For fans of The Lord of the Rings: Gandalf vs. the Witch-King of Angmar

[Shiann]

dennisknapp:

Do you want to venture into Tom Bombadil territory? His nature, his philosophical meaning.

Peace

Again, a great topic! But I think that too many times the discussions of Tom Bombadill become a “what is he?” discussion vs. a “what he represents” discussion. Too often I think, people try to infer Tom Bombadills origin is directly related to his purpose. Which is a falicy in my opinion.

I read one of Tolkien’s letters on Tom and found the following quite moving, and I think a good reflection of his NATURE:

“The story is cast in terms of a good side, and a bad side, beauty against ruthless ugliness, tyranny against kingship, moderated freedom against compulsion that has long lost any object save mere power, and so on; but both sides in some degree, conservative or destructive, want a measure of control. But if you have, as it were taken ‘a vow of poverty’, renounced control, and take delight in things for themselves without reference to yourself, watching, observing, and to some extent knowing, then the question of the rights and wrongs of power and control might become utterly meaningless to you, and the means of power quite valueless.” (Letters, p. 178)

I find his discussion of Tom an ellusive philosophy for me to grasp- because my very nature seeks to know the question of right and wrong of power. But even though I grasp the edges of his ideas of simplicity and “just living” (Henry David Thorough and the philosophy of transcendentalism comes to mind…) I can appreciate the benefits of such a life. I guess maybe Tolkien was just offering a snippet of that philosophy in this tale.

It is really only a fair few who can take the path that Tom Bombadil does and truly experience life outside of everyday troubles and just live. It is very hard for me to adopt a perspective, similar to that of Tom, where everything I view, and everything I conclude is without reference to myself.

Now this pushes us to the philisophical meaning of Tom in this story. I wonder if, (please realize this is quite a leap), Tolkien was just so enraptured by the ideas of Tom Bombadill, and what that character represented to him at that time in the world, that he just couldn’t imagine this grand story without a character like that.

Tom Bombadill is the perfect antithesis of WAR and conflict. Maybe Tolkien intended to create a bigger connection to Tom throughout the story. But I personally think the ending that he came up with was MUCH more realistic, and representative of what the “everyman” can accomplish. We can accomplish good! We MUST seek justice! Tom Bombadill was incapable of doing either because his reference point was outside of “good and evil”.

When someone reads FOTR for the first time, and asks about Tom and his connection to the rest of the story, I feel sorry for them! Tom is an enigma. I can remember thinking, the first time I read the stories, that I was glad that the Hobbits finally got some resting time, and that there was a light at the end of the tunnel! It seems to me that this part of the story is just so long and so frought with running and escaping and sneaking. It was a good respite!

 

[wisdom_3_5]

Have any of you read the Unfinished Tales? My husband got them for me, but I haven’t started it yet (too much on my shelf ya know?)

 

[Bobby_Jim]

Shiann:

LOL… This, I’m afraid is a question I don’t think Tolkien himself could have answered. It seems to me that Tolkein had a philisophical idea in his head- That EVIL cannot make, it can only corrupt. I think that Tolkien wanted to convey this in all of his evil races… by having them come forth from a supposedly “good” race. Like orcs springing from elves through corruption.

But I also think that Tolkien had not quite completed the whole idea of the orcs. I have seen people question not just their origins, but how long they live, and how they reproduce- (we don’t hear much about Orc females do we? )

I have seen some letters/documents/articles where Tolkien espouses that Orcs could be corrupted Men, Elves, or even that Morgoth had imbued beasts with some of his will to allow them some measure of “will”.

Isn’t there a point in The Two Towers - when Merry and Pip meet Treebeard, and he’s giving them some background info on Ents, and he says something like: “you’ve heard of trolls perhaps? Trolls are corrupted from the Ents, just as orcs are corrupted from Elves”.

