A jornada de um sábio: uma análise de Gandalf no romance O Hobbit, de J. R. R. Tolkien

Abstract

J.R.R. Tolkien’s work has been exhaustively analyzed, given the relevance it represents for literary studies. His fantasy texts, in addition to providing entertainment, generally explore symbols and archetypes that establish parallels with the lives of people from different cultures and, for this reason, remain contemporary, prompting the development of various research in various areas of knowledge. Therefore, the main objective of this work is to analyze the representation of Gandalf the Grey, according to the archetypal construction of the wise old man elaborated by Tolkien, in The Hobbit (2012). In this sense, an in-depth study was made of the relationships between three specific terms: “fantastic”, “wonderful” and “fantasy”, which are related to each other, despite differing in several aspects. To that end, we consider the works of Tzvetan Todorov (2010) and David Roas (2014), among other theorists and critics of these topics. In addition, the theoretical perspective of our analyzes focuses predominantly on Carl Gustav Jung’s theory of archetypes (2014) and Joseph Campbell’s study of mythology (2021). A study of the author and, especially, of his critical works that deal with his opinions on his own work and on fantasy and two scholars of his work, Ronald Eduard Kyrmse (2003) and Humphrey Carpenter (2018) were also considered. In this way, based on these assumptions, the characteristics of the archetype of the wise old man were discussed in parallel with those of Gandalf throughout Bilbo Baggins’ journey in history, which helped him to develop his strength and inner harmony in a difficult journey. Finally, we understand that The Hobbit is a novel that facilitates the inner maturation not only of the characters in the plot, but also of its readers, who often intuit the symbols and archetypes that are there and identify them with characteristics of their own lives.