this post was submitted on 11 Nov 2023
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I know it's a meme and all, but I feel like good jokes need to be rooted in a bit of truth otherwise it's just... Stuff you say for no reason? And this is that. Are we forgetting all the times he was instrumental? Dude was like the most influential character. Nudging so many different people in the right direction. Not to mention the Balrog or how he protected frodo from the eye when he put the ring on at amon hen, the Jedi mind tricks used on saruman, etc
But, it's interesting how he's so different from the "mage" of other fantasy / D&D.
For example, he uses a sword along with his staff. He's the most powerful mage, and yet he needs a sword?
Also, he doesn't seem to use any direct-damage magic. He doesn't throw fireballs, he doesn't cause enemies to be hit by lightning. He also doesn't directly create illusions. Most of what he does is very subtle. He claims he can read minds, he gives ponies greater stamina, he opens doors, he lights or extinguishes fires, but mostly for lighting not for damage.
That's partly because most of this stuff precedes modern fantasy media and also because Tolkien said that Gandalf isn't actually a wizard it's just that to him wizard was the closest word he could find to describe him. As back then wizard just meant very wise person, afaik. A more apt term for him nowadays would be "sage", I guess? Dunno. Also, Gandalf isn't human, he's a celestial being and he's not allowed(?), I think, to use the full extent of his powers. Either way, yeah.. the more I learn about Tolkien's work the more interesting it becomes.
Well, way back when, wizard just meant wise man (wise + -ard). The connotation with magic is centuries older than Tolkien, though.
Actually, ard is a negative suffix, as in drunkard, sluggard, etc..
Wizard meant wise guy.
Actually, that's where it comes from anyway.
I meant actually as in fun fact, not correction, sorry.