-king and a connection to him.
- Melting the splinter destroys or unmakes the splinter, severing its power over Frodo.
- The splinter is a physical object, which requires physical destruction, but its power is spiritual.
- Gandalf reassures Frodo, using the destruction of the splinter, against any kind of relapse.
- Hobbits have a more than simply physical resilience, but a spiritual one based on their culture.
- Is Gandalf trying to sound more confident of Frodo’s healing than he actually is? He seems confident of Frodo’s curing, though not his complete healing, but needs to raise his spirits.
- The breaking of the Witch-king’s connection is broken, and of that Gandalf is fully confident.
- What was Elrond’s procedure? Was this a surgical procedure involving cutting Frodo’s body?
- Healing scenes are left intentionally vague, and their procedures are usually unseen, as here.
- It’s possible that there was powerful song involved in the spiritual struggle with the Witch-king.
- It’s also possible that the splinter was never physically removed, but sung or spoken out of existence, like the rest of the blade was disintegrated by the sunlight earlier.
- Note: The role of the Vilya, the Ring of Air, is unclear and not a specific power, but more general.
- Note: We have to be careful not to imagine modern medical procedures, as this is spiritual war.
- There is no evidence that the wound was reopened, as there is no reference to bandages.
- The reason for the shift to the passive voice is to keep the subject, the splinter, paralleled later.
- Gandalf also uses the passive voice to emphasize that he was not the one to do all these things, but rather that it has been done. This also adds to the mysterious nature of Elrond’s healing.
- Elrond is likely well-versed in physical medicine, but Elrond’s healing is also largely spiritual.
- Note: The only times that the word “bandage” is used in the text are references to blindfolds.
- Elrond is not only a lore master, but Rivendell is associated with refreshment of body and spirit.
- Gandalf’s suspicion that there was something left in the wound was driven by the ongoing spiritual struggle which Elrond was not able to overcome. It was only confirmed the last night.
- The symbolism of the splinter near Frodo’s heart implies the spiritual struggle for Frodo’s will.
- It is only after they identify the source of this ongoing connection, Elrond can sing the right song.
- In a spiritual sense, this may have been something akin to an exorcism, with Elrond speaking or singing words over Frodo that drive out an evil influence.
- Has this procedure been performed before? There is precedent for Morgul wounds, as Gandalf says, which seems based on his own estimations, but this particular wound may be unique.
- There is a possibility that this kind of Morgul-blade is novel, as evildoers are shown to constantly improve their weapons and other creations and increase their power.
- Its also possible that that they have never seen a hobbit with this kind of wound before, and the fact that this is a hobbit makes things different, spiritually speaking.
- Elrond’s recognition of the role and value of the hobbits in the battle with Sauron is a recognition of the strength of humility, though almost everyone else underestimates hobbits.
- It doesn’t only seem to be hobbit resilience that plays a part in Frodo’s survival for seventeen days. There is also his blessing as an Elf-friend and the assistance of Strider and Glorfindel.
- Frodo and the other hobbits don’t feel strong or even that they are winning these encounters.
- Note: This is not completely true of all hobbits, as Lobelia might be susceptible in her bitterness.
- Gandalf emphasizes that strength does not always look conventionally strong, like warriors.
- Hobbit resistance to fading is more a spiritual attribute than a physiological inherited trait.
- Note: Many people find moral instruction and inspiration in The Lord of the Rings, especially around topics like the strength of humility and resistance to spiritual temptations and downfalls.
- We are shown again and again in Tolkien’s writings that it is the mightiest who fall hardest.