Gandalf’s primary nemesis is Sauron, the Dark Lord of Mordor, whom he was sent to Middle-earth to combat. However, in terms of direct, personal opposition, Saruman the White serves as his betrayer and rival, while the Balrog (Durin's Bane) is his physical nemesis, resulting in a mortal fight on Zirakzigil. Fandom +2
Saruman, also called Saruman the White, later Saruman of Many Colours, is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy novel The Lord of the Rings.
Gandalf, known largely as the Grey and later, briefly, the White, and originally named Olórin (Quenya), was an Istar (Wizard), dispatched to Middle-earth in the Third Age to combat the threat of Sauron.
Saruman had always been jealous of Gandalf, and knew that he was keeping secrets from him, such as his suspicion about Bilbo's ring and Narya, secret. Gandalf also suspected Saruman of plotting to gain the One Ring for himself, and hinted at this at a meeting of the White Council.
The writings do say that Gandalf (Olórin) was reluctant to be sent as one of the Istari because he feared Sauron. You heard it from his own mouth. "It would be his toughest test yet. He had never fought a Balrog.
Why was Sauron afraid of Aragorn potentially possessing the Ring? Gandalf explains it in the Return of the King (during the council after the battle of the Pelennor fields) that Sauron would never think somebody would want to destroy the One Ring.
The reason is that Gandalf, or maiar Olorin, was the wisest maiar, surpassing Sauron in wisdom. When he had the ring, he would use that wisdom to carry out justice, however, it would be a selfish and distorted justice. He would do evil while thinking he was good, even more terrible than pure evil.
Saruman in turn considered him simple (minded) and a fool and can be heard saying that he (Radagast) acted in a manner contrary to how an Istari should behave. However, he was fundamentally good and honest and therefore did not fall to the shadow, but did fail in his appointed task.
Underhill was the name Gandalf gave to Frodo Baggins before he set off on his quest during the War of the Ring. Sauron had already learned of Baggins through Gollum and using the name outside of the Shire would prove dangerous, thus a secret identity was formed.
The fall of Gondolin and the fall of Troy
The Elf Ecthelion leads the charge against the Orcs, and fights Gothmog, the greatest Balrog; they wound each other and both fall into the king's fountain in Gondolin; both drown.
Sauron was the most powerful of the Maiar—primordial spirits created to help the Valar first shape the World. His original name was Mairon, which means "the Admirable," and as an immortal spirit born before the world's creation, he was able to perceive the Creator Eru Ilúvatar directly.
Rateliff thus concludes that Radagast was much like Gandalf; both were good wizards. But Radagast was weaker and his role overshadowed by Gandalf's achievements. Therefore it is difficult to conclude whether or not Radagast failed.
Sméagol - all the rest knew what may happen, the ultimate sacrifice to be given, they made a choice to do what must be done to defeat Sauron and his armies of evil. Sméagol had no choice, he was driven , right to the end by the will of the ring…!
Frodo comes of age as Bilbo leaves the Shire. Frodo inherits Bag End and Bilbo's ring. Gandalf, uncertain about the origin of the ring, warns Frodo to avoid using it and to keep it secret. Frodo keeps it hidden for the next 17 years, and it gives him the same longevity and youthful appearance it had given Bilbo.
Smaug (/smaʊɡ/) is a dragon and the main antagonist in J. R. R. Tolkien's 1937 novel The Hobbit, his treasure and the mountain he lives in being the goal of the quest.
He marries Diamond of Long Cleeve; they have a son, Faramir. He later becomes the Took, head of his clan, and Thain of the Shire. Like Merry, he is buried as a hero alongside King Aragorn in Gondor.
Order of Wizards
The fantasy and science fiction author Marion Zimmer Bradley wrote that Frodo and Sam have the most intense love described in the book, stating that towards the end they attain "classical 'idealized friendship'" of an emotional force like that of Achilles and Patroclus in the Iliad, or David and Jonathan in the Old ...
Yes, Gandalf and the other Istari were sent to Middle Earth around the year 1000 of the Third Age , whereas Legolas is estimated to have been born sometime in the early Third Age. To clarify on this, Gandalf as a Maia (Angellic spirit, named Olorin) existed long before the beginning of time.
As mentioned, Gandalf is a Maiar, basically an angel and is forbidden from using his full power unless against beings like the Balrog. His duty is to guide the people of Middle Earth against Sauron. Making things like fireballs and lightning is "flashy"...that doesn't necessarily translate to great.
In LOTR the main protagonist is definitely Frodo. His character type is a criss cross between 2 types of protagonist. 1) the proactive protagonist and 2) the antihero. But Frodo did also exhibit characteristics of the 3rd and most popular protagonist type 3) the hero.
Middle-earth's first Dark Lord is Morgoth in The Silmarillion. Morgoth originates as Melkor, the most powerful of the divine or angelic Valar. He chooses to go his own way rather than to follow that of the creator, and creates discord. He is renamed Morgoth, the dark enemy.