Few wizards have left a lasting impact on popular culture like Gandalf from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. Despite being a powerful wizard, Gandalf rarely uses magic, and his true nature is that of a Maiar, one of Middle-Earth’s equivalent of angels. As a Maiar, Gandalf is both immortal and less powerful than he appears, as he is restricted from directly interfering in events.
Gandalf and the other Istari, including Saruman, were sent to Middle-Earth around the year T.A. 1000 to guide mortals in their resistance against the Dark Lord Sauron. The Istari were banned from directly interfering in events and were restricted to serving as counselors and sages. Gandalf’s true name is Olórin, and he was created by the divine Eru Ilúvatar along with the rest of the Maiar and Valar.
As an Istar, Gandalf is functionally immortal, similar to the Elves, and his body is merely a vessel to hold his spiritual essence. However, his immortality only shields him from the passage of time, and his body can still be injured or destroyed. Gandalf’s immortality is not invulnerability, and he has died before, including when he fell in the course of his battle with the Balrog Durin’s Bane.
Despite his immortality, Gandalf’s true nature is that of a servant of the Secret Fire, and he is allowed to wear more of his power openly after his resurrection. This is why he took up the mantle of Gandalf the White, ensuring that the true protagonists of The Lord of the Rings, Frodo Baggins and Sam Gamgee, completed their quest to destroy the One Ring.
The Lord of the Rings is a multimedia franchise based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s book series, which has seen mainstream popularity with Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.
