Be nice to Gandalf (Was: Dumbledore, Gleam & Gandalf)

[Allyse at my-deja.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 24334

> --- In HPforGrownups at y..., fourfuries at a... wrote:
> >   One other note.  Dumbledore is similar to Tolkien's wizard, 
> Gandalf 
> > The Grey, in several regards.  <snip>  The big differene is that 
Dumbledore is a much nicer 
> > person, who feels for Harry and others, and calculates those 
> feelings 
> > into his plans and actions.
> > <snip> He was a cold calulating thinker 
> type, 
> > who happened to believe in fighting for the good.

And Marcus replied:

> 
> Hey!  Be nice.  You could just as easily say that instead of 
staying 
> at home, snuggled safe in his magically protected castle, Gandalf 
is 
> out in the field fighting evil face to face, as opposed to sending 
out 
> underaged children to do his dirty work.
> 
> It is possible to twist anything.  I rather suspect that Gandalf 
and 
> Dumbledore would be fast friends.


Not only that, but Gandalf isn't half as cold as you've suggested. 
Gandalf has the cares of the entire West on his shoulders, but he 
cares about the hobbits. He wastes valuable time, when the White 
Council is considering driving out the Necromancer (aka Sauron), to 
aid the dwarves and Bilbo on their quest; he checks up on Bilbo and 
Frodo whenever he can, especially once he realizes the danger 
inherent in the Ring. Like Dumbledore, he strongly believes that 
every person has their part to play, and it's the actions that show a 
person's true mettle (Frodo: "I will take the Ring, though I do not 
know the way." Boromir's downfall and ultimate redemption. Bilbo's 
ability to resist the Ring so long, because he didn't kill Gollum. 
Gandalf's reaction to these events sing out loud and clear.) Think of 
his anguish on Pippin's behalf when the hobbit is zapped by Sauron in 
the palantir, and the way he is crushed at the Black Gate when it 
appears that Frodo is in Barad-dur. 

No, Gandalf is not as cold as you make out, and I do agree with 
Marcus that he and Dumbledore would probably have a great time 
shooting the breeze! Can't you just picture Albus politely refusing 
an offer of pipeweed, and offering Gandalf some Every-Flavored 
Beans? :)

Allyse