Gandalf, a Character of Depth and Complexity
Gandalf is one of the most memorable characters in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth legendarium, including The Lord of the Rings. His name may be familiar even to those who aren’t fans of Tolkien’s works, but Gandalf’s history and significance go beyond his appearance in The Lord of the Rings movies and books. This is because Gandalf’s name is not his only or even first name – he has gone by many others throughout Middle-earth’s history.
According to the Lord of the Rings, Gandalf is a Maia, a shapeshifting, angel-like being created by the Lord of the Rings god Eru Ilúvatar before the universe itself. He was initially known as Olórin and was one of the five wizards sent to Middle-earth to help guide and assist in its creation and maintenance.
Gandalf’s name is derived from the Men of Northern Middle-earth and means “Wand-elf” in the language used in Dale. The “Grey” part of his name is due to his cloak, which he wore to symbolize his order as an Istari. Other colors, like white or brown, were associated with other wizards, such as Saruman and Radagast.
Gandalf died in the fight with the Balrog of Moria, but he was resurrected in a new form. In this new form, he took on the title “Gandalf the White” and the role of the leader of the Istari, which had previously been held by Saruman.
The Lord of the Rings is a franchise that has spanned multiple movies and a TV show, including Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, as well as the Amazon series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. The franchise is based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s book series, which began in 1954 with The Fellowship of the Ring.