No further explanation given. But I’m pretty sure I remember reading that. But that would raise a question - do the Ents know this for sure? Since according to other posts, Tolkien himself was not so clear on the subject. Maybe it’s a legend of the Ents…

 

[Shiann]

Bobby Jim:

Isn’t there a point in The Two Towers - when Merry and Pip meet Treebeard, and he’s giving them some background info on Ents, and he says something like: “you’ve heard of trolls perhaps? Trolls are corrupted from the Ents, just as orcs are corrupted from Elves”.

No further explanation given. But I’m pretty sure I remember reading that. But that would raise a question - do the Ents know this for sure? Since according to other posts, Tolkien himself was not so clear on the subject. Maybe it’s a legend of the Ents…

A fundamental concept for Tolkien was that Evil cannot create, only corrupt. In one of his letters he explained that to a first approximation, Treebeard was wrong:

“Trolls are only counterfeits, made by the Enemy in the
Great Darkness, in mockery of Ents, as Orcs were of
Elves.” (The Two Towers)

and Frodo was right:

“The Shadow that bred them can only mock, it cannot
make: not real new things of its own. I don’t think it gave life
to Orcs, it only ruined them and twisted them …”
(The Return of the King)

Tolkien:
“Treebeard is a character in my story, not me; and though
he has a great memory and some earthy wisdom, he is not
one of the Wise, and there is quite a lot he does not know
or understand.” The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien

“Suffering and experience (and possibly the Ring itself) gave
Frodo more insight …” The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien

So while it is true that Tolkien indicated the origins of Orcs in the story, he also gave mention in several of his other publications to other possibilities.

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

Other Eric:

Hi dennisknapp!

I should think that Gandalf ultimately would have declined combat with the Witch King. True, Gandalf was a Maiar spirit, but he was also forbidden by the Valar to come forth in power as one. Gandalf’s charge was to assist the mortal world in solving its own problems. In every instance in the books Gandalf only functions as an agent to help the main characters (the mortals) prevent the unfettered destruction of the world.

The problem with Gandalf is that he is both superior in kind to the Witch-King (who is a Man), and yet, Gandalf has taken on a human form, so that even though he has passed through death, he is (perhaps) still not quite as he would have been had he never left Valinor. (Perhaps his death has made him like Glorfindel - see TFOTR.) The Maiar who did that, had to adopt human forms which did not stop them being immortal, but did hinder their memory of their origin.​

Their taking on forms not theirs by nature, is very interesting: one of the signs of the ruin of both Melkor and Sauron, is their inability to renew or change their visible forms: which is why Sauron is stuck with four fingers on one hand after his return in the Third Age; in the Second, he could still assume one that was beautiful. After the Ring is destroyed, he is finished - compare also Saruman’s death. Gandalf’s form is renewed by his death: like that of Glorfindel, if this Glorfindel is the one who was killed in the Silmarillion.

So it’s not clear whether the king of Angmar is Gandalf’s equal.

In the Silmarillion, there is a Maia called Olorin - he appears to “be Gandalf” in The Lord of the Rings. There is further info about the Maia, Gandalf, his nature, and names, in “Unfinished Tales”: he is one of the five Istari, or Wizards, described in that book. ##

 

[dennisknapp]

## The problem with Gandalf is that he is both superior in kind to the Witch-King (who is a Man), and yet, Gandalf has taken on a human form, so that even though he has passed through death, he is (perhaps) still not quite as he would have been had he never left Valinor. (Perhaps his death has made him like Glorfindel - see TFOTR.) The Maiar who did that, had to adopt human forms which did not stop them being immortal, but did hinder their memory of their origin.

Their taking on forms not theirs by nature, is very interesting: one of the signs of the ruin of both Melkor and Sauron, is their inability to renew or change their visible forms: which is why Sauron is stuck with four fingers on one hand after his return in the Third Age; in the Second, he could still assume one that was beautiful. After the Ring is destroyed, he is finished - compare also Saruman’s death. Gandalf’s form is renewed by his death: like that of Glorfindel, if this Glorfindel is the one who was killed in the Silmarillion.

