Gandalf's Greatest Blunders: The Dark Side of Middle-earth's Most Powerful Wizard

Gandalf's name is widely recognized even by those who are not familiar with The Lord of the Rings. As a powerful wizard with immense influence, he was known by various names throughout Middle-earth. Despite his divine origin, he was not without flaws and made a few mistakes throughout his long and intriguing life.

Before the events of The Lord of the Rings took place, Gandalf had already existed for thousands of years and had embarked on numerous incredible adventures even before Bilbo's Shire came into existence. Given his impressive accomplishments, it is easier to forgive some of his more shocking and disappointing errors.

7Refusing To Leave Valinor.

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During the ancient history of Arda, Gandalf's original name was Olórin. He served the highest Vala, Manwë, and was content in his homeland. However, when he was ordered to leave Valinor and travel to Middle-earth to fight against Sauron and Morgoth, he initially refused. Olórin felt too weak and was afraid, openly admitting his reluctance. Manwë insisted that this was precisely why Olórin should go. As a result of his hesitation, Olórin was the last of the Valar to arrive in Middle-earth. It's ironic that Gandalf was so hard on Bilbo for not wanting to leave Bag End, given his own reluctance to leave his homeland.

This type of graffiti is particularly troublesome. Rather than just painting a design on a wall, Gandalf carves his glowing rune into the door of the Baggins' house, making it nearly impossible to remove or cover up.

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The removal of the rune on Bilbo's door remains a mystery, but it is clear that it was done at some point. Without its removal, the door would have been constantly bombarded by curious dwarves seeking refuge. While Bilbo could have easily afforded new doors for his entire house with his fortune, the defacement of a cultural and socially significant heritage home by Gandalf cannot be justified.

Moving on to the topic of uninvited guests, Bilbo's home was not immune to the presence of voracious individuals.

As if vandalizing Bilbo's home wasn't enough, the purpose of marking the door with a rune was to guide Thorin's company to the location as a place to stay and settle in comfortably. However, this meant an empty pantry and a stressed-out hobbit as the host.

Although Dwarves and Hobbits share similar interests in food and hospitality and usually get along well, the unexpected invasion of dwarves into his private home was overwhelming for Bilbo Baggins. Gandalf seemed to be enjoying himself at Bilbo's expense, without considering the consequences. Fortunately, Bilbo's Took side surfaced and salvaged what could have been an even more difficult evening.

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Despite Gandalf's reputation for wisdom and insight, he missed one of the most obvious traitors in literary history - Saruman. The two wizards had a long history, dating back to their days in Valinor, when Saruman was known as Curumo and served as a pupil of Aulë. However, Aulë had a bad track record when it came to his pupils and servants going rogue, as evidenced by Saruman's predecessor, Sauron.

Despite this history, Gandalf failed to see that Saruman was going to turn traitor. It's a puzzling oversight, given the stakes of the War of the Ring and the importance of the Istari's mission. Perhaps Gandalf was blinded by his own beliefs and assumptions, or perhaps Saruman was simply too clever for him to outwit. Either way, it's a fascinating question to ponder and one that has kept Tolkien fans debating for years.

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Gandalf's decision to leave the important letter with the innkeeper shows a surprising level of trust in Butterbur. Despite the fact that Butterbur is known to be less reliable than even the untrustworthy Saruman, Gandalf seems to have faith that the innkeeper will keep the letter safe and deliver it to the intended recipient. However, it is questionable whether this trust is warranted, given Butterbur's track record. It also raises the question of why Gandalf did not choose a more secure method of delivering the letter, such as using a courier or a familiar.

While Barliman Butterbur may not be a complete stranger, he is still a busy individual with a business to manage. Although Gandalf may have had good intentions, entrusting him with an important message could prove to be a mistake. With an already overloaded schedule, Butterbur may not be the most reliable person to rely on.

Leaving the dwarves and Bilbo in Mirkwood is the next step.

The second time Gandalf departs from Bilbo and the Dwarves, he leaves them in a perilous situation. Despite Mirkwood's once pleasant history, Gandalf must have been aware of the dangers that now lurked within. He provides them with a map and instructs them to follow the path, but fails to mention the potential threat of spiders, the presence of Wood Elves, or the psychological effects the woods can have on one's mind. It becomes apparent that the group's survival is dependent on their own resourcefulness and quick thinking.

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The layout of Moria remains a mystery despite its historical significance as a major city in Middle-earth for over a millennium. Even Gandalf, who led the Fellowship through the dangerous mines, had little knowledge of the floor plan. While luck played a role in their successful journey, Gandalf's sacrifice on the bridge of Kazad-Dum was a heroic act that cannot be overlooked. It's a testament to the power of the Fellowship that they were able to overcome the challenges of Moria, even without a clear understanding of its layout.