Welcome to The Tolkien Forum! Connect with fellow Tolkien enthusiasts and join a community that is over two decades old, and still going strong. We look forward to meeting you.
Register
Trust in what Tolkien says. The book states it was probably a "phantom of Saruman". In other words, not Saruman himself but a remote viewing image of Saruman (the so-called Wizards Eye).
Originally posted by FarahSlax Trust in what Tolkien says. The book states it was probably a "phantom of Saruman". In other words, not Saruman himself but a remote viewing image of Saruman (the so-called Wizards Eye).
Sorry, but Tolkien did not say what you just wrote. Gimli said it and he has been known to be wrong about many such things.
from The Two Towers, The White Rider
...'That would not baffle a Ranger,' said Gimli. 'A bent blade is enough
for Aragorn to read. But I do not expect him to find any traces. It was an evil phantom of Saruman that we saw last night. I am sure of it, even under the light of morning. His eyes are looking out on us from Fangorn even now, maybe.'
and later Gimili asks Gandalf about the encounter in the same chapter,
'Wait a minute!' cried Gimli. 'There is another thing that I should like to know first. Was it you, Gandalf, or Saruman that we saw last night?'
'You certainly did not see me,' answered Gandalf, 'therefore I must
guess that you saw Saruman. Evidently we look so much alike that your desire to make an incurable dent in my hat must be excused.'
Originally posted by Gil-Galad Grond,but that's just Gandalf's suggestion.Even he doesn't know who was that person.So the theory about Maglor is still possible.
I guess I didn't make my point very well. The author did not tell us who the Old Man was. He had the characters give their opinions. It could have been Saruman, it could have been Maglor, it could have been Feanor's ghost, it could have been Radagast lost in the woods, it could have been Denethor looking for Boromir.
You are correct. It could have been anyone or anything. Gandalf (the wisest of living creatures on Middle-earth) seemed to believe that it was Saruman... but it could have still been Maglor.
Even the wisest can make a mistake.But if it isn't written somewhere exactly who is that person we can't be sure in anything.Nobody,but Tolkien knows, why he write about this person.It may be part of other story,of new things which haven't happened.
Even the wisest can make a mistake.But if it isn't written somewhere exactly who is that person we can't be sure in anything.Nobody,but Tolkien knows, why he write about this person.It may be part of other story,of new things which haven't happened.