Aragorn has superhuman powers - among them foresight, a triple lifespan, and the ability to make the choice to die – I just don’t see any evidence that his healing powers were anything other than the natural result of him being by far the most learned human on Middle earth.
Similarly, the Hobbitish ability to sneak unnoticed is not supernatural. They don’t use magic to do it. They just walk really quietly.
Possibly, however that raises a question.
The whole idea of going this route was to avoid going through the Gap of Rohan (where Isenguard stood).
So you’re saying Gandalf recommended trying to tiptoe past a Balrog in order to avoid a confrontation with Saruman?
Aragorn and Gandalf are my favorite characters, so I will always consider them to be the heroes of the story.
But Tolkien did a really remarkable thing with his crafting of the four hobbits.
They represent the common folk of the English countryside.
Pushed into a situation they were never trained for, they overcame their limitations.
In comparison, Aragorn and Gandalf were ready to fight and win.
I really enjoyed the story. It is probably one of my most favorite myths of the 20th century.
I wonder who will write the next great one of the 21st.
Yep. Also, I said he may have suspected. Suspicion is not knowledge. But also he had been there before and gotten through just fine. Sneaking through again was a plausible decision.
The Balrog was probably less of a threat than Saruman, and certainly less of a threat than Saruman with the ring.
And they might have made it through Moria if not for that fool of a Took…
Most of the “magic” in the story performed by humanoids is explicitly said to be just the result of incredible degrees of lore, craftsmanship, and understanding. It may be that Aragorn just has a greater degree of nonmagical skill with healing than would be possible for any normal mortal. The fact that that degree of skill is possible for him could fairly be described as being a “power”.
“The hands of a king are hands of a healer.”
And this is not limited to Tolkein. In Real Life, people have long believed that a righteous and rightful King (at least Catholic ones, anyway) can actually heal some ailments merely by laying on hands. Tolkein appropriated that for LotR.
Yes, Aragorn had Something Else.
But I think that some Elven Skills fit Clarke’s Third Law: “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”
Gandalf had been through Moria once before, though he may have feared a Balrog, he would have some hopes it was dormant. Saruman was an immediate threat that was desperately searching for the ring and had recently been Gandalf’s jailer. But I am not sure Gandalf actually suspected a Balrog, just something more powerful then Orcs & Trolls.
Indeed, the Hobbits show remarkable depths.
Samwise rose so far above his peasant roots and upbringing, perhaps the bravest and surely the most steadfast.
Merry (unlike in the movie) was smart, courteous and got the Hobbits off to a fair start. He did well for a young Hobbit, studied maps at Rivendell and of course showed incredible bravery in striking the Witch King. Few men could stand against this most fearful servant of Sauron and yet Meriadoc the Magnificent managed to strike the blow that unknit the spells that allowed Éowyn the Fair and Suicidal to lop off his head. He then led the Scouring of the Shire.
Frodo was a Noble Soul, brave, smart and thoughtful. He willingly accepted the quest at Rivendell and carried the burden. It is also remarkable that in the end he would have failed if not for the mercy both Bilbo and later Frodo showed Gollum.
And Pippin was indeed a fool of a Took.
He was, but don’t forget he was basically a kid when he set out. As well as the foolish stuff he did, he was strong enough to resist Sauron long enough to keep information from him when he looked into the palantir, he killed a troll at the last battle, and he was became both a knight of Gondor and Thain of the Shire.
Point being, there was far more to him than the bumbling idiot Jackson made him out to be.
True, but even Tolkien used him as comic relief and with Sauron it was no strength of Pippin but Sauron being hasty.
Gandalf certainly didn’t suspect there was a Balrog was in Moria prior to entering the mines. After the Balrog tries to break his closing spell in the chamber of Marzabul, he explicitly says he does not know what he has encountered.
[QUOTE=Gandalf]
What it was I cannot guess, but I have never felt such a challenge.
[/QUOTE]
He only understands when he sees the Balrog at the bridge. It’s safe to assume that Gandalf and probably Aragorn would have heard of Durin’s Bane, but clearly did not understand what it was. It seems that the dwarves gave no clear report, probably because most who encountered it died. They would have hoped to travel through without encountering it. They had good reason for this, as Gandalf successfully traversed the mines many years before, when searching for Thrain.
Remember, there are things in Middle Earth outside of Gandalf’s knowledge. The nature of Caradhras is never explained, and Gandalf reports seeing nameless creatures gnawing the earth, in the tunnels below Khazad-Dum.
Ah yes, so did Eärendil really build a starship?
Excuse me, but what does Eärendil need with a starship?
Nope, he built a really awesome sailing ship and the Valar made it into a Space Ship. So it was magic and not Clarke’s Law.
No, this only proves that at that moment he wasn’t sure what he was facing–which could have been the Balrog he worried might have been lurking in Moria, or something else, he didn’t know, yet–and he didn’t want to name any suspicions he might have. “Cannot guess” could mean he has no idea, or it could mean he was an idea but he doesn’t want to name his name because he doesn’t want to panic the fellowship.
Gandalf certainly knew what Balrogs were, regardless.
I still say his lack of surprise suggests (but only suggests) he had an inkling a Balrog was Durin’s Bane. The question would be whether it was still in Moria or not.
If you’re arguing that “What it was I cannot guess” is ambiguous, you are on pretty shaky ground. On seeing it, he also said:
[QUOTE=Gandalf]
A balrog. Now I understand. What an evil fortune!
[/QUOTE]
Notice, he doesn’t say something along the lines of “as I feared”, which would support your position.
Taking “I cannot” absolutely literally is very silly. Of course he could have guessed; he was simply choosing not to.
I interpret “now I understand” to mean, “ah, it is indeed Durin’s Bane, the balrog, I had faced at the door.”
It’s speculation for sure, but none of your quoted comments disprove Gandalf possibly suspecting that a balrog was indeed Durin’s bane.
No, it’s silly to read things into the text that aren’t there, or favour a contrived explanation over a straightforward one.
It’s very simple, if Gandalf had serious suspicions that a balrog had survived and was in Moris, he could have guessed what he had just encountered in the chamber of Marzabul. “I cannot guess” is a stronger statement of ignorance than “I don’t know”. Do you think Gandalf is lying? That really wouldn’t be in character.
From the author’s perspective, it’s more dramatic and suspensful to have Gandalf in ignorance of what he is facing.