So it’s not clear whether the king of Angmar is Gandalf’s equal.

In the Silmarillion, there is a Maia called Olorin - he appears to “be Gandalf” in The Lord of the Rings. There is further info about the Maia, Gandalf, his nature, and names, in “Unfinished Tales”: he is one of the five Istari, or Wizards, described in that book. ##

Here is a question: When Gandalf’s quest is done and he finally returns to Valinor what does he do with his incarnate form? Will he stay as Gandalf the White or will he assume his previous Maiar nature.

Remember, in the Silmarillion the Valar can assume physical form, but only as we do clothing and their power is not diminished.

In the case of Gandalf, and the other wizards, their incarnation into physical form is more limiting, and they can be killed, forget what was once known, be hungry, be corrupted, and actually age.

This type of incarnation seems more than just putting on physical form, but making the form now part of your nature.

So, what does he do when he returns to Valinor?

Peace

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

dennisknapp:

Here is a question: When Gandalf’s quest is done and he finally returns to Valinor what does he do with his incarnate form? Will he stay as Gandalf the White or will he assume his previous Maiar nature.

Remember, in the Silmarillion the Valar can assume physical form, but only as we do clothing and their power is not diminished.

Melkor excepted, of course ​

In the case of Gandalf, and the other wizards, their incarnation into physical form is more limiting, and they can be killed, forget what was once known, be hungry, be corrupted, and actually age.

This type of incarnation seems more than just putting on physical form, but making the form now part of your nature.

So, what does he do when he returns to Valinor?

Peace

IM(VH)O, the imagery used for the appearances of Gandalf the White, for the description of the return to Valinor, and for the appearance of Glorfindel at the Fords of Bruinen, rather suggests that Gandalf has already taken on his proper form that he would wear in Valinor - there is a lot of light-imagery in these descriptions.​

So I would agree with you - he has made that new form “part of [his] nature”: or rather, it has been bestowed on him.

“The nearer to Valinor, the more exalted” seems to be a working assumption: not because the land is blessed, but because the blessed dwell in the land. So, that should be “The nearer to the Valar, the more blessed”; but it has to be in a way that respects the government of the world as committed to them. Which is why it is OK for Gandalf to return to Valinor - “[his] task is done, because [he] was the enemy of Sauron” - but wrong for the Numenoreans to try going there. They had been blessed anyway, because they were more favoured than other men: they lived longer, they were fairer, they were far mightier, they were taller. Then they messed things up - spectacularly.

In “She”, by Rider Haggard, the queen Ayesha is beautiful & immortal from bathing in a fire - she returns to it, and dies. IOW, trying to have more than you have, means losing what you possess already. This was where the men of Numenor messed up - by trying to have more than they had, they came to lose everything. Like Melkor; and unlike Gandalf. Their form too is dependent on the same sort of ethics and metaphysics as that which governs the adaptability of form of the Wizards or of Sauron and Melkor and the Elves. (Even the Valar are limited when they descend into Arda - but “it is a condition of their love”: this seems to cast light on the limitations of the Wizards; and contrasts with the unlovely limitations of Melkor and those whom he deceives.)

Actually, the Numenoreans do pretty much what the Noldor did in the First Age: and the result for the Noldor was the “fading of the Elves”. Gandalf leaves Valinor in obedience to the Valar, for the sake of others, does not “desire dominion”, does what he was sent for, and is renewed: the movement is the reverse of that of the Elves.

IOW, everything in Tolkien seems to tie in with everything else. ##

 

[Rand_Al_Thor]

First off, I think they completely ruined this scene in the movie. It was absolutely NOTHING like it was in the book. In the book, Gandalf is the only one who doesnt flee before the Witch-king when he rides through the gates of Minas Tirith. In the movie, Gandalf just runs into him and basically gets beat down. I can’t believe they had the Witch-king break Gandalf’s staff.

