Sometimes known as Gandalf the Grey or Gandalf the White, this wizard is an iconic character in 's trilogy. Although not the protagonist of the series, he is a prominent character and much beloved for his wisdom, for his true heart, and for oftentimes speaking in clever and humorous riddles. Gandalf may be quick to anger and a formidable enemy, but he is truly good natured, spirited, and quick to laugh. And he is brave. While not afraid when confronted by some of the darkest and most terrifying villains, he is hesitant to take on formidable opponents until he knows that he has the power and tactical advantage to do so—yet another reason why Gandalf is the wisest character in all of Tolkien's writings!
Gandalf is integral to the plot of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and he makes appearances in , ,, and The History of Middle-earth. Much beloved in Tolkien's series, the character also rose to prominence with the Peter Jackson adaptation of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. In the films, Gandalf is portrayed by Sir Ian McKellan, whose performances have been widely praised.
Who is Gandalf?
When Gandalf first appears in , he is described as such: "He wore a tall pointed blue hat, a long grey cloak, and a silver scarf. He had a long white beard and bushy eyebrows that stuck out beyond the brim of his hat." But Gandalf has a long history that begins before the events of The Fellowship of the Ring—in fact, when the audiobook begins, he's over 2,000 years old already! He was originally known as Olórin, one of the Maiar in the Undying Lands, and he is fundamentally good. He was sent to Middle-earth to help fight against the Dark Lord Sauron alongside other wizards, but he is the only one to remain true to his mission. Upon his arrival on Middle-earth, he takes the form of an old man robed in grey (hence becoming known as Gandalf the Grey) and wanders the Westlands. Walking among the Hobbits, Elves, and Dwarves that lived there, he dispenses wisdom when the occasion rises, all the while learning about their various cultures and history and making friends and allies. He's also known in Gondor as Mithrandir, which means The Grey Pilgrim, for his grey robes and penchant for wandering the lands.
During his many years of traveling, Gandalf never loses sight of his purpose for being on Middle-earth and becomes increasingly unsettled by Sauron's growing power. He is sought out to aid the Dwarf King in his fight against Smaug in The Hobbit, which is how he meets Bilbo Baggins. After the events of The Hobbit, he keeps in contact with Bilbo and meets his nephew, Frodo. Early on, he comes to suspect that Bilbo possessed the Ring. And when Frodo inherits the Ring, Gandalf intervenes in order to destroy it.
