Even as Aragorn and Boromir came flying back, the rest of the bridge cracked and fell. With a cry Aragorn roused them. This is the book version of course, but it clearly shows that he "vainly" grasped at the stone and was unable to hold on.
He fell into the abyss unwillingly, giving the warning for the company to flee. In the movie, he seems to have a more firm grip.
However it does make the point as happens in the book to show how utterly exhausted Gandalf is during this scene. In addition to him frequently leaning on his staff, you can just tell that the man is exhausted. In this sense, it is possible in the movie that he decided to let go so as to save the Company from running to his aid only to be shot at by orcs, as he knew he did not have the energy to hold on that long.
If you remember the scene in the movie Aragorn barely skips up the stairs past several arrows from across the abyss, had they gone to Gandalf's aid they would have been closer and under less cover from the archers. Gandalf is one of the Maiar After Melkor's death in the First Age, his agents were still scattered across Middle Earth unaccounted for. That includes Sauron, orcs, Balrogs, Dragons, goblins, etc. Gandalf and the other wizards were there as balance between those forces and the peaceful forces hobbits, elves, men, dwarves, animals, etc.
That being said, Gandalf HAD to confront the Balrog because it was naturally drawn to him; they shared the same level of existence as a Maiar. Even if the Fellowship did not run across the Balrog, the wizards eventually would have to delve after it to get rid of it outright and keep it from being a threat to middle earth.
It was the Dwarves that freed the Balrog in the first place. The wizards knew it was there, it just wasn't on the list of priorities at the time; after all-they already were investigating the possibility of Sauron manifesting himself. So, after Gandalf fell he could have just tried to run away and escape. The problem is one, the Balrog was gonna be drawn to him anyway as a natural enemy and two, he and the other wizards would have to come back and defeat it anyway at a later time.
The risk of defeating it at a later time is that the Balrog could have gotten out and caused more destruction, Sauron could have recruited it and used it in the war, or it could have disappeared entirely and caused random destruction all over Middle Earth until they could find it again.
The Balrog was not the brutish creature as portrayed in the movie. It had knowledge of itself and its purpose. It recognized Gandalf and his power. It had knowledge of weapons and their uses. This denotes intelligence. That's why he fought it on the way down.
Fighting it on the way down was a strategic move; the Balrog couldn't keep up with Gandalf while falling. Gandalf's initial plan though, was to stop it at the bridge; this was because at the time Frodo's mission with the ring was far too important.
Can you imagine what could happen if the Balrog ended up with the One Ring?! That's a chance Gandalf couldn't take. He wanted to drop the Balrog and continue on with the Fellowship; because he KNEW that the journey would get even more perilous as they got closer to Mount Doom especially since Saruman had already turned on them.
I think Gandalf becoming the White Wizard was reward from the Ainur for staying faithful to his purpose while also restoring the balance of power in Middle Earth after Saruman's betrayal to his purpose. Sorry for being long winded. I love talking about these books! Gandalf dropped because the fellowship were looking like they were coming back into the open on bridge to try to rescue him.
They would have been peppered with arrows and the chance of getting to him before he fell or was hit by an arrow himself was very low. What would have happened if Frodo had come runnning out and been hit by an arrow or other had been hit and Frodo was left to do the quest without combatants to protect him and friends to support him? Well for many reasons. I think one of the most important, was for his transition to become Gandalf the White.
Whether he did this knowingly or not ,that's for you to decide. But the way in which Gandalf operates always seems to be premeditated, predestined.
Another reason, probably thought by most people, was to allow the others to escape, which they naorly did, in fact I think it is so that they could go on the journey themselves, make mistakes because that's what makes this such a great story. They all have their own demons to deal with, and if Gandalf was with them at all times, They would never be able to complete their task.
Ii think he did it to kill the balrog so Sauron could not use him in the war. Find More Posts by HerenIstarion. If you've read the Two Towers, you find out about the battle above Moria between Gandalf and the Balrog where Galdalf defeats it. Here is where he gains the power to depose Sauraman sorta like leveling up after a big battle in any RPG.
First of all, Galdalf Olorin, one of the oldest and chiefest Miar of Manwe knows what the Balrog truly is, and that he can defeat it. Could it be that Gandalf let him self fall so that he could rid the world of a terrible evil?
Even in this case he is not more powerful than he was, but he's got more wisdom and authority, and is allowed to reveal more of his original power than he was before. Two reasons are there - first of them given by Gandalf himself - he says he's too weary already to fight such an enemy, Another one is that Balrog was inside Moria for quite a long time, showing no inclination to come out.
