Posted: October 16, 1998 at 09:00:16: by Steve S
: I think you have it right, Steve...Illuvatar, and to a slightly lesser degree the Valar, know what's going on and have pledged to stay out of it, to let the choices take their appointed paths. However, why did Gandalf (Olorin?) get involved then? Was his involvement part of the overall plan or did he just have an attack of worries about Middle Earth and decide that he should lend a hand? And was he sent or did he choose to come on his own (did somebody else bring this to his attention, like his 'superiors' or did he view the situation and say this has gotta stop)? : Patience I look at the decreasing role of the Valar & Maia in Middle Earth as similar to a parent's role. When the elves & men first appeared, they needed a lot of help from 'mom & dad' - the Valar & Maia - to survive and to avoid the traps of Melkor. Once Melkor was removed, and the level of evil subsided; as well as the elves & men 'growing up' as races, the Valar started to let the kids take care of themselves (with a sniffle about 'look how big our kids have gotten!'). When Sauron rose again, mom & dad saw that the kids had a problem just barely beyond their ability to deal with. So, instead of like overprotective parents that would have just brought the full force of Manwe & company to take down Sauron, they wisely sent a force of just five, with careful instructions of guiding with counsel, not conquering by force. What a great plan! -Steve
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