: lockdar

Yeh, I believe it was. This was commented on some time ago, but I can't remember the specifics. I think he was shown the imprisoned Melkor so that he would be reminded of the evil that Sauron was akin to and in part represented. The fact that the other four Istari had either fallen or gone and that he was the last combined with this vision of evil, probably put Gandalf's task into perspective.

You know, kind of, "You are their last chance boyo, don't screw it up!"

At least that's what I believe. That's why I really can't understand all these weird notions that some have that even if Gandalf had failed the Valar would somhow have intervened anyway and solved the whole problem.

No way! Gandalf was one of the last chances for Middle-earth and certainly the last aid that would come from the West. If he had failed then Middle-earth was on its own until the world was to be remade. Period!

Cheers

Padster