Gandalf's roots

[Brilthor]

Can anybody tell me what the wizards in this book are?It does not say much about them,how they were "made" etc.I think they are spirits on a lesser "level" comparing to Maias(who are also on a lesser "level" comparing to Valars) and they took a human form,just like the Valars once used to do.They are something like the good Balrogs,or the Balrogs are evil spirits that might have become wizards if they had remained on the good side.The wizards showed late,as we know the Valars;Maias and other spirits are free to choose when they will appear in the material world.Saruman is yet another story because he wanted to be a master,not a servant and he became evil only because of his desire to find the One ring.
I am sure they were not created by Eru or Valars,so they must be spirits.If someone can understand this,please help me... 

[Camlost]

Gandalf belongs to a group of Maiar known as the Istari. This group had Saruman at it's head, then there was Gandalf, Radagast and the Two Blue Wizards (who some name as Alatar and Pallando) who disappeared into the east and were never heard of again. These were sent by the Valar to counsel the peoples of Middle-Earth, but they were forbidden from wielding their power to dominate peoples. Saruman disobeyed this and we all know what happened to him!

The Balrogs were Maiar that were seduced by Morgoth in the First Age, and became spirits of fire. That is why Gandalf was the only one who could meet the balrog as an equal.

Other wielders of great magical power were the Elves. The foremost of these being Galadriel and Elrond. Galadriel was the sister of Feanor, greatest of Elves from the first age. Her power was such that she could withstand Sauron.

Incidentally, Sauron was also Maiar, and was also seduced by Morgoth (also called Melkor).

They were all created by the thought of Iluvatar (Eru). Valar, Maiar, the lot...

[Mithrandir]

To put it 'simply': Gandalf was a Maia, sent to Middle-earth to aid the people in their battle against evil.

They were sent by the Valar, but
"[...]clad in bodies of as of Men, real and not feigned, but subject to the fears and pains and weariness of earth, able to hunger and thirst and be slain; though because of their noble spirits they did not die, and aged only by the cares and labours of many long years."
The Unfinished Tales - Appendix II - The Istari

So the Wizards (or Istari) were reduced in their 'power', and they:
"[...]were forbidden to reveal themselves in forms of majesty, or to seek to rule the wills of Men and Elves by open display of power, but coming in shapes weak and humble were bidden to advise and persuade Men and Elves to good, and to seek to unite in love and understanding all those whom Sauron, should he come again, would endeavour to dominate and corrupt."
The Unfinished Tales - Appendix II - The Istari

Only one of the five Wizards stayed true to his task and that was, as you well know, Gandalf. Saruman desired power for himself and was corrupted by evil. Radagast wasn't corrupted, but spent his time in the wild with birds and beasts, rather than aiding the Free People in their resistance. Alatar and Pallando (the two Blue Wizards) went to the East and no one knew what became of them. Since they clearly didn't aid the Free People in the downfall of Sauron, they also neglected their task.

On a sidenote: Balrogs were indeed also Maiar, but it did not necessarily take a Maia to slay it. There were also great Elves who accomplished that, though there wasn't one of those in the Fellowship. And, as Camlost already pointed out, even Sauron was a Maia. They differed in power and wisdom, so there were also 'lesser' Maiar, like the Balrogs and 'greater' Maiar, like Sauron and Gandalf.

On a complete different sidenote: Galadriel was not Fëanor's sister. Fëanor was the son of Finwë and Míriel. Galadriel was the daughter of Finarfin (the son of Finwë and Indis) and Eärwen. How that relationship is called in English, I don't know, but the father of Fëanor was the grandfather (on her father's side) of Galadriel


"Wisest of the Maiar was Olórin. He too dwelt in Lórien, but his ways took him often to the house of Nienna, and of her he learned pity and patience."
The Silmarillion - Valaquenta - Of the Maiar (I suggest you read this chapter of the Silmarillion and remember that Olórin was Gandalf's name).

[Brilthor]

Thank you a lot,Mithrandir and Calmost.I have read the book four times,but it seems I missed that part where it says something about the wizards.I know everything about the Valars and Elves,though,but thanks for explaining me those parts,too.

[Camlost]

Yes, you're right about the Feanor thing. I stand corrected. Need to get the Silmarillion out again and refresh. And I haven't a clue what that relationship would be either!

This forum has given me the burst of enthusiasm to dust the book down again!

[Brilthor]

Oh,I forgot,I have one more question.What about the hobits?I haven't read the Hobit,but I would like to know what kind do they belong to?I hope I'm not bothering you too much... 

[Camlost]

They are closely related to men. Hobbits had been around a long time (First Age I recall?), but only came to prominence in the Third Age. They were originally from the Vales of the Anduin (Smeagol was one of the river folk from here) but I can't remember how they got to the Shire, or who led them.

As can be seen from the character of the Hobbits in LOTR, they are courageous and I think, fairly uncorruptable.

Then again, Smeagol was a hobbit...

[Brilthor]

Thanks,Camlost,for so much information,but you haven't really answered my question yet.As I recall,Tolkien said nothing about evolution in his books,and Hobits don't belong to Eru's children(Elves and Men) or the Dwarves,created by one of the Valars.You said yourself they are fair and good,so they are not one of the beings corrupted by Melklor.You see what I am getting at? 

[Mithrandir]

Thanks,Camlost,for so much information,but you haven't really answered my question yet.As I recall,Tolkien said nothing about evolution in his books,and Hobits don't belong to Eru's children(Elves and Men) or the Dwarves,created by one of the Valars.You said yourself they are fair and good,so they are not one of the beings corrupted by Melklor.You see what I am getting at? 

I see what you're getting at, but Camlost did more or less answer your question. "They are closely related to Men."

As I always understood, the Hobbits somehow descended from Men, and thus belonging to the Younger Children of Ilúvatar. From those ancestral Hobbits three kinds of Hobbits (as mentioned in the LotR): the Stoors, the Fallohides and the Harfoots emerged. These intermingled and that kind became the Hobbits as we know them from the Lord of the Rings. Though Tolkien did not speak about evolution, it could've taken place somehow. It could also be that the Hobbits were already created by Ilúvatar in the way they are (like there were 'normal' Dwarves and 'Petty-Dwarves').

Originally, the Hobbits were spread around Middle-earth, but when evil things began to stir in the East, they travelled westward across the Misty Mountains and at last settling in the Shire.

More about Hobbits and the different kinds can be read in the Prologue of the Lord of the Rings "Concerning Hobbits".

This forum has given me the burst of enthusiasm to dust the book down again!

I know the feeling I've learned much in the years I've been moderating this forum and participating in discussions. It were discussions like these that forced me to refresh my knowledge and reread some parts of the book, eventually leading to rereading the entire book.

Welcome on board!

[Beren One-Hand]

Another good Middle-Earth fact-finder is: "Tolkien's World From A to Z: The Complete Guide to Middle-Earth," by Robert Foster.  This is an excellent source on Middle-Earth, especially if you don't have the time to re-read say the Silmarillion or the Unfinished Tales.  But as Mithrandir stated, it is always good to review such works from time to time.