> >
> > Begging to differ, but what about Gandalf's smoke rings in
> > _The Hobbit_? They are described as being multicolored, and moving
> > around on their own, I believe. It certainly seems that Gandalf was
> > using MAGIC, and not skill. And this for mere entertainment.
> > I'm sure it was a minor spell, and _The Hobbit_ is a bit
> > different from the other books, but still.
> >
> > Didn't Gandalf also use spells to produce light in dark places?
> > Again, it's minor magic, but it is used casually.
>
> Yes, he did use those kinds of magics in a few spots. But his powers were
> assumed to be *FAR* greater than that, and he used those abilities very
> sparingly. If you want to pick at nits, that's OK. But I don't believe
> that minor exceptions like that invalidate the overall argument.
Well Gandalf was sent into the world to fight Sauron and wasn't he
actually a spirit being (Istari, Maia - Same level power as Sauron before
Sauron fell) who was sent in human form to fight Sauron? (There ware 5
wizards but Saruman, the chief one became evil, and Gandalf really does
NOT want to be tempted because he knows the same thing could happen to
him.)
>
> Consider as well that Frodo attempted on several occassions to give the One
> Ring to folks he felt were better qualified, but they refused to take it
> because its corrupting influence combined with their already powerful magic
> would make them as bad as Sauron. I stick by my assertion that casual use
> of strong magics was a Bad Thing(tm) in Tolkein's universe
The bad guys magic ("Morgul" or sorcery) is evil. The hobbits use "magic"
to mean both good and bad powers which Galadriel finds confusing.
Tolkein's universe is morally black and white, mnotheistic (Eru - One God
plus a host of angels or Valar created the world), with a Satan-figure
(Morgoth in the First Age - he was Sauron's boss; lesser "demons" became
things like the Balrog), and has elements of the supernatural in it
although by the Third Age they are not as out in front (the first two ages
ended in divine intervention and certain places geting drowned or wiped
off the map!) Anyway I think magic is mostly treated as supernatural in
Tolkein. THe elves call upon the names of angels such as Elbereth/Varda
the Star Kindler and it does appear to have the power of a kind of prayer.
Language itself is powerful - Gandalf does use spells - and Sauron creates
the Black Speech well, for evil spells and curses. Prayers, curses and
oaths all have power. Fantasy universes in general are black and white,
and Tolkein was a very religious man by all accounts (some say it was
partly his influence why C.S. Lewis became a Christian, and later a
Christian apologist). There's more bad magic than good magic because the
very desire for power is corrupting, as is lusting after material things.
Actually I have heard the claim that Tolkein was a Luddite! He does seem
to be a bit of a tree hugger. The original Two Trees (manifestations of
divine light?) were destroyed by Morgoth; Lotho seemed to be out to
industrialize the Shire; and Saruman chopped down trees out of nothing but
spite. The White Tree is a sign that the King has come back to
Gondor/Arnor. And so on. The Ents are tree beings and destroying beautiful
forest is treated as something verging on blasphemy. Scuze Me I've been
poring far too much over LotR (and the appendices) lately and reading
freinds' Tolkein A-Z, Languages of Middle Earth and other books (not sure
they are all still in print). I need to get around to reading the whole
Silmarilion, although it's harder to plow through being written in
quasi-biblical tones I hear.
Kristin
