All in the Shire know of the Wandering Wizard who calls himself Gandalf. A wizened and mysterious fellow who comes and goes as he pleases, often bringing queer news from foreign lands and leading young and audacious hobbits off on adventures to the end of the world and back. It is quite impossible to forget this conjurer, with his great white beard, bushy eyebrows and pointy hat. But who exactly is this wizard, who seemingly takes joy in disturbing the peace of the land?
It is no surprise that almost all hobbits know Gandalf by name, and nearly all by sight. But what is most queer is how we are not the only ones who know of him. Our grandparents and their grandparents all know of the grey wizard too. Is it possible that this is the very same Gandalf who ventures into the Shire at the most random and unexpected moments? If so, he must be extremely old. Older than even his white beard and eyebrows would suggest. This thought has led to the belief that Gandalf the Grey is in fact… an elf! In many songs and poems it is said that the forest and sea-loving elves are gifted with eternal life. For centuries now, this wizard has been known to us. Is it possible that he has this gift? But in the tales, elves seemingly retain their youth and grace. Gandalf has, without intending offence, neither of these. In answer to this, many say that he is an extremely old elf – so old that even eternal youth has departed him.
What we must remember is that he is a wizard – a conjurer – and is known to many for his performances of magic. A party is not considered a party without Gandalf being present to cast a spell or two. For this, he is the delight of many children. But perhaps these parlour tricks are examples of elf-magic. Indeed, in the very same songs and poems that I mentioned previously, elves are said to have magical abilities – ones of beauty and protection. What Gandalf is most well-regarded for is his excellent fireworks, which are said to contain magical properties in them. For certain, no hobbit has every managed to make fireworks with as much magnificence as Gandalf’s. Is it possible that these squibs, crackers, backarappers of his contain an essence of elf-magic?
I have personally attempted to put this question to the wizard himself, at a party of my cousin’s. But, in typical Gandalf style, he simply laughed it off. What I would question is whether or not this whimsical wizard, who enjoys talking, singing, dancing, eating, drinking and smoking, fits with the traditional accounts of elves – who are oft said to be elegant and solemn.
It is unknown where Gandalf goes to, or what he does, when he departs from the Shire with little or no notice. Some say that he goes to stay with the elves – his kin – in a hidden valley many leagues to the east. Others say that he goes off to rescue princesses from goblins and dragons – often with aforementioned young hobbits in tow. Wherever he goes and whatever he does, it is safe to assume that we hobbits have no business with associating with it. Those who do associate are never quite the same, as was the case with Mr. Bilbo Baggins. Many attribute his first disappearance to the grey wizard, as well as his second disappearance at his own birthday party.
Whilst his true nature remains a mystery, it is not completely fair to rule this wizard out as a troublesome deviant. He may be a peculiar fellow who has been known to cause odd things to happen to seemingly respectable hobbits, Gandalf is always polite and friendly as you could ask for. Indeed, it is said that during the Days of Dearth (which is the same time that Gandalf comes into solid records) that the wizard played a vital role in the survival of our starving ancestors. So for all his strangeness, one cannot doubt his good will. For many generations, his tales, fireworks and magic tricks have brought great enjoyment to many. As previously mentioned, a party is not truly a party unless Gandalf has some part to play in it.