It's possible that Sauron would like to draw such a powerful spirit to his side, but it's not shown anywhere in JRRT's works, so assumption must be made that Balrog was going to stay inside Moria after Gandlaf's death as well if it was victorious, of course. Poor, poor Balrog. Well, you've got me there. And now that you mention it, the party was breaking and entering. Its like in Texas, shoot first and ask questions later. Off the subject, its great to find people so well versed and willing converse about all things Tolkien.
My friends loved the movie, but never go so obsessed with the books as I did. Also, if I remember correctly, Gandalf did not know it was a balrog until Legolas says that it is. Initally he just knows that he 'has met his match', although by the time he falls, he does know. My point is, if he did not even know what it was, how could he be assured of victory? What I would really like to know and this is my first post so forgive me if i'm in the wrong place here is what happened to Gandalf after he fell??
Some Balrogs I believe, after the War of Wrath fled to the roots of various mountains which I wrongly? Was it really an abyss ie. Then what? Why didnt the same thing happen to all wizards who met their demise?
I have so many questions please help. May I say that I am so enjoying being here and I have spent today reading past posts with the anticipation of reading most of them. I am impressed by many people's knowledge of all things Tolkien and some people just write so beautifully.
I am envious of those to whom such language comes so easily Tolkien included. You inspire me. Say hello to your Mum for me. Why did gandalf let go of the cliff? To get to the other side. Find More Posts by lindil. Hello, Varda's Wilwarin, welcome to the Downs, enjoy being dead, and post lots! I think there are two factors involved in Gandalf and the Balrog's survival, one being they fell into deep water which means it wasn't a real abyss, as you point out, it ended at some point -- only then climbing onto the uttermost foundations of the mountain-roots, and the other being that as Maia incarnate in bodies they were tougher and harder to kill than your average mortal.
Possibly they were able to slow their fall some way. Obviously, though, falling far and fast enough onto a hard surface would kill them, because the Balrog died that way after Gandalf cast him down from the peaks unless he was already dead.
The weight of the Balrog was not an issue because he could have flown if he righted himself. Wouldn't it be cool to have Balrog wings? In all seriousness folks the answer to this has been stated clearly by Rimbaud and others. It's simply a question of the movie screwing up yet another scene. The only RPG to fanfic on the downs!
Without law there can be no freedom. Without justice there can be no law. Meleph-whatever and anyone else who saw my now deleted, last, and most embarassing post may I offer my most sincere apologies. I have had just had THE worst last few weeks of my life and everything I perceive seems to come accross as an "everyone is out to get me" sort of thing and I totally took your comments the wrong way Mel.
I would like to confess to my total shame that I sent Mel a private and not so nice message also. Please can I just start afresh and say hello everyone nice to meet you all and I look forward to being dead and posting intelligent thoughts questions and comments in the future. Tolkien offers us escapism from life's problems but I should not have dragged my baggage into the world of Tolkien that you all share here.
Again I am sorry. Gandalf let go of the bridge for the simple reason that PJ thought it would be more dramatic and more sad and heroic and stuff. With all the Fellowship watching and Boromir holding Frodo back why did Boromir do that?
I can accept PJ's version of the Bridge. There's more drama to it, I agree. Find More Posts by Neferchoirwen. Varda's Wilwarin: that's quite all right, don't worry about it.
Hope things are going better for you. I don't think Gandalf deliberately let go to sacrifice himself. I agree with you. Mithuial and Neferchoirwen, I agree it was a dramatic scene in the movie, but I think it was too stretched out, long enough for us to feel like the company at least Aragorn could have pulled Gandalf out --not the impression I got from the book.
Hence, he fell down. Even when he was falling down, he still tells Fredo and the Gang to hurry because if he knew about the dangers of the orcs and the trolls and what they would have done to the fellowship. Gandalf also knew that the orcs hated sunlight and the fellowship would be much safer outside. Whereas, Balrog had no problems with the sunlight and he would have left moria in the trail of the Fellowship.
Gandalf the Grey chased down the Balrog to the peak of Zirakzigil. He also became a prey to the battle wounds and died. He was then resurrected by Eru Illuvatar into Gandalf the White.
His spirit traveled through time and space until Eru appointed Gandalf as the next white wizard. So, basically, he was appointed as a white wizard the head of the Istari, and was sent back to earth by the angelic Valar to ensure the defeat of Saruman. Saruman was the previous white wizard who became evil and joined Sauron in his goal of conquering the Middle Earth.
Table of Contents show. Why did Gandalf fight the Balrog? Why did Gandalf let go? Why did Gandalf pursue the Balrog? How does Gandalf defeat Balrog? Why did Gandalf come back?
About The Author.
0コメント