Gandalf the Who?

[Rae ArdGaoth]

I just know I'm going to get eaten alive for this. Well, here goes nothing.

I've read LotR (I liked the Hobbit the best), I've seen the movies, and I liked them all fairly well. (Though, I must admit, the books moved really really slow. Silly pop America, my brain has melted.) Here's my question: Why the heck is Gandalf so great? He's got a very cool personality, I'll give him that, he's wise and intelligent, he's funny sometimes, really serious at others, and his (not really) death made me cry. But how is he the greatest wizard in Middle Earth? He makes fireworks and his big stick lights up a few times. Big whoop. (I can feel the spears coming, aimed for my heart.) So tell me, why is he so great?

 

[Aust Diamondew]

Well he does shoot lightning bolts on occaision.

 

[Desdichado]

Because he's more in tune with "the will of Manwe" which in turn makes him more in tune with the will of Eru, or God. Also because Gandalf, as a rule (to use his own words) doesn't show his power very often. Indeed, it's arguable whether it ever really gets shown all the way "on screen" so to speak in the entire run of LotR.

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

Also, the wizards were forbidden from using their power openly - Gandalf only really cuts loose against the Balrog, the Witch-King, and to a certain extent, Saruman). Their true purpose was to inspire Men to take care of business themselves.

 

[Mark]

So tell me, why is he so great?

He makes me laugh...

 

[PhoenixDarkDirk]

There's also the fact that there were only ever five wizards in the whole world. It isn't all that hard to be the best in such a small field.

 

[The Serge]

You have to consider Gandalf within the context of Middle-Earth rather than a more contemporary high/genre fantasy world. He's quite impressive when you understand the cosmology of Middle-Earth. Standing up against a balrog, even what some suspect is a weak one, is no small thing.

However, what makes Gandalf such a great character is that he is surprisingly complex despite his unwavering goodness. You cite the reasons to love and respect him quite well in your initial post.

We will not hang you. This time.

 

[Andre]

So tell me, why is he so great?

Because the good guys won!

Seriously, Gandalf's job wasn't to kick Sauron's backside, it was to serve as a wise counselor, uniting the free peoples of Middle-Earth, enabling them to defeat the darkness that threatened. And he succeeded magnificently. Thanks to Gandalf:

Bilbo found the Ring.
Smaug was killed.
Frodo got the Ring, and later made it (barely) to Rivendell.
The Balrog was slain.
Rohan repelled Saruman's attempts to subvert and conquer the kingdom.
Aragorn came to possess the Palantir.
Rohan came to the aid of Gondor, allowing Gondor to resist the first overt attempt by Sauron to conquer Minas Tirith.
Aragorn used the Dead Men to stop the Black Fleet, bringing loyal Gondorians to the city's aid, allowing the city to resist...(you get the idea).
Gondor, led by the Heir of Isildur, distracted Sauron at the Black Gate long enough for Frodo and Sam to reach Mount Doom.
Gollum was alive to attack Frodo and cause the destruction of the Ring.

Behind every important event, there was Gandalf prodding others to make the right choice. It was still their choice, and some chose badly (Denethor, Saruman), but most listened and their actions mattered. And Gandalf never used compulsion. That, more than anything else, is why he never became another Sauron and why he's so great. He led the good guys to victory against impossible odds.

 

[trancejeremy]

IIRC, Gandalf is actually a god, sorta, not really a wizard.

 

[reanjr]

I just know I'm going to get eaten alive for this. Well, here goes nothing.

I've read LotR (I liked the Hobbit the best), I've seen the movies, and I liked them all fairly well. (Though, I must admit, the books moved really really slow. Silly pop America, my brain has melted.) Here's my question: Why the heck is Gandalf so great? He's got a very cool personality, I'll give him that, he's wise and intelligent, he's funny sometimes, really serious at others, and his (not really) death made me cry. But how is he the greatest wizard in Middle Earth? He makes fireworks and his big stick lights up a few times. Big whoop. (I can feel the spears coming, aimed for my heart.) So tell me, why is he so great?

Just goes to show how low-magic Lord of the Rings is.

Oh, and he's a god.