The Breaking of the One Ring-Part 2

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Nov 1, 2003

Part Two-The Breaking of the One Ring

Mordor is home to Sauron, evil enemy of the world. Sauron is often described as a lidless eye, constantly vigilant and expecting attack. Like his predecessor Melkor (Morgoth), Sauron is motivated by envy and whishes to destroy that which he cannot dominate. The motivation of Melkor is explicitly described in The Silmarillion: he envied Iluvatar the creator of all things and would not sing his music, instead making discordant noise spoiling Iluvatar's song. Sauron is similar in many ways to his former master Melkor in his desire to create discord. Envy is the prime mover of conflict the world. Sauron has a counterpart less powerful than himself in Saruman. Saruman is a member of Gandalf's order but corrupted by the envy and the desire for domination. He covets the One Ring and wishes to displace Sauron as the dark lord of the world.

Gandalf unlike Saruman is a good wizard and he acts as a catalyst for action between the high world of supernatural beings and the world of ordinary men.

Gandalf like Galadriel struggles with a desire for power. Neither can accept possession of the One Ring because they feel that in taking it they could not resist the temptation to become a supreme lord. It is Galadriel who states this most clearly in her encounter with Frodo as he offers her the ring. Incidentally, she recognizes that his offer is a test thought he did not offer it with anything like this in mind. She says, "and now at last it comes. You will give me the Ring freely! In place of the Dark Lord you will set up a Queen. And I shall not be dark, but beautiful and terrible as the Morning and the Night! Fair as the Sea and the Sun and the Snow on the Mountain! Dreadful as the Storm and the Lightning! Stronger than the foundations of the earth. All shall love me and despair!" and then "I pass the test, she said. I will diminish, and go into the West, and remain Galadriel." (FR, p. 381). Both Gandalf and Galadriel struggle to relinquish grandiosity which they are able to discern in themselves.

Though it is not explicitly stated in LOTR, it is hinted in The Silmarillion that Gandalf is Olorin and is one of the Maiar who has dwelt with Manwe in the Halls of the Dead and come to know of grief and pity. It is explicitly stated that Gandalf is the Enemy of Sauron. He has been sent by the Valar who have been moved by pity of the people of the Middle-earth: "wisest of the Maier was Olorin. He too dwelt in Lorien, but his ways took him often to the house of Nienna, and of her he learned pity and patience." (S, pp 30-31). It is also said, "for though he loved the Elves, he walked among them unseen, or in form as one of them, and they did not know whence came the fair visions or the promptings of wisdom that he put into their hearts. In later days he was the friend of all the Children of Iluvatar, and took pity on their sorrows; and those who listened to him awoke from despair and put away the imaginations of darkness." (S, p. 31). We know also that Gandalf wrestled with and survived an encounter with a Balrog on the bridge in Moria. Balrogs were corrupted Maiar: "dreadful among these spirits were the Valaraukar, the scourages of fire that in Middle-earth were called the Balrogs, demons of terror." ( S, p. 31). Only another Maiar could hope to challenge a Balrog; not even the powerful elf-warriors had been able to withstand them.

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