I’m a huge Tolkien fan. I’ve read LotR, The Hobbit, and most of the Silmarillion. I’ve also taken a class on Tolkien at my college. Gandalf is a very interesting character. Tolkien loved his hierarchy and he has, among the Ainur, the Valar (Melkor/Morgoth was one of these) and then there are the Maiar (Sauron is one of these spirits). Among the Maiar are the Istari, the wizards. They are of the same order, but slightly less power. We know only of three out of the five Istari: Gandalf, Saruman, and Radagast; the other two are a mystery.

 

[Tyler_Smedley]

Rand Al'Thor:

We know only of three out of the five Istari: Gandalf, Saruman, and Radagast; the other two are a mystery.

The other two’s colors were red and blue, and they disapeared into the east together right?

 

[dennisknapp]

Tyler Smedley:

The other two’s colors were red and blue, and they disapeared into the east together right?

They were both blue.

Peace

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

Rand Al'Thor:

First off, I think they completely ruined this scene in the movie. It was absolutely NOTHING like it was in the book. In the book, Gandalf is the only one who doesnt flee before the Witch-king when he rides through the gates of Minas Tirith. In the movie, Gandalf just runs into him and basically gets beat down. I can’t believe they had the Witch-king break Gandalf’s staff.

They did rather make a hash of it - OTOH, I thought the mumaks were outstanding: far bigger than a house.​

I’m a huge Tolkien fan. I’ve read LotR, The Hobbit, and most of the Silmarillion. I’ve also taken a class on Tolkien at my college. Gandalf is a very interesting character. Tolkien loved his hierarchy and he has, among the Ainur, the Valar (Melkor/Morgoth was one of these) and then there are the Maiar (Sauron is one of these spirits). Among the Maiar are the Istari, the wizards. They are of the same order, but slightly less power. We know only of three out of the five Istari: Gandalf, Saruman, and Radagast; the other two are a mystery.

Have you read any of the volumes of the “History of Middle Earth” ? There are twelve altogether. Unfinished Tales is another book not to be missed.​

 

[Rand_Al_Thor]

## Have you read any of the volumes of the “History of Middle Earth” ? There are twelve altogether. Unfinished Tales is another book not to be missed. ##

I’ve been meaning to, but I’ve got so many other books to read! To much to read and too little time, I say. Plus this term at school I have more reading than I’ve ever had to do in my life, so I haven’t been reading on my own lately (though last week I did treat myself to a reading of The Magician’s Nephew).
Oh, and I did forget to mention another Tolkien book…I’ve also read some of The Tolkien Reader.

 

[Shiann]

Tyler Smedley:

The other two’s colors were red and blue, and they disapeared into the east together right?

As dennisknapp so correctly stated they were both blue. And we know their names were Alatar and Pallando from the Istari essay in Unfinished Tales.

But then in Last Writings Tolkien gives other names for the blue wizards, “Morinehtar” and “Romestamo” (“Darkness-slayer” and “East-helper”), and suggests that the Blue Wizards came to Middle-earth in the Second Age in the company of Glorfindel.

So again, maybe Tolkien himself was more interested in them philisophically- and hadn’t nailed down the details for their purpose in these stories.

 

[Shiann]

dennisknapp:

Here is a question: When Gandalf’s quest is done and he finally returns to Valinor what does he do with his incarnate form? Will he stay as Gandalf the White or will he assume his previous Maiar nature.

Well, I am on the side of the debate that when he battled the Balrog in Moria, Gandalf DIED. When he died, he sloughed off all that was Gandalf.

