The Grey or the White: Which Do You Prefer?

[bacon]

There is a very distinct persona of Gandalf, as seen in Gandalf the Grey and Gandalf the White.

Gandalf is of course a Maya Spirit put into the form of an old man, a withering old man, and though he is thousands of years old, he seems to be able to move around quite decently. Gandalf the Grey shows that even as a wizard he has his downsides. He is annoyed easily, as seen in the Mines of Moria, even at the Gates when he grows very ill at not being able to open the doors, and even when asked by Peregrin Took about opening the doors, he replies, 'Knock your head against these doors, Peregrin Took. But if that does not shatter them, and I am allowed a little peace from foolish questions, I will seek for the opening words.' Gandalf the Grey also shows a rather warm side, a fatherly side, to Frodo Baggins quite often, and even to Peregrin later on in the mines when he takes his watch time so that the hobbit may sleep. This all seems to disappear when he returns as Gandalf the White.

Gandalf the White seems to be more of a general, a war hero who strategizes with others, and makes daring rescues, witnessed in the Battle of Helm's Deep. Though not gone completely, Gandalf the Grey's characteristics seem to change quite strangely.

Which do you prefer? Gandalf the Grey? Or Gandalf the White?

By far, I choose the Grey Man. He seems to be much more nicer and easier to be around than Gandalf the White. Of course, this is only judging by the books. I have no professional opinion.

[RaditzSoldier]

White. It's way much more comfurting. You feel safe with him around.

[Sword the Valiant]

Yeah, white.

[bacon]

I find the Grey to be much more 'comforting'. He is also much more friendly, and easy to be around, and he is more of a father figure than Gandalf the Grey is. The White is moreso of a leader in battle than a wizard.

[DDL]

admin said:

I find the Grey to be much more 'comforting'. He is also much more friendly, and easy to be around, and he is more of a father figure than Gandalf the Grey is. The White is moreso of a leader in battle than a wizard.

Huh? Gandalf the Grey is more of a father figure than Gandalf the Grey?

I prefer Gandalf the Grey, as he is kinder and gentler than Gandalf the White, and Gandalf the Grey is closer to Frodo.

[minyaliel]

I agree with you, DDL. But also, I am kind of fascinated by the White, because, as you might know, Gandalf is one of the Maiar, a spirit serving the Valar ("Gods"), and when he's the Grey he kind of hides that, but it shows more clearly when he's the White.

[DDL]

Yeah, I don't have anything against Gandalf the White, I just like Gandalf the Grey better. I do wish Gandalf the Grey would have showed his 'Maiar' side more often. I've never seen the term 'Maiar' before..what book is it in?

[minyaliel]

The SIL

[Phoenix]

I like Gandalf the Grey better. He just seems much more human, and you can actually look up to him like a grandfather figure or such.

[bacon]

Yeah, that's what I always admired in both the books and the trilogy and even in Bakshi's version, though he overplays the quality, which is actually that he is human and that he does display human-like features, such as happiness, anger, frustration, and sadness. It seems that Gandalf loses these qualities when he becomes the White, though perhaps it's because he's in a chess match with Sauron over the fate of Middle-Earth... he does seem much more like the Grey at the end of ROTK.