The Daily Think

Examining the events of Lord of the Rings specifically, we need to talk about literature’s greatest general, leader, and Spymaster, Gandalf the Grey and White. SPOLIERS AHEAD but come on you had your chances every Christmas to watch the 18-hour versions of the Lord of the Rings trilogy!

Let’s look at the facts:
Gandalf knew there was a war coming
Gandalf knew the ring would tip the balance in favor of the beholder
Gandalf had to mobilize the peoples of Middle Earth
Gandalf needed to keep the armies and spies of Sauron busy

MISSION 1: THE RING JOB
Gandalf’s first task as leader was to deal with the nuclear weapon that was the Ring of Power. He knew 2 things, he needed to get rid of it, and he was not going to explore the idea of using it and being corrupted by it, even though it might have helped win the war, but unlock a dangerous version of himself. This is critical and already makes him one of the greatest war time leaders in fiction. Imagining the equivalency of the nuclear weapons that Oppenheimer and Eisenhower unleashed that effectively forced an end to the war in the Pacific in WWII, but ultimately unleashed something far worse (see OPPENHEIMER UNLEASHES CTHULHU ON OUR WORLD, FOREVERMORE – The Daily Think (thinknewsnow.com) on the earth that potentially puts us at nuclear winter’s doorstep every day we wake up.

So how and who could help Gandalf tap to get rid of this ticking time bomb? Enter the Hobbits, and after visiting with Bilbo and Frodo, he decided that Frodo would be the man er Hobbit to handle this task. Bilbo would be too old and was already tempted by it as the he carried some PTSD from using it in The Hobbit trilogy. So why and what was the purpose of using Frodo.

“Hobbits really are amazing creatures, as I have said before. You can learn all that there is to know about their ways in a month, and yet after a hundred years they can still surprise you at a pinch.” Gandalf, The Felloswhip of the Ring

In Middle Earth, the Hobbits differentiated themselves from that of predictable man, single-minded Dwarves, and self-interested Elves, as the Hobbits represented that innocent x-factor that could take on the most dangerous missions. They were hard to find, good at burglary, and had the ability to travel great distances with a smile on their face a song on their lips and fleas in their big hairy feet. But the reason why Hobbits succeeded in both the Hobbit trilogy and the Lord of the Rings trilogy, was their ability to avoid corruption, temptation and live in the now, while being focused on their 6 meal a day diets.

Sidenote: We acknowledge that Tolkien never stated that Gollum/Smeagol was indeed a hobbit, although he was a “hobbit like creature.” Even as he was corrupted by the ring he still retained part of himself, but truly without guidance the Ring would (if given enough time) convert anyone to a Gollum.

Gandalf was smart enough to give the Ring of power to a race of people he knew he could trust with difficult missions without getting corrupted. Frodo was crafty, shifty, young, atheletic and innocent enough to do such a dirty task. Who better to lead the dark spies on a wild goose chase? They always came close, but we know the result was Frodo succeeding in tossing the ring at the cost of a finger. And Frodo’s running around and ducking, hiding, and evading the Dark One, helped Gandalf with his next Mission.

MISSION 2: THE FELLOWSHIP DRAFT
Gandalf’s second big task General was to draft and recruit the squad that he would count on and empower to perform all the events of the Lord of the Ring trilogy. His biggest draft pick was recruiting Aragorn, the Ranger in the North and Strider to some. He was a diplomatic human, able to walk with the Elves, had the respect of the men of Gondor, and was seen as a protector of the lands. Gandalf’s next draft picks included a long-range sniper Elf and a party hardy Dwarf king who would eventually become the best of friends as they traveled to places like the Undying Lands which represented a big step between the Dwarves and Elves in bridging the gap for peace. Boromir, although a flawed character was chosen because he was strategic pick as the son of the Steward of Gondor. And finally, although they were throw in picks, Merry and Pippen provided a key role later in the trilogy. So Gandalf’s picks were all solid!

MISSION 3: MOBILIZE THE ARMIES
Next Gandalf had to gather more than just the Fellowship, he had to be convinced that his friend and ally Saruman would be on his side. Although this was a mistake as he went expecting a fellow wizard not to attack and imprison him, he did get captured (albeit Saruman is one bad ass dude.) Some would say that Gandalf was scouting and spying internally on Saruman’s intentions, however you want to spin that. But after his escape and his eventual fall as the Gandalf the Grey, he came back clearer in his mission, and that was to gather those forces necessary to take on the army.

Starting with the kingdom of Rohirrim and freeing them of the tyranny of the influenced Theoden. Gandalf liberates the King from the evil influences, and eventually strikes up a strategic alliance with Erkenbrand to lead the riders in a pincher move that crushes the orc’s army and attack on Helm’s Deep. Uniting the Riders of Rohan!

Treebeard and the Ents. Another powerful ally that was called upon was Treebeard and his army of Ents. Although it appears the travels of Treenbeard with Merry and Pippen had a lot to do with convincing the Ents, again we go back to the Fellowship Draft and Gandalf allowing the additional Hobbits to join the team, Gandalf knew they would come in handy one day.

The Dead Men of Dunharrow. And finally the army of the dead or the oathbreakers, although recruited by Aragorn, Gandalf’s influence on unlocking his leadership abilities. Humans, Elves, Trees, and Ghosts combined to defeat Sauron, all under the leadership of Gandalf.

PEACE TIME CONSIGLIERE
Gandalf was wise, perhaps it was the weed, perhaps it was the old age, perhaps it was the thousands of hours on the road. But when it came down to it, the man knew how to prepare for war, and keep his enemies busy. He successfully tapped a council of trusted people who he empowered to accomplish difficult missions that he might not have been directly involved with, but as a General and Spymaster, you have to rely on the people you choose. Gandalf expertly did this, by drafting a great team of leaders, charismatic beings, and strategic partners who secured his role as one of fictions greatest Generals.