“The darkness took me, and I strayed out of thought and time, and I wandered far on roads that I will not tell.”
“Naked I was sent back-for a brief time, until my task was done. And naked I lay upon the mountain-top.”
“I tarried there in the ageless time of that land where days bring healing not decay. Healing I found, and I was clothed in white.”
(Book 3, The Two Towers, “The White Rider”)

and

He tells Wormtongue at Theoden’s halls, “I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a serving-man till the lightning falls.” (“The King of the Golden Hall”) He then later tells Saruman at Orthanc, “Behold, I am not Gandalf the Grey, whom you betrayed. I am Gandalf the White, who has returned from death.” (“The Voice of Saruman”) In both of these Gandalf specifically tells those listening that he has been through death.

He left his physical body, which constitutes death for those in Arda who cannot freely toss away this body (i.e. the Children of Iluvatar could not, and neither could the Istari, being bound by the Valar to those bodies).

He specifically says twice and to two different people (one of them Saruman, who is also an Istar, and thus would not need things put in “words he can comprehend”) that he passed through death.

Remember, in the Silmarillion the Valar can assume physical form, but only as we do clothing and their power is not diminished.

It is my understanding that the Valar sent the Maiar spirits, as the Istari, to aid Middle Earth against evil. The Valar chose for them a physical form which limited their powers to intervention and aid.

In the case of Gandalf, and the other wizards, their incarnation into physical form is more limiting, and they can be killed, forget what was once known, be hungry, be corrupted, and actually age.

I do not know of any evidence that refutes this, and we can show evidence for the corruption in Saruman.

This type of incarnation seems more than just putting on physical form, but making the form now part of your nature.

I rather see it as Olorin, (Gandalf’s Istari identity), putting aside his true nature as a Maiar to get a job done. Once he returns to Valinor, I believe he returns to his Maiar form.

So, what does he do when he returns to Valinor?

Becomes angelic once again.

 

[dennisknapp]

Shiann:

Well, I am on the side of the debate that when he battled the Balrog in Moria, Gandalf DIED. When he died, he sloughed off all that was Gandalf.

“The darkness took me, and I strayed out of thought and time, and I wandered far on roads that I will not tell.”

“Naked I was sent back-for a brief time, until my task was done. And naked I lay upon the mountain-top.”
“I tarried there in the ageless time of that land where days bring healing not decay. Healing I found, and I was clothed in white.”
(Book 3, The Two Towers, “The White Rider”)

and

He tells Wormtongue at Theoden’s halls, “I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a serving-man till the lightning falls.” (“The King of the Golden Hall”) He then later tells Saruman at Orthanc, “Behold, I am not Gandalf the Grey, whom you betrayed. I am Gandalf the White, who has returned from death.” (“The Voice of Saruman”) In both of these Gandalf specifically tells those listening that he has been through death.

He left his physical body, which constitutes death for those in Arda who cannot freely toss away this body (i.e. the Children of Iluvatar could not, and neither could the Istari, being bound by the Valar to those bodies).

He specifically says twice and to two different people (one of them Saruman, who is also an Istar, and thus would not need things put in “words he can comprehend”) that he passed through death.

It is my understanding that the Valar sent the Maiar spirits, as the Istari, to aid Middle Earth against evil. The Valar chose for them a physical form which limited their powers to intervention and aid.

I do not know of any evidence that refutes this, and we can show evidence for the corruption in Saruman.

I rather see it as Olorin, (Gandalf’s Istari identity), putting aside his true nature as a Maiar to get a job done. Once he returns to Valinor, I believe he returns to his Maiar form.

Becomes angelic once again.

Wouldn’t it be interesting if because of all Gandalf has been through and what he has done, that he choose to remain in his incarnate form?

Could it be that he is so much changed that to become what he formerly was would be to not be who he now is?

Peace

 

[Shiann]

dennisknapp:

Wouldn’t it be interesting if because of all Gandalf has been through and what he has done, that he choose to remain in his incarnate form?

Could it be that he is so much changed that to become what he formerly was would be to not be who he now is?

Peace

This would be true if you assume that Gandalf the Grey/Gandalf the White has spiritual “growth” where his experiences form his spirit (as is with humanity) vs. his spirit forming his experiences (as with angels)…

I guess I would offer that Gandalf, in all his names and all his forms is still the same spiritually that he was as a Maiar, and that the various forms he has taken over the stories are mere “costumes” or “uniforms” he puts on to accomplish a said goal.

These uniforms restrict him in ways, and frees him in others- so when his time comes to leave Middle Earth for Valinor, I believe he is returned to his original state, completely free from all restrictions, and able to be completely and truly what the Valar created him to be.

Olorin (Gandalf) was his name in Valinor

He was the wisest of the Maiar chosen by the Valar to be an Istari. (one uniform) As an Istari, he was removed of certain memories and was restricted in his angelic powers to the end goal of training and assisting the children of Iluvatar in defeating Melkor and Sauron. This is when he first took the form of an old man. (Gandalf the Grey).

He guided the heros and pursued evil until doing battle with the Balrog. He died as Gandalf and returned to Valinor. The Valar then equiped him as the (now vacant) “white” wizard and was allowed certain powers, (and given back some Maiar memory if you really want MHO. ) in order to assist the heros in the upcomming battle, AND because he was the only “counselor” Istari left.

When his tasks in Middle Earth were completed, I believe he was allowed to return to his original/natural state where he regained his memories and powers as a Maiar.

Since being a Maiar is of an elevated nature from Gandalf’s other forms, I would assume that his Maiar form would also contain the memories of his other forms. (Gandalf the White remembering Gandalf the Grey), and would therefore allow him to contain ALL his memories and experiences where his other forms were restricted in memory and powers.

When you speak of his “nature” changing, I believe it is the nature of Olorin that changes throughout his experiences as Istari. I do not think his Maiar nature is “so far gone” as to cease to be, just because he was an Istari.

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

Rand Al'Thor:

I’ve been meaning to, but I’ve got so many other books to read! To much to read and too little time, I say. Plus this term at school I have more reading than I’ve ever had to do in my life, so I haven’t been reading on my own lately (though last week I did treat myself to a reading of The Magician’s Nephew).
Oh, and I did forget to mention another Tolkien book…I’ve also read some of The Tolkien Reader.

Real readers do not read Readers ​

 

[dennisknapp]

Shiann:

This would be true if you assume that Gandalf the Grey/Gandalf the White has spiritual “growth” where his experiences form his spirit (as is with humanity) vs. his spirit forming his experiences (as with angels)…

I guess I would offer that Gandalf, in all his names and all his forms is still the same spiritually that he was as a Maiar, and that the various forms he has taken over the stories are mere “costumes” or “uniforms” he puts on to accomplish a said goal.

These uniforms restrict him in ways, and frees him in others- so when his time comes to leave Middle Earth for Valinor, I believe he is returned to his original state, completely free from all restrictions, and able to be completely and truly what the Valar created him to be.

Olorin (Gandalf) was his name in Valinor

He was the wisest of the Maiar chosen by the Valar to be an Istari. (one uniform) As an Istari, he was removed of certain memories and was restricted in his angelic powers to the end goal of training and assisting the children of Iluvatar in defeating Melkor and Sauron. This is when he first took the form of an old man. (Gandalf the Grey).

He guided the heros and pursued evil until doing battle with the Balrog. He died as Gandalf and returned to Valinor. The Valar then equiped him as the (now vacant) “white” wizard and was allowed certain powers, (and given back some Maiar memory if you really want MHO. ) in order to assist the heros in the upcomming battle, AND because he was the only “counselor” Istari left.

When his tasks in Middle Earth were completed, I believe he was allowed to return to his original/natural state where he regained his memories and powers as a Maiar.

Since being a Maiar is of an elevated nature from Gandalf’s other forms, I would assume that his Maiar form would also contain the memories of his other forms. (Gandalf the White remembering Gandalf the Grey), and would therefore allow him to contain ALL his memories and experiences where his other forms were restricted in memory and powers.

