Summary
- Gandalf's return from death was made possible by Ilúvatar, the creator deity.
- Gandalf's resurrection was not simply a reward, but part of Ilúvatar's plan for him to take over the role of Saruman the White.
- Gandalf's return was a unique occurrence in Middle-earth, as very few individuals were able to come back from death.
In The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Gandalf was last seen plunging into the darkest pits of Moria along with the Balrog. However, The Two Towers revealed that Gandalf did not fall to his death but instead battled with the Balrog to his last breath. Despite his triumph over Morgoth's ancient minion, Gandalf the Grey passed from Middle-earth and returned even more powerful as Gandalf the White. However, fans still wonder how it was possible for anyone to return after death, let alone who had the power to send Gandalf back to the mortal realm. More importantly, why did this mysterious individual or individuals allow this to happen?
As with all of J.R.R. Tolkien's writings, a huge amount of detailed lore can provide an explanation. In the world of Middle-earth, there exist gods, magic, different planes of existence, and all manner of modern fantasy tropes spawned from Tolkien's brilliant mind. Although Gandalf portrayed himself as a simple magic user, he was clearly a lot more than some crackpot old man fond of fireworks. Further, the Wizards (or Istari) of Middle-earth were closer to real-life depictions of heavenly angels, who were originally tasked to protect Middle-earth and fulfill a critical purpose.
Updated on October 9, 2023, by Ajay Aravind: Played by Sir Ian McKellen, Gandalf is easily one of the most popular characters in The Lord of the Rings. Fans were left shocked and horrified when the beloved Wizard seemingly fell to his doom in the first movie, but the second installment proved that the heartbreaking scene was nothing more than a red herring. However, the details of Gandalf's mysterious return are still ambiguous to this day, especially to those unaware of Tolkien's overarching legendarium. As such, we've updated this feature with more information about Gandalf's death and resurrection.
Where Did Gandalf Come From?
Answering the puzzle of Gandalf's resurrection requires an understanding of his backstory. The Grey Wizard was never an ordinary mortal — on the contrary, he was one of the Maiar sent by the creator deity to safeguard and nurture the peoples of Middle-earth. Originally known as Olórin, he spent countless years with the other Maiar, as well as the Vala, who were the main architects and protectors of Middle-earth. Olórin was widely recognized for his wisdom, even among his already enlightened brethren. However, it's also important to note the role played by Nienna, the Vala of Mourning and Mercy, in mentoring Olórin. Almost all of his philosophy was sourced from Nienna, indirectly highlighting this Vala's influence on Middle-earth.
Until Sauron's defeat during the Last Alliance of Elves and Men, Olórin remained in Valinor. Moved by the plight of Middle-earth and the renewed threat of the Dark Lord, however, the Valar selected five of their best Maiar as guides for those who were fighting Sauron. When Olórin voiced his apprehension, King Manwë suggested that his fears were exactly why he was the right person for the job. Olórin decided to take on the appearance of a wizened old man upon landing in Middle-earth, becoming Gandalf for the first time.
How Did Gandalf Come Back?
Gandalf's role was to protect Middle-earth from evil, and that's exactly what he strove to do for hundreds of years. By distracting the Balrog found in the Mines of Moria, he allowed the Fellowship to escape with their lives and continue their journey to destroy Sauron. Their battle climbed "from the lowest dungeon to the highest peak," where, finally, Gandalf slew the Balrog on top of a mountain. But the fight against a minion of Morgoth was too much for Gandalf, and life inevitably left his body. A lot of the movie trilogy's fans had the same question after watching The Two Towers: How did Gandalf come back?
For most people in Middle-earth, death would release their spirit into the next step of their existence. Elven souls took a long period of absence before they were reincarnated in different bodies, whereas Men were taken to a place known only to the creator, Eru Ilúvatar. On the other hand, some souls were forcefully retained in Middle-earth, usually as the result of a curse. For instance, the spirits of Oathbreakers were punished and sent under the White Mountains, where Aragorn met and recruited them as his Army of the Dead. But Gandalf was special and was plucked outside of time and space by Ilúvatar, who somewhat resembles Christianity's all-powerful depiction of God.
Because of Gandalf's heroic sacrifice and proven valor, Ilúvatar granted him greater "wisdom and power" and sent him straight back to Middle-earth. While the Wizard's mind couldn't comprehend what he saw, life eventually trickled back into his body. Still, he remained exhausted and injured on the mountain, saying, "There I lay staring upward, while the stars wheeled over, and each day was as long as a life-age of the earth." Finally, the Lord of the Great Eagles found Gandalf after being sent by Galadriel herself.
Ilúvatar Had Plans for Gandalf After His Resurrection
Gandalf's body was returned to Lothlórien, where he was healed by Elven magic and dressed in white robes. But the deity Ilúvatar didn't send Gandalf back as a simple reward, for he still had plans for the Wizard. He was returned as Gandalf the White and sent to take over the place of Saruman the White. Although Saruman had been officially chosen to be the leader of the Wizards, his betrayal was shunned by the creator and led to his being replaced by Gandalf. Interestingly, however, Saruman had recently chosen to name himself "Saruman of the Many Colors," so Middle-earth didn't end up with two White Wizards. While a Wizard's color doesn't indicate power, it represents their role in Middle-earth — and Gandalf had rightfully been given the position he had deserved all along.
Gandalf was initially sent to Middle-earth by the Valar, deities that ranked below Ilúvatar. Despite this, it was Ilúvatar who brought Gandalf back and set him on the path to defeating Sauron. This made Gandalf one of the very few people to return from death, along with legendary heroes like Beren and Lúthien. More importantly, Gandalf was also able to meet his creator for the first time in countless eons, long after he had left the Timeless Halls of Ilúvatar.