How is Gandalf Represented During The Bridge of Khazad Dum Chapter?
In chapter 17 of The Fellowship of the Ring, by J.R.R Tolkien, Gandalf the Grey, a mighty wizard of Middle Earth, has ventured into the Mines of Moria, also known as Khazad-dûm, with his Company. On their long gruelling journey, Gandalf took the lead because of his knowledge of the land, and his intelligence when it comes to survival. In the book, he is represented with confidence and bravery, and he is a strong leader who uses his intelligence to foresee the outcomes of his actions. When they are deep in the Mines of Moria, they find the main hall of Old Moria where the dwarfs that dwelled there lived. The Company adventures around the hall when they hear a loud “Doom, doom” (Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring, 421), the enemy followed them into the mines. Aragon, a ranger part of their Company shouts “Slam the doors and wedge them!” (Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring, 421) but Gandalf says otherwise. He says “No!” “We must not get shut in. Keep the east door ajar! We will go out that way if we get a chance.” (Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring, 421) With his knowledge of the layout of the mines and his battle experience, the whole Company trusts him because of this. They heard the enemy but “How many there were the Company could not count.” (Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring, 423) This is an example of limited narration, the narrator does not know all that is happening. Because the narrator does not know all that is happening, it makes the scene scary. Just how many orcs are coming for them, where are they coming from? These are all questions we don’t know. The enemy gets closer and corners the Company, they try to escape and they do successfully, but only for a short period of time. As they run once again closer to the bridge, a strong foe meets them, a Balrog. As it chases them Gandalf realizes how truly powerful it is, he then makes the decision to send his Company away, away out of harm’s way. He says “Fly! This is foe beyond any of you. I must hold the narrow way. Fly!” (Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring, 430) As the enemy gets closer and closer to the edge of the bridge, Gandalf stands with his feet planted and shouts “You cannot pass,” “I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame Anor. You cannot pass. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udûn. Go back to the Shadow! You cannot pass!” (Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring, 430) In the quotation Gandalf uses repetition to show the enemy, no matter what, he will not pass him, and he will never reach his Company. Gandalf will stand and remain firm in his feet no matter what. The quotation also uses the word “Shadow” because Balrogs cloak themselves in dark shadows and the flames of evil. This links back to J.R.R. Tolkien's life at war. The enemy would not stop chasing for anything, they were constantly on their back pressuring them until they would give up. The constant war cries, the sound of feet running towards you, the views of war, it was never-ending. It is the same for the Company, unless they defeat the enemy, they will forever chase after them. Gandalf tried his best to hold the Orcs and the Balrogs off for as long as he could; he tried his best to stand firm, but he was defeated, just like Tolkien was when he succumbed to illness.
Work Cited
Tolkien, J.R.R. The Fellowship of the Ring. 1991.
Opmerkingen