When you speak of his “nature” changing, I believe it is the nature of Olorin that changes throughout his experiences as Istari. I do not think his Maiar nature is “so far gone” as to cease to be, just because he was an Istari.

I believe Tolkien said in one of his letters that Gandalf did not return to Valinor after his death, but left both time and space. The Valar are bound to time and space (this was one of the conditions of them entering into Arda), so he could not have gone there.

Tolkien mentions that Gandalf left this world’s realm and went to the realm of Eru (or God). There his powers were increased (the Valar cannot do this either, only God) and returned to Middle Earth.

Peace

 

[dennisknapp]

## Real readers do not read Readers ##

Hey, everything helps.

But the most helpful source I have found are the* Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien*.

Peace

 

[Shiann]

dennisknapp:

I believe Tolkien said in one of his letters that Gandalf did not return to Valinor after his death, but left both time and space. The Valar are bound to time and space (this was one of the conditions of them entering into Arda), so he could not have gone there.

Tolkien mentions that Gandalf left this world’s realm and went to the realm of Eru (or God). There his powers were increased (the Valar cannot do this either, only God) and returned to Middle Earth.

Peace

I’m sorry, but I thought your comment was

Wouldn’t it be interesting if because of all Gandalf has been through and what he has done, that he choose to remain in his incarnate form?

Could it be that he is so much changed that to become what he formerly was would be to not be who he now is?

I’m not sure WHERE he went after dying has anything to do with what he would become if he were to return to the place where he came from upon his final journey from Middle Earth.

My comments, directed to your question, were that Gandalf- where ever he has been since leaving Valinor as an Istari- has been LESS of what he was when he was a Maiar. My comments of him returning to the Valar after his death in Moria are speculation. But much of Tolkien’s work is speculation. He help an amazingly broad perspective of the lands of Middle Earth, all their inhabitants and all its geography. He spent a lifetime filling in the details and etching out a history for his imaginary world, but it is still full of inconsistancies and error, or just plain omittance.

Here is a comment I found where Tolkien speaks of Gandalf’s death directly:
For in his condition it was for him a sacrifice to perish on the Bridge in defence of his companions, less perhaps than a mortal Man or Hobbit, since he had a far greater inner power than they; but also more, since it was a humbling and abnegation of himself in confirmity to ‘the Rules’: for all he could know at that moment he was the only person who could direct the resistance to Sauron successfully, and all his mission was in vain. He was handing over to the Authority that ordained the Rules, and giving up personal hope of success.
…So Gandalf sacrificed himself, was accepted, and enhanced, and returned. ‘Yes, that was the name. I was Gandalf.’ Of course, he remains similar in personality and idiosyncrasy, but both his wisdom and power are much greater. When he speaks he commands attention; the old Gandalf could not have dealt so with Theoden, nor with Saruman. He is still under the obligation of concealing his power and teaching rather than forcing or dominating wills, but where the physical powers of the Enemy are too great for the good will of the opposers to be effective he can act in emergency as an ‘angel’ - no more violently than the release of St. Peter from prison…
Gandalf really ‘died’, and was changed: for that seems to me the only real cheating, to represent anything that can be called ‘death’ as making no difference… He was sent by a mere prudent plan of the angelic Valar or govenors; but Authority had taken up this plan and enlarged it, at the moment of its failure. ‘Naked I was sent back- for a brief time, until my task is done’. Sent back by whom, and whence? Not by the ‘gods’ whose business is only with this embodied world and its time; for he passed ‘out of thought and time’. Naked is alas! unclear. It was meant just literally, ‘unclothed like a child’ (not disincarnate), and so ready to receive the white robes of the highest. Galadriel’s power is not divine, and his healing in Lorien is meant to be no more than physical healing and refreshment."
[The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, (#156)]