Gandalf, the legendary leader of the fellowship of the ring, and perhaps, but for Tom Bombadil (and maybe Galadriel), the wisest being in Middle Earth, is the embodiment of all that is good and light.
As such, when he’s dragged from the crumbling Bridge of Khazad Dûm by the Balrog of Moria’s flaming whip so early in the trilogy, it hits you hard in the feels!
Yet, despite falling into the abyss for what seems like an eternity, followed by an eleven-day showdown with the Balrog, whether he actually dies in the strictest sense is a hotly debated topic among the LotR fandom.
So, let’s take a closer look at the text and see if we can’t drum up a definitive answer regarding Gandalf’s fate. To kick things off, let’s establish what race everyone’s favorite wizard belongs to.
What Is Gandalf?
Gandalf is of course a wizard, but that’s more of a descriptor than an indicator of race.
In actual fact, Gandalf is an earthbound member of the Maiar, a sect of incredibly powerful spirits, and the first beings created by Eru Ilúvatar to help orchestrate corporeal existence with their beautiful song.
Are The Maiar Immortal?
As a Maia (singular Maiar), Gandalf is technically an immortal being. He was “birthed” a spirit rather than in any corporeal form, and thus, cannot truly die.
However, when he is sent to Middle earth, he is embodied, and his physical form, although by and large impervious to the ravages of time, is not invincible, but it sure is tough!
How Tough Is Gandalf?
In The Fellowship of the Ring, Tolkien goes to great lengths in his writing to establish the power and resilience of Gandalf.
There’s a passage in which he breaks off the branch of a tree in battle as if it’s nothing.
Then, too, it’s recounted how he fought off multiple Nazgul during a nightlong slog of a melee.
And as if that doesn’t give you a good idea of how hardcore this wizard is, there’s the passage in which he falls down a large flight of stairs while battling the Balrog and is completely unmarked.
Each of these feats is far beyond the abilities of mere mortals, so it stands to reason that, even in physical form, he’s a force to be reckoned with, but completely impervious to death? Not exactly.
How Do We Know Gandalf’s Physical Form Dies?
Astute readers of the trilogy will recall Gandalf’s words upon returning to the narrative as Gandalf the White. He says…
“Darkness took me, and I strayed out of thought and time… Naked, I was sent back.”
That first part sounds pretty deathly to me, and, a few words later, he insinuates that his immortal spirit departed from his physical form and left the physical world.
This notion is confirmed in one of Tolkien’s letters in which he stated that Gandalf’s spirit returned to Ilúvatar before being sent back imbued with even greater power.
Gandalf’s return is something of a physical rebirth, so it’s safe to assume that, prior to this moment, he experienced physical death.
It’s also important to bear in mind that Balrogs belong to the Maiar as well, corrupted ages ago by the darkness of Morgoth, so we know that their powers, at least in some capacity were level, meaning if there is a being capable of vanquishing Gandalf, the Balrog is it!
Was Tolkien Phoning It In By Bringing Gandalf Back?
Although the return of Gandalf (the White) is rejoiced by most readers, there are some who believe it was an example of the author’s love of a character clouding his technical storytelling prowess.
Even his greatest imitator, George R.R. Martin, has mentioned that he felt that Gandalf should have remained dead.
But in bringing Gandalf back, Tolkien never once contradicts the laws of the world he created, as the immortality of the Maiar is well established by this point.
Sauron himself is slain at the fall of Numenor, but, as we all know, returns as a physical being. Tolkien also describes the spirit of Saruman leaving the vanquished wizard’s body when he dies at the end of the trilogy.
Does Gandalf Die When He Goes To The Undying Lands?
Some may read Gandalf’s eventual journey to the Undying Lands as a second death of sorts, as this mystical destination is essentially positioned as the heaven of Middle Earth, but the opposite is actually true.
A trip to the Undying Lands may in some ways seem like a symbolic death, but it’s actually more literal than many imagine.
This is the land in which the immortal elves are permitted to live forever among the Valar. They do not die when they get there, they simply go on living forever in the idyllic empyrean.
This is why they’re known as the Undying Lands, but that’s not to say that any mortals privileged enough to journey there will also live forever.
Bilbo and Frodo, as hobbits, would eventually pass on in the Undying Lands, but Gandalf and his elven company will not… ever.
Final Thoughts
Does Gandalf die in The Lord of the Rings? Yes and no.
If there was a doctor present during the aftermath of his battle with Durin’s Bane, he would no doubt have inspected his mangled body and pronounced him dead, but the thing to remember here is that Maiar are spirits first and physical entities second.
When they’re sent down to Middle Earth as physical entities, this transition is more of a death to them than dying, as they’re pulled from their original plane of existence and transported to a secondary plane.
You might argue that Gandalf’s flesh form was mere clothing to him, and his “death” at the hands of the Balrog was akin to us mortals simply de-robing.
So, even though this was indeed a physical death, to the spirit of Gandalf, it may have been rather commonplace, something that all Maiar must go through should they be sent to Earth by Ilúvatar.
I have been reading books for as long as I can remember, and have fallen deeply in love with more books than I can count!
With this site, I hope that you can find a novel to get you out of a reading slump, or to get you hooked on a series. So, pick up one of our recommendations today. I promise you that you won’t regret it!
- What Is The Longest Harry Potter Book? - July 3, 2023
- What Books Make Up The Riordanverse? - July 3, 2023
- Who Are The Main Characters In Percy Jackson? - July 